What Is DHM (Dihydromyricetin)? Sources, Research, Dosage and Safety

DHM (dihydromyricetin, also called ampelopsin) is a plant flavonoid found mainly in vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) and, in much smaller amounts, the Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis); it has been studied mostly in cells and animals for effects related to alcohol and the liver. As of October 2026, no published randomized trial has tested DHM on its own for hangovers in people. The handful of human DHM trials, all in people with fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes, used 300 to 970 mg a day and didn't involve alcohol.

Key takeaways

  • DHM can make up as much as 35% of vine tea but less than 1% of Hovenia dulcis extract, so studies of the two plants aren't interchangeable.1, 2
  • A 2026 systematic review of 22 studies found consistent liver effects in cells and animals, inconsistent effects on alcohol metabolism, and only two small human trials, both of Hovenia extract rather than DHM itself.2
  • Swallowed DHM is poorly absorbed: in rats only about 4% reached the bloodstream, and no human absorption study had been published as of October 2026.3, 4
  • Human DHM trials used 300 to 970 mg a day in people with fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes, and NIH's LiverTox lists typical doses of 300 to 1,000 mg a day.5, 6, 7, 8
  • In test-tube studies, DHM inhibited three drug-processing liver enzymes (CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1), so anyone taking prescription medicines should ask a pharmacist first.9

What is DHM, in one paragraph?

Dihydromyricetin (DHM) is a flavonoid, a type of plant compound, with the formula C15H12O8; many papers call it ampelopsin or ampeloptin.8 In the US it's sold as a dietary supplement, and NIH's LiverTox notes that it isn't approved for any use or disease in humans.8 In rats and mice, injected DHM has blunted signs of alcohol intoxication, and DHM injected or given by mouth has reduced alcohol-related fat buildup and inflammation in the liver.10, 11, 12 But DHM given by mouth didn't change alcohol clearance in rats, swallowed DHM is poorly absorbed, and the human evidence is thin.13, 3, 2

Where does DHM come from? Vine tea vs. Hovenia dulcis

The richest known source of DHM is vine tea, a climbing plant in the grape family. The Japanese raisin tree also contains DHM, but far less.

Vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) grows mainly in southern China, where its tender stems and leaves are brewed as an herbal tea. Reviews describe its use as a health tea and folk medicine by the Tujia, Yao and other ethnic minorities "for hundreds of years."14 DHM is its most abundant flavonoid, at "as high as 35%" of the plant.1 Botanists moved the species to the genus Nekemias in 2014, so you may also see it listed as Nekemias grossedentata.15

The Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) has long been used in traditional medicine in China, Korea and Japan, including for alcohol intoxication and hangover.16 Traditional use records what people believed, not what works. And DHM makes up less than 1% of Hovenia extract, alongside myricetin, quercetin and other flavonoids.2

The two main natural sources of DHM
Source Plant family Part used DHM content Where it shows up in research
Vine tea (Ampelopsis or Nekemias grossedentata) Grape family (Vitaceae) Tender stems and leaves Up to about 35% of the plant The richest known source; used in a human diabetes trial (970 mg DHM a day in vine tea).6
Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) Buckthorn family (Rhamnaceae) Fruit, fruit stalks, seeds Less than 1% of extract Small Korean hangover trials of whole extracts.17

So a Hovenia study is not a DHM study. FTC guidance says evidence has to match the product, dose and formulation being sold.18 We cover the difference in vine tea vs. Hovenia dulcis.

What have researchers studied? Alcohol, the liver and metabolism

Most DHM research asks whether it changes alcohol's effects on the brain, limits alcohol-related liver damage, or speeds alcohol clearance. Nearly all the answers come from cells and rodents.

