Nine Simple Cures for Hiccups

Have you ever experienced a bad case of hiccups that just won’t stop? They can strike at the most inconvenient times. These menacing spasms occur when the diaphragm is irritated by drinking too much, eating too much, or swallowing excess air.

In most cases, hiccups will resolve on their own, although there are cases where they’ve lasted for so long that the sufferer had to be hospitalized. You’ll be pleased to learn there are some simple techniques that can help you get rid of hiccups quickly.

Most methods which are effective in getting rid of hiccups involve stimulating the nerve which innervates the spasmodically contracting diaphragm or increasing levels of carbon dioxide in the blood stream. Here are some tricks for stopping hiccups:

1. White Sugar

   This method for stopping hiccups has a high cure rate with more than 95% of hiccup sufferers getting complete relief. Put a tablespoonful of white sugar onto a spoon and swallow it. This method was discussed in the New England Journal of Medicine who called it highly effective.

2. Drink a Fast Glass of Water

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   This free and easy method works for the majority of people who try it.

3. Tickle the Roof of Your Mouth

   This method works so well that it was published in the Journal of Gastroenterology as a technique that works for hiccup relief.

4. A Herbal Remedy

   This trick for getting rid of hiccups comes from the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine. They advocate sucking on slices of ginger root to cure hiccups.

5. Try a Combination of Yogurt and Salt

   This method cures hiccups for a significant proportion of people who use it. Mix two teaspoons of salt with four ounces of plain yogurt. Slowly eat the mixture.

6. Use Citrus Fruits to Cure Hiccups

   Simply eating a lemon or an orange has been shown to relieve hiccups in a significant number of people.

7. Stick Your Fingers in Your Ears

   It sounds silly, but it work by stimulating the vagus nerve that innervates your diaphragm. This can cause the spasms to cease and the hiccups to be cured.

8. Blow into a Paper Bag

   This method works by increasing the levels of carbon dioxide in your blood stream. Use an ordinary paper bag to cover your mouth and nose. Slowly breathe in and out repeatedly. This should be quite effective in stopping your hiccups.

9. Hold Your Breath

   This also works by increasing carbon dioxide levels in your blood stream.

If you should experience hiccups that last longer than three hours and that fail to respond to the above techniques, you should seek medical attention. Not every technique will work to get rid of hiccups. You may have to experiment and see what works best for you.