Hiccup Remedies

| Modified on Dec 10, 2023
Hiccup Remedies

Hiccups - Origin and Treatment

The common hiccup is caused by an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and serves an important part in the body's ability to breathe. As an involuntary contraction occurs, the vocal cords also close suddenly, causing the characteristic “hic” sound. While hiccups are relatively harmless for most individuals and last only a few minutes, some individuals experience hiccups as the result of a more serious underlying medical condition and endure a case of hiccups for several months at a time.

Generally speaking, the characteristic “hic” sound is the only sign of a case of the hiccups. Additionally, hiccups typically present few symptoms; however, common symptoms may include a slight tightening of the chest, a contraction of the abdomen or a narrowing of the throat that occurs as the hiccup is produced. Likewise, an external bodily reaction such as a jumping or moving of the shoulders may occur.


Several factors contribute to the onset of hiccups. Most short-term hiccups are caused by eating too much, drinking carbonated beverages, consuming too much alcohol, experiencing a sudden change in temperature or getting excited or stressed. Additionally, hiccups may be cause by more long-term issues. Factors contributing to long-term hiccups include nerve damage or irritation such as that from a hair in the ear touching or tickling the eardrum, a sore throat, laryngitis, a tumor or cyst in the neck or gastroesophageal reflux. Likewise, long-term hiccups may be caused by issues of the central nervous system or disruption of the metabolism.

Home Remedies for Hiccups

Typically hiccups resolve themselves without need for treatment; however, several home remedies can shorten the duration of hiccups and offer relief. A spoonful of peanut butter or almond butter can eradicate symptoms almost instantaneously. Additional treatment options include apple cider vinegar and sugar, bitters combined with lemon and sugar, and a drink upside-down.




Acupressure

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
  100%

Posted by Art (California) on 05/15/2020 2119 posts
★★★★★

A friend showed me an easy way to get rid of my hiccups. I take my thumb and index figure so they form a " C ". I take the open part of the C and lightly squeeze on each side of my Adam's apple with those two fingertips and that has always worked for me to get rid of the hiccups! It is convenient because I can do it anywhere and don't need anything other than my hand! Art

Replied by Sassaphras M.
(US)
05/26/2020

I don't have an Adam's apple 🤔

Robert Viks
(US)
05/26/2020
★★★★★

Yes you do, it's your “voice box”. Might not be as prominent on some people, but it's there. Do the “C” thing and grasp the front of your neck midway between bottom & top & gently move that back & forth- that's your Adam's apple. If you're still not convinced, say “A-a-ahh” in a low pitch while you've got that in your grasp & you can feel the vibration.


Almond Butter

2 User Reviews
5 star (2) 
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Posted by Lisa (Thousand Oaks, Ca, Usa) on 09/10/2012
★★★★★

My 13 yr old daughter was having trouble with hiccups all day long. Finally, we went on EC and found peanut butter. We only had almond butter so used that instead and within minutes the hiccups stopped! And she was relieved- amazing!

Replied by Donna
(Houston, Texas)
04/20/2014
★★★★★

Peanut butter worked like a charm for my guy just now. He has had hiccups off and on for a few days now and was miserable. Yay for peanut butter!


Apple Cider Vinegar

4 User Reviews
5 star (4) 
  100%

Posted by Noel (Limerick, Ireland) on 10/08/2023
★★★★★

Suffered a bout of hiccups for over 12 hours. I tried a tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar as advised on Earth Clinic and the hiccups stopped almost immediately. So far so good. Thanks for the natural remedy advice.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Mama To Many (Tennessee, Usa) on 08/08/2015
★★★★★

My thirteen year old daughter gets terrible hiccups. Loud and violent and hard to get rid of. I was the same way when I was young, and so was my mother. They can be downright exhausting! They can also be embarrassing. One time I was at Carlsbad Caverns, on a tour, in a cave, hiccuping. They echoed!

So this morning my daughter got hiccups. She tried many of her usual things to get rid of them and she could not get rid of them. Finally they abated, only to return in the afternoon for another long round of hiccupping.

Before dinner, they came again. She said, "Well, vinegar will probably work." She poured herself a spoonful of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar and took it straight and chased it with water. She hasn't hiccuped since!

~Mama to Many~


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Patricia (Miami, Fl) on 06/19/2011
★★★★★

Yes! 1 tbsp ACV straight just got rid of my hiccups. Thank you!

Replied by Oak_84
(Chicago, Illinois)
08/13/2011

Bitters on a lime!!!!

A very old "Bar" trick that works wonders every time!!! I've been plagued with hiccups for decades and it seems that this old fashioned remedy is just about the only thing that works for me!! Give it a try sometime... You will not be dissappointed!!

Replied by Esmith
(Washington, Dc)
05/13/2012

To stop my hiccups, I took Baclofen 10mg and they stopped immediately. Last Tuesday, after lunch, I started hiccuping about every 5 seconds. It stopped for about an hour, then got going again. This lasted until Thursday around 6pm when my doctor prescribed Baclofen 10mg and, after taking only one pill, the hiccups immediately stopped. I realize this might not work for everyone, but I am very grateful it stopped mine. Hope this helps someone else.


Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Melinda (Perth, Australia) on 03/28/2011
★★★★★

An instant cure for hiccups - 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar :)


Apple Cider Vinegar and Sugar

1 User Review
5 star (1) 
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Posted by Frances (Gcs, Fl ) on 05/06/2011
★★★★★

1 Tbsp ACV saturated with sugar stopped the hiccups. Tried other remedies and nothing worked but this.


Arms Above Head and Breathe

1 User Review
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Posted by Angel S. (US) on 05/26/2020
★★★★★

Just lift your arms up for 1 minute and breathe deeply ... always works.


Baking Soda

1 User Review
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Posted by Kathleen P. (US) on 05/26/2020
★★★★★

For hiccups: burping, and some baking soda in lukewarm water.


Bitters, Lemon and Sugar

1 User Review
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Posted by Sandra (Los Angeles, Ca) on 08/12/2013
★★★★★

Take a slice of lemon, cover it with sugar and (liquid) bitters... Then gnaw on it for a minute or two and the hiccups are gone!


Burp

3 User Reviews
5 star (3) 
  100%

Posted by Chris (St. Louis, MO) on 10/18/2006
★★★★★

Just force a burp or two. This worked every time for me.

Replied by Jasmyn
(Honolulu, Hawaii, U.s.)
02/14/2013
★★★★★

Been doing this all my life! I learnt it in the schoolyard from a classmate! If you can't force a burp, try drinking lots of fizzy drinks.

Replied by Melissa
(Ohio)
09/14/2017
9 posts
★★★★★

I just tried this and it worked after the second time...amazing!


Cause of Hiccups: Phrenic Nerve Chilling

1 User Review
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Posted by Jayna D. (California) on 12/09/2023
★★★★★

Years ago a chiropractor told me that they are caused by the chilling of the phrenic nerve. So, very often I get hiccups after eating something from the fridge or just being in the cold air. I take apple cider capsules daily and they have not prevented them. However, thankfully for me hiccups don't last very long. I'll try the solutions mentioned.


Drink Upside Down

19 User Reviews
5 star (19) 
  100%

Posted by Debbie Gray (US) on 05/26/2020
★★★★★

One day I developed hiccups during my high school chemistry class. My chemistry teacher made me get up and drink a cup of water while bending over from the waist. It worked!! Since then, I have altered the technique by getting a mouthful of water, then bending over and swallowing. Sometimes I have to repeat this several times in a row, but the hiccups always go away.


Drink Upside Down
Posted by Yvaughn (Arlington, Tx) on 08/28/2016
★★★★★

Yet another "yay" for drinking water upside-down. I filled my mouth with water, bent waaay over, and then swallowed. I didn't hiccup once after the first swallow, but I did it 3 more times, just in case. I now have a slight... awareness (not even enough to say "discomfort") in my chest, beside my sternum, over my right breast, but I think that's only because I used really cold water :-) Thank you, everyone, for this cure!


Drink Upside Down
Posted by Melisa (Asheville, Nc) on 03/15/2013
★★★★★

The drink upside down technique for hiccups worked amazingly well. My husband was suffering from recurring hiccups for 10 minutes due to fullness. He didn't eat a lot, but felt very full. I suggested this remedy. He hiccuped through the first 2 sips and then completely stopped on the fourth. He said he felt like he was on the verge of hiccuping and took a mouthful, bent at the waist and swallowed one more time. He stopped hiccuping completely or feeling like he was going to hiccup. We could not stop laughing - it was unbelievable!



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