10 Effective Home Remedies For Hiccups

Almost all of us experience hiccups at some point in our life. In fact, it can even be a daily occurrence! Holding your breath, counting till ten, drinking water— all these tricks seldom work. So, should you just wait for these unexpected jerks to pass with time? Not really. Next time, you get hiccup out of the blue, try these simple and quick home remedies that we have put
 together for you. But before we get into those fixes, it is quite necessary to understand the triggers that cause hiccups.

Hiccups – What and How:

A hiccup is caused by a sudden, involuntary contraction, or spasm of the diaphragm. An irritation to the Vagus nerve triggers these jerks. The Vagus nerve and its branches run from the brain to the abdomen. Any disturbance to this nerve causes the diaphragm muscles to contract into the abdomen, triggering hiccups. This phenomenon continues until the muscles are soothed.

Hiccups are a reaction to common digestive disorders or disturbances. When the digestive muscle experiences convulsions, it pulls on the stomach causing it to draw in air. As air is a foreign entity in the stomach, the body responds to this condition by closing the glottis, cover of the air tract, causing the characteristic ‘hic’ sound.

Hiccups Remedies that Work:

1. Honey:

If you find yourself hiccupping continuously, gulp down a tablespoon full of honey to ease the sensation. The swallowing action, coupled with the warmth of honey, will relieve you of the hiccups.

2. Yogurt:

Add a tablespoon of salt to a cup of yogurt and mix thoroughly to make a homogeneous mixture. Eat the yogurt slowly. Just a few spoons of this mixture – that’s all you need for instant relief from those spontaneous jerks.

3. Ice:

Cold water is believed to shock the digestive tract and cure hiccups immediately. Add a few cubes of ice to a glass of water and drink. An alternate solution is to wrap a few cubes of ice in a clean, thin cloth and apply it to the back of the neck. You might find yourself gasping, but this is nothing to be alarmed about. Take deep breaths to regain your normal breathing cycle. The hiccups will be gone in a jiffy!

4. Sugar:

Sugar is one of the oldest remedies for hiccups. Eat a teaspoon of sugar when you are hiccupping. Hold the sugar in your mouth for about thirty seconds while it dissolves, then chew, and swallow slowly. This leads to excess sweetness in the mouth that is believed to be a good cure for hiccups.

5. Cardamom Powder:

Powdered cardamom is known to offer relief from hiccups almost instantly. Boil 1 tsp of freshly ground cardamom powder in one and a half cups of water over low heat. Allow the liquid to cool and strain. Drink the resulting filtrate. Cardamom powder helps to relax the muscles of the diaphragm. One of the best ways to cure hiccups, this remedy works by flushing out excess alcohol from the system, relaxing the diaphragm muscles further.

6. Lemon:

While it is unclear how lemons work to cure hiccups, the widespread belief is that the sour taste of this fruit helps to saturate the mouth and the digestive tract. It stimulates the nerves with a sharp taste that helps to control the hiccups.

7. Water:

A simple yet highly effective home remedy for hiccups is by drinking a glass of water, slowly. The swallowing mechanism relaxes the muscles of the diaphragm and helps to relieve hiccups. Gulp down three to four glasses of cool water for a severe case of hiccups. This should help to lengthen the gap between each hiccup and eventually relieve you of the condition.

8. Ginger:

Ginger is a good home remedy for most digestive disorders. Besides controlling nausea, ginger also works well to cure the body of continuous hiccups, giving you immediate relief. Peel and cut a small section of ginger and chew. If you do not like the sharp taste of raw ginger, suck a ginger candy or drink lemon juice with a few drops of ginger mixed in it. This is a fast acting, effective cure for hiccups.

9. Asafoetida:

An unconventional remedy, asafoetida is a powerful agent that relaxes the muscles of the diaphragm. Mix a teaspoon of asafoetida powder in a tablespoon of clarified butter and swallow. It is extremely potent and works really fast to provide rapid relief from hiccups.

10. Chamomile Tea:

Brew and drink chamomile tea as a remedy for hiccups. Chamomile is a natural muscle relaxant that soothes the muscles in the diaphragm to ease contractions and controls hiccups.

Foods to be Avoided:

Hiccups are not the result of a bad diet, eating habits, or lifestyle. While there is no specific diet plan for those who are frequently afflicted with hiccups, there are a few foods one can avoid while experiencing this condition. These foods aggravate the condition and can prolong hiccups.

1. Avoid aerated drinks, including plain soda, as the gas causes belching, worsening the hiccups.
2. Spicy foods also change the regular breathing pattern that can cause and increase hiccups.
3. If you are hiccupping during a meal, it is best to stop eating until your hiccups have subsided completely, as this could worsen the situation by causing you to choke.
4. Eating small portions prevents gas formation in the stomach, preventing hiccups from occurring.

Hiccups are not a medical issue. But if you cough up blood while hiccupping, go see a doctor. In all other cases, hiccups can easily be cured with these simple home remedies. So, the next time you begin to hiccup, first gulp down a glass of water and if that does not help, you know exactly what to do next!

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