Intoxication: the 2012 rat study

In a 2012 UCLA study in rats, DHM injected into the abdomen at 1 mg/kg reduced signs of alcohol intoxication: after a large injected dose of alcohol, treated rats lost their righting reflex for about 28 minutes instead of about 113.10 DHM didn't significantly change blood alcohol, and the researchers linked the effect to GABA-A receptors in the brain. The study measured intoxication and withdrawal-like behavior, not hangover. And injected results often don't carry over to a capsule: in mice, DHM by mouth produced 7 to 24 times lower blood exposure than the same dose injected.19

Alcohol metabolism: two studies, two answers

One mouse study found injected DHM (5 to 10 mg/kg) increased the alcohol-processing enzymes ADH1 and ALDH2 and lowered blood alcohol and acetaldehyde.11 A rat study giving DHM by mouth (10 mg/kg, with alcohol) found no change in how fast alcohol was cleared; its authors concluded that "the proposed positive effect of DHM during alcohol intoxication has not been proven."13 Both used small groups of animals, and neither finding has been tested in people.2

The liver

Liver findings are the most consistent part of the animal research. In mice on an alcohol diet, DHM by mouth (75 to 150 mg/kg a day for six weeks) reduced liver enzyme release, fat buildup and inflammation, and injected DHM did similar things in another mouse study.12, 11 These are mouse results. They don't show that DHM protects a person's liver from drinking, and for alcohol-related liver disease, stopping drinking remains the core of treatment.20

Studies in people

  • Hovenia extract trials. In a 2017 Korean crossover trial, 26 young men carrying one copy of a common ALDH2 gene variant took 2,460 mg of Hovenia fruit extract or a placebo with soju. Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde didn't differ, though hangover scores fell more with the extract.17 Two 2024 trials of Hovenia drinks, partly written by the maker's employees, found little: only a stomach-symptom subscore improved in one, and hangover scores didn't differ from placebo in the other.21, 22 Hovenia extracts contain very little DHM, so these aren't DHM results.
  • An observational study of a DHM product. In a 2026 study, 90 adults logged 2,958 mornings after drinking with or without a multi-ingredient product based on DHM and L-cysteine. Self-rated next-day energy, clarity and sleep were slightly better with the product (effect sizes 0.20 to 0.32), but the study wasn't randomized, blinded or placebo-controlled, and the product's maker funded it.23
  • DHM trials outside drinking. Three small randomized trials gave DHM by mouth to people with a disease: 60 adults with fatty liver disease for three months (300 or 600 mg a day; the paper's wording can be read either way), 80 adults with type 2 diabetes for one month (970 mg a day), and 55 adults with fatty liver disease for 12 months (300 mg a day plus vitamins C and E and choline).5, 6, 7 Some liver and blood-sugar markers improved. None involved alcohol.

The first human study of how DHM is absorbed, planned in 12 healthy volunteers, is registered, but its last update listed it as not yet recruiting, and it had posted no results as of October 2026.4 Our DHM research tracker lists every key study with its model, route, dose and limits.

How strong is the evidence? Human vs. animal studies at a glance

Weak, for the things people usually buy DHM for. The strongest findings are in animals, often with injected DHM.

DHM evidence by question, as of October 2026
Question Model and route Verdict
Does DHM ease hangovers in people? No DHM-only trial. Hovenia extracts and one multi-ingredient product, by mouth.2, 23 Unknown. Not tested.
Does DHM reduce intoxication? Rats and mice, injected.10, 19 Seen only in injected rodents. Untested in people.
Does DHM change blood alcohol? Mice, injected (faster clearance) vs. rats, by mouth (no change).11, 13 Conflicting in animals. Untested in people.
Does DHM affect alcohol-related liver damage? Mice; by mouth and injected.12, 11 Consistent in mice. Untested in people who drink.
Does DHM change liver or blood-sugar markers in people? People with fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes; 300 to 970 mg a day by mouth.5, 6, 7 Some markers improved in small trials. No alcohol involved.
How well is it absorbed? Rats; by mouth vs. intravenous.3 About 4% in rats. No published human data.
Is it safe? People; 300 to 970 mg a day for 1 to 12 months.5, 6, 7, 8 Well tolerated in limited data. Unknown at higher doses.
Does it interact with medicines? Human liver enzymes in a test tube.9 Inhibited CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1. Untested in people.

