Hiccups Begone: Effective Home Remedies for Immediate Relief
Hiccups are "synchronous diaphragmatic flutters" that happen when the diaphragm contracts involuntarily. They can be caused by eating or drinking too quickly or drinking carbonated beverages, which result in excess air in the stomach. Excitement, emotional stress, some disorders, and medications can also cause hiccups. In most cases, they go away on their own, but over the centuries, people have come up with various home remedies that could help.
Take Some Sugar
A spoonful of sugar could stop hiccups in their tracks. Ingesting such a grainy substance slightly irritates the esophagus, essentially interrupting the hiccups and resetting your body.
Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is a popular home remedy for hiccups. The act of chewing and swallowing this sticky substance interrupts your breathing patterns, and hiccups take a hike. Be aware that peanuts are a common food allergen. If you do not eat peanuts, try to eat a small amount a peanut butter first to make sure you do not react to this food.
Hot Sauce or Vinegar
Eating hot sauce gives the body a minor shock, which can take your focus away from the hiccups and cause them to pass. Swallowing vinegar may also help get rid of hiccups.
Hold Your Breath
Holding your breath is a tried and effective way to get rid of hiccups. This can work because it increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood, which stops the contractions. You may have to hold your breath for several cycles for this method to work.
Drink Water Upside Down
Some experts suggest drinking water from the opposite side of the glass. After filling a glass with water, drink it from the "fingers side" rather than the "thumb side" as usual. This method is suggested by It works because it forces the abdominal muscles to contract and thus stops the hiccups.
Paper Bag
A paper bag can help stop hyperventilation, but it may also stop hiccups. Breathing in and out of a paper bag increases the carbon dioxide levels in the blood because you are not taking in any fresh oxygen, just recycling the carbon dioxide you breathed out. This forces your diaphragm to contract to try to get more oxygen, which could stop the hiccups.
Drink Through a Paper Towel
Drinking through a paper towel is an old wives tale for getting rid of hiccups. To do this, place a piece of paper towel over a glass of water and secure it with a rubber band. Then, drink the water through the paper towel. This will cause your diaphragm to work harder to pull the liquid through the barrier. Giving your diaphragm a new task counteracts the spasmodic movements that cause hiccups.
Dill Seeds
Dill seeds are a home remedy for getting rid of hiccups. All you need to do is chew slowly on a teaspoon of the seeds. Doing so stimulates the vagus nerve and stops the hiccups.
Honey
A spoonful of honey stirred with a small amount of warm water can alleviate hiccups. Dilute the honey with warm water, place it on the back of your tongue, and let it trickle down your throat. This will stimulate the vagus nerve and make the hiccups stop.
Cold Water
Cold water shocks the system a bit and gives your esophagus a wake-up call. Drink a glass of very cold water, gargle with cold water, or even suck on an ice cube until the hiccups go away.
Disclaimer
This site offers information designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on any information on this site as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or as a substitute for, professional counseling care, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional.