Hiccup remedies that actually work

• Hiccups are downright boring, especially when it does not go off after a few minutes.
• There are few research studies devoted to hiccup remedies because they remain a mystery.
• However, there are several evidence-based methods that offer a better chance of relieving you, such as the Valsalva maneuver, the icicle trick or the consumption of a lemon wedge.

At one point or another, you had hiccups and you probably tried desperately to get rid of them. And sometimes, they last longer than you want because none of the home remedies actually seem to work.

Unfortunately, there is no official cure for hiccups that suits everyone. Hiccups remain a mystery in the scientific community – both their cause and their treatment. However, research is speculating on several evidence-based hiccups and INSIDER has collected a few that have proven effective.

Hold your breath

Hiccups are involuntary spasms or contractions in the diaphragm, according to Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, Medical Director of CityMD. When you inhale, the opening between your vocal cords closes quickly, causing a "snag" sound. The feeling of "tightness" that people feel in their throats during a hiccup is the closing of their vocal cords.

One of the most common cures against hiccups is to hold your breath and it's one of the first methods you should try, explained Dr. Nesheiwat, as well as others. physical maneuvers. This technique allows carbon dioxide to accumulate in your lungs, which can relax your diaphragm.

Drink sips of cold water

Drinking iced water is another home remedy that you can try if the above methods do not work, said Dr. Nesheiwat at INSIDER. Cold water helps stop the irritation produced in the diaphragm.

When you drink cold water, it essentially helps to relax the diaphragm, allowing the muscle to function normally.

Pop your ears

If you've ever tried to open your ears, you've probably performed the Valsalva maneuver. It is the act of exhaling while pinching the nose and keeping the mouth shut. And although you can use it to open your ears, it's also a very useful technique to get rid of hiccups. Research suggests that this maneuver can interrupt the hiccup reflex.

It should be maintained for about 10 to 15 seconds. Just be careful not to do it too forcefully, and do not repeat this method if it does not work, said Tonic Brett Comer, Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor and University Surgeon. from Kentucky.

Use the ice trick

According to Allen Conrad, BS, DC, CSCS and owner of the Montgomery County Chiropractic Center, another proven method is the icicle trick.

"The key is the interruption of the vagus nerve," Conrad told INSIDER. "The vagus nerve, also known as the cranial nerve, causes the contraction of the diaphragm, causing you hiccups."

To temporarily stop the signal, place an ice cube on the nape of the neck where the top bony bone is located. At the same time, place another two-inch cube under your jaw for 30 seconds. This temporary interruption of the nervous flow will stop the hiccup signal from your body, explained Conrad.

Swallow a spoonful of sugar

According to Mary Poppins' prescription for helping the drug to decrease, swallowing a spoonful of sugar can also help you get rid of your hiccups. A 1971 study found that one teaspoon of sugar cured hiccups in 19 out of 20 patients.

The hypothesis of its effectiveness depends on how sugar affects the vagus nerve, thus connecting your brain and your stomach. The sugar irritates the back of the throat and interrupts the spasms.

Biting on a lemon with bitters

Curiously, this cure for hiccups was well known to bartenders before being pbaded on to the scientific community. The remedy is to eat or chew a lemon wedge topped with a few drops of bitter.

Dr. Jay Howard Herman and bartender David S. Nolan experienced this cure and found that 14 out of 16 patients got rid of their hiccups in less than a minute. Their study was later published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Breathe in a paper bag

Similar to holding your breath, breathing in a paper bag would also help solve the problem of hiccups, according to the UK National Health Service. This remedy increases the levels of carbon dioxide in the blood, which avoids spasms in the diaphragm.

Pull your knees to your chest

Another physical maneuver you can try is to raise your knees against your chest. Hold them or hug them and release them to repeat this process. In doing so, it helps relieve pressure on the diaphragm, Dr. Nesheiwat told INSIDER.

One of the most unusual remedies is a rectal mbadage

For a more serious case of hiccups, also known as chronic hiccups, there is the digital rectal mbadage method. A tube is inserted into the rectum and moves in a slow, circular motion. Seven out of seven patients were cured with this method.

The theory behind this works because mbadage stimulates the nerves present in the rectum, which leads to the end of hiccups.

Medications can also help with hiccups

Most of the time, hiccups go away without medical treatment. However, if your hiccups persist for more than 48 hours, you should see a doctor, according to Dr. Nesheiwat. Long-term hiccups could be a sign of an underlying health problem and require medication to treat hiccups in the long term.