Hiccups Home Remedies

Hiccups are contractions in an individuals’ diaphragm that are repeated continuously every few seconds.  These contractions cause the person to inhale abruptly and it is the rush of air that produces the telltale “hic” sound of a hiccup. Since this is an involuntary action, it is not easy to treat hiccups. The treatment for hiccups requires actