Home Remedies for Hiccups

Home Remedies for Hiccups

Hiccup is scientifically called as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF) or in other words. The constant hiccuping is due to the contraction of the diaphragm and therefore stopping the hiccups is uncontrollable. In this case, the muscle separates the chest from the abdomen so it takes some time to be stopped.

While diaphragm contracts, it helps in breathing air very quickly followed with the vocal cords. This produces a kind of sound of a hiccup. Every person would have different situation like that the hiccups occur individually or in bouts. Most people feel a bout of hiccups lasts only a few minutes and some persevere for hours. You should know from the sign of hiccup sound.

Another cause might be drinking the carbonated beverages or excess amount of alcoholic beverages, overeating, quick eating, and eating spicy foods. Moods also depend upon the hiccupping such that the emotional stress excitement, smoking, sudden change in temperature and chewing something. Otherwise, when you feel your hiccups for a long time so it is definitely caused due to the nerve irritation, respiratory problems, central nervous system disorders, infection, gastrointestinal conditions, certain medications.

Hiccups also triggered due to the alcoholic intake, anesthesia, diabetes, electrolyte imbalance, barbiturates, kidney failure, steroids and tranquilizers. Hiccups are so annoying and especially irritating in the public place. You never control hiccups yourself so here we are recommended you the best remedies to control the hiccups in a quick manner. So here these remedies are:

1.  Cold Water

Shake your system with cold water in order to stop hiccups. The sudden shock will cause distraction and help the hiccups to the resting point.

• Drink a glass of cold water with some honey adding to it and see how your hiccups are gone away immediately.

• You can also gargle with cold water for only 1 minute.

• Or else you can suck on a small piece of ice  for a few seconds.

2.  Drink Upside Down

This remedy can be more effective than the first remedy of drinking cold water. In this remedy, you would have to drink upside down.

• Fill a glass with cold water.

• Bend down on your waist and put your head down.

• Drink the water from the opposite direction of the glass.

• Repeat the process if needed.

3.  Hold Your Breath

This is an age-old hiccups and it is very powerful in this case. It helps in increasing the carbon dioxide in the bloodstream so that it will be helpful for distracts the mind and stops the hiccups very quickly.

• Take a deep breath and hold it firm as long as you can without letting air outside.

• Exhale slowly in a controlled manner.

• Now inhale and hold your breath again.

• Do this remedy for several cycles until the hiccups stop.

4.  Sugar

Sugar is amazing for stopping the hiccups. This is suitable for small children who feel so irritating while hiccupping.  It is extra effective than the two remedies that are shown above. Swallowing the sugar will help in stimulating the vagus nerve and makes the body to control the hiccups.

• Take 1 tsp of white or brown sugar.

• Hold the spoon in your mouth for 5 seconds.

• Allow the sugar to dissolve gradually without chewing it.

• Take a sip of water and immediately the hiccups will stop.

Adults can also try this remedy too; make sure you are not diabetic patients while starting the process.

5.  Vinegar

Vinegar is also workable to stop the hiccups. The benefit of its sour taste is it distracts the mind. You can choose white vinegar, apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar.

• Swallow ½ tsp of vinegar added in a glass of water.

• Otherwise, you can mix 1 tsp of vinegar with a little amount of water. Swallow it slowly and the hiccups will stop.

6.  Peanut Butter

This remedy is chosen from the old age. Peanut butter is very much sticky, has gooey consistency that interrupts the breathing portion after when you swallow it. It reduces the hiccups.

• Put 1 tbsp of peanut butter in your mouth.

• Hold it for few seconds then swallow it without chewing.

• If you feel like, drink a glass of water.

You can replace the peanut butter with almond butter if it is not available.

7.  Breath Into A Paper Bag

Another tested trick is to breath into a paper bag. It helps in increasing the amount of carbon dioxide into the body which makes the diaphragm contraction more deep as to collect more oxygen. In this way, the hiccups may stop.

• Press a small paper bag around your mouth in a tight manner.

• Breathe slowly and deeply into it.

• Repeat the several times.

This remedy is strictly forbidden to those who suffer with heart problems and stroke patients.

8.  Lemon

Lemon can also does magic to stop the hiccups. The sour taste of lemon gets into the nerves thus making the hiccups disappear.

• Take ½ tsp of undiluted lemon juice in your mouth.

• Another thing you can do is mix the juice of one lemon in half a glass of water. Drink it quickly.

• Put a little salt on a small piece of lemon and then suck the juice out of the lemon in a slow manner.

9.  Cardamom

Cardamom is an effective remedy because it contains muscle-relaxing properties to stop the hiccups.

• Mix 1 tsp of cardamom powder in a glass of hot water.

• Set it aside for 15 minutes then strain the solution.

• Drink it slowly.

10.  Chamomile

Chamomile also has muscle relaxing properties so you can take this as to stop the contraction in the diaphragm that is responsible for the hiccups.

• Steep 1 tsp of dried chamomile herb in a cup of water for about 10 minutes. Drink it slowly and the hiccups will stop soon.

• Another option is to put 2 drops of chamomile essential oil in a brown paper bag. Hold the bag over your nose and mouth then take slow breaths into the bag until you notice the hiccups are gone.

Additional Tips

• You can sing or laugh loudly for distracting your mind to stop hiccups.

• Take some fizzy beverage to induce a burp to help the hiccups go away.

• Hold the end of your tongue with your fingers and tug.

• Put your fingers inside your ears then take a deep breath.

• Avoid eating in a speedy way and overeating.

• Avoid the spicy foods that irritate the lining of the esophagus and stomach.

• Chew a small piece of ginger.

• Take a cotton swab and tickle the soft palate of the roof of your mouth.

• Hold your nose and close your mouth for as long as you can.

If your hiccups remain for more than a few hours, seek medical advice.