A 2021 survey of 82 hangover products found "no peer-reviewed human data" showing safety or efficacy for any of them.24

How is DHM thought to work?

There are three main ideas, all from cell and animal studies. DHM may counter alcohol's effect on GABA-A receptors in the brain, though a later mouse study complicated that picture.10, 19 It may change the enzymes that break down alcohol, with conflicting results.11, 13 And it reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in the liver fairly consistently in rodents.2 Whether any of this happens in a person who swallows a capsule depends on how much DHM reaches the blood, which hasn't been measured in humans. We go deeper in how DHM works.

How much DHM is in supplements?

There's no established human dose, and products vary widely. DHM labels we checked on October 9, 2026 listed from about 100 mg to 3,250 mg per serving, and some products don't disclose a DHM amount at all. In a 2021 survey, 59% of hangover products containing DHM didn't say how much they contained.24 For comparison, human DHM trials used 300 to 970 mg a day, and NIH's LiverTox lists typical doses of 300 to 1,000 mg a day.8

A concrete example: After Party by Fuller Health is a single-ingredient DHM supplement: 650 mg of dihydromyricetin per capsule, 3,250 mg per 5-capsule serving, with nothing else but the cellulose capsule. Its DHM is extracted from vine tea stem and leaf, and the label says to take 3 capsules before bed and 2 capsules upon waking. (Fuller Health publishes this page and makes After Party, so weigh our example with that in mind.)

After Party's 3,250 mg serving is higher than the doses used in published human DHM studies. Those studies gave up to about 970 mg a day, to people with fatty liver disease or type 2 diabetes, not to people who drink.6, 5, 7 Safety at 3,250 mg hasn't been studied. A bigger number on a label is a fact, not a benefit: there are no human data showing that more DHM does more.2 See DHM dosage and timing and the After Party facts page.

Is DHM safe? Side effects and who should avoid it

In small human trials at 300 to 970 mg a day for up to 12 months, DHM looked well tolerated, but safety research is limited. NIH's LiverTox says DHM "has not been subjected to many prospective trials of safety," lists no case reports of clinically apparent liver injury from it, and rates it an unlikely cause of liver injury.8 We found no published long-term animal toxicity study of purified DHM.

  • Medication interactions. In test-tube studies with human liver enzymes, DHM inhibited CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1, enzymes that help clear many medications.9 That hasn't been tested in people, so ask a pharmacist or doctor first if you take prescription medicines. DHM also acts at the benzodiazepine site of GABA-A receptors in rodent studies, and combining it with sedatives or sleep medicines hasn't been studied in people.10
  • Hovenia isn't vine tea. Three cases of toxic hepatitis linked to Hovenia have been reported in Korea, and EU regulators said in 2020 that a Hovenia extract's safety "has not been established."16, 25 That's whole Hovenia, not DHM, but "natural" doesn't mean "safe."
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding. There are no human data. Don't use DHM if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Others who should ask first: people with liver or kidney disease, and anyone taking sedatives or drugs processed by CYP3A4 or CYP2D6. Products marketed around drinking are for adults 21 and over.

And DHM isn't a safety net. There's no human evidence that it reduces intoxication. After Party will not prevent intoxication, lower your blood alcohol, or make it safe to drive. Our full review is Is DHM safe?

How do you choose a DHM supplement?

Judge it on facts you can check: how much DHM is in it, which plant it comes from, what else is in the capsule, and whether test results are published. Skip any product that promises to cure or prevent hangovers.

  • DHM in milligrams, not just "extract." 1,000 mg of extract standardized to 98% DHM is 980 mg of DHM. 1,000 mg of Hovenia extract with no stated standardization, if typical of analyzed extracts, has less than 10 mg.2
  • Other ingredients. Proprietary blends can hide each ingredient's amount. See pure DHM vs. multi-ingredient blends.
  • A certificate of analysis showing DHM content, heavy metals and microbes, ideally naming the lab that did the testing.
  • Honest claims. On July 23, 2020, FDA sent warning letters to seven companies selling hangover products, treating claims to cure, treat, mitigate or prevent hangovers as drug claims.29 Be equally wary of "proven" or "clinical" language: no published randomized trial has tested DHM alone for hangover.18
  • The dose versus the research. Compare it with the 300 to 970 mg a day used in human studies. More isn't shown to be better.

For a label-by-label approach, see how to judge hangover supplements honestly.

What we don't know yet

As of October 2026, none of these has an answer in people:

  • Whether DHM reduces hangover symptoms in people.
  • Whether DHM by mouth changes blood alcohol or acetaldehyde in people.
  • How much DHM people absorb, how high blood levels get and how long it lasts.
  • Whether more DHM does more, and whether amounts above about 1 gram a day are safe, once or repeatedly.
  • Whether DHM interacts with medicines, or how it affects pregnancy, liver or kidney disease, or older adults.

A caveat about our own homework: we searched PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov, not Chinese- or Korean-language databases, so a trial published only in those languages could be missing.

Frequently asked questions

What does DHM do?

In cells and rodents, DHM has reduced alcohol-related liver damage and, when injected, signs of alcohol intoxication.2 What it does in people is largely unknown: the human trials were in people with fatty liver disease or diabetes, and none tested DHM alone for hangover. It isn't a proven treatment for anything.

Is DHM the same as ampelopsin?

Yes. Ampelopsin and ampeloptin are other names for dihydromyricetin, the same molecule (C15H12O8).8 The name comes from Ampelopsis, vine tea's traditional genus.

Is DHM natural?

DHM occurs naturally in plants, especially vine tea, where it can make up as much as 35% of the plant.1 "Natural" describes where it comes from, not whether it's safe or effective.

Does DHM actually work for hangovers?

Nobody knows yet. As of October 2026, no randomized trial of DHM alone for hangover has been published in a PubMed-indexed journal; the human hangover trials tested Hovenia extracts or multi-ingredient products, with mixed results.2 There's no proven hangover cure, and the only sure way to avoid a hangover is to drink less or not at all.28

Is DHM safe to take?

In small trials at 300 to 970 mg a day, DHM looked well tolerated, and NIH's LiverTox lists no case reports of liver injury from it.8 Long-term and high-dose safety are unknown, and lab studies suggest possible drug interactions. Some products, including After Party (3,250 mg per serving), exceed the studied doses, and safety there hasn't been studied. Ask a pharmacist first if you take medicines, and don't use DHM if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Where does DHM come from?

Its richest known source is vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata), a climbing plant whose stems and leaves are brewed as an herbal tea in southern China.14 The Japanese raisin tree (Hovenia dulcis) also contains DHM, but it makes up less than 1% of Hovenia extract.2

Sources

  1. Hu H, et al. New Method for Extracting and Purifying Dihydromyricetin from Ampelopsis grossedentata. ACS Omega. 2020;5(23):13955-13962. PubMed
  2. Skinner SG, et al. Therapeutic Effects of Dihydromyricetin on Wholly Alcohol-Attributed Conditions: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2026;18(14):2221. PubMed
  3. Liu L, et al. Determination of dihydromyricetin in rat plasma by LC-MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study. Pharm Biol. 2017;55(1):657-662. PubMed
  4. University of Southern California. Phase I, Dose-Escalation Study of Dihydromyricetin (DHM) to Treat Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease (NCT05623501). ClinicalTrials.gov. Status unknown; no results posted as of October 9, 2026. ClinicalTrials.gov
  5. Chen S, et al. Dihydromyricetin improves glucose and lipid metabolism and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: A randomized controlled trial. Pharmacol Res. 2015;99:74-81. PubMed
  6. Ran L, et al. Ampelopsis grossedentata supplementation effectively ameliorates the glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2019;73(5):776-782. PubMed
  7. Michailidou E, et al. Dietary supplement based on dihydromyricetin in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Ann Gastroenterol. 2026;39(1):54-62. PubMed
  8. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. LiverTox: Dihydromyricetin. NCBI Bookshelf. Last updated August 16, 2023. NCBI Bookshelf
  9. Liu L, et al. In vitro inhibitory effects of dihydromyricetin on human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes. Pharm Biol. 2017;55(1):1868-1874. PubMed
  10. Shen Y, et al. Dihydromyricetin as a novel anti-alcohol intoxication medication. J Neurosci. 2012;32(1):390-401. PubMed
  11. Silva J, et al. Dihydromyricetin Protects the Liver via Changes in Lipid Metabolism and Enhanced Ethanol Metabolism. Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2020;44(5):1046-1060. PubMed
  12. Qiu P, et al. Dihydromyricetin modulates p62 and autophagy crosstalk with the Keap-1/Nrf2 pathway to alleviate ethanol-induced hepatic injury. Toxicol Lett. 2017;274:31-41. PubMed
  13. Skotnicová A, et al. Does dihydromyricetin impact on alcohol metabolism. Physiol Res. 2020;69(Suppl 4):S573-S581. PubMed
  14. Zhang Q, et al. Recent advances in research on vine tea, a potential and functional herbal tea with dihydromyricetin and myricetin as major bioactive compounds. J Pharm Anal. 2021;11(5):555-563. PubMed
  15. Wen J, et al. Synopsis of Nekemias Raf., a segregate genus from Ampelopsis Michx. (Vitaceae) disjunct between eastern/southeastern Asia and eastern North America, with ten new combinations. PhytoKeys. 2014;(42):11-19. PubMed
  16. Sferrazza G, et al. Hovenia dulcis Thumberg: Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Regulatory Framework for Its Use in the European Union. Molecules. 2021;26(4):903. PubMed
  17. Kim H, et al. A standardized extract of the fruit of Hovenia dulcis alleviated alcohol-induced hangover in healthy subjects with heterozygous ALDH2: A randomized, controlled, crossover trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2017;209:167-174. PubMed
  18. Federal Trade Commission. Health Products Compliance Guidance. December 2022. FTC
  19. Carry E, et al. Identification of Dihydromyricetin and Metabolites in Serum and Brain Associated with Acute Anti-Ethanol Intoxicating Effects in Mice. Int J Mol Sci. 2021;22(14):7460. PubMed
  20. Osna NA, et al. Alcoholic Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Current Management. Alcohol Res. 2017;38(2):147-161. PubMed
  21. Lee KW, et al. Clinical Evaluation of Hovenia dulcis Extract Combinations for Effective Hangover Relief in Humans. Foods. 2024;13(24):4021. PubMed
  22. Paik DH, et al. Efficacy of Hovenia dulcis Fruit Extract in Hangover Mitigation: Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Evaluation. Foods. 2024;13(24):4084. PubMed
  23. Song S, et al. Decentralized Assessment of a Dihydromyricetin- and L-Cysteine-Based Multi-Ingredient Dietary Supplement on Post-Alcohol Recovery: An Observational Cohort Study. Nutrients. 2026;18(15):2424. PubMed
  24. Verster JC, et al. Unknown safety and efficacy of alcohol hangover treatments puts consumers at risk. Addict Behav. 2021;122:107029. PubMed
  25. Turck D, et al. Safety of hot water extract of fruits and peduncles of Hovenia dulcis as a novel food pursuant to Regulation 1(EU) 2015/2283. EFSA J. 2020;18(8):e06196. PubMed
  26. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Understanding the Dangers of Alcohol Overdose. Updated December 2025. NIAAA
  27. U.S. Department of Agriculture; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030. Released January 7, 2026. PDF
  28. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Hangovers. Updated December 2025. NIAAA
  29. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA Sends Warning Letters to Seven Companies Illegally Selling Hangover Products. Constituent update, July 29, 2020. FDA
  30. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. SAMHSA's National Helpline. SAMHSA
  31. MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Alcohol withdrawal. Reviewed January 1, 2025. MedlinePlus

Published by Fuller Health, which makes After Party. This article is general information, not medical advice: talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own health, medicines and drinking. Last reviewed October 9, 2026. How we research and write.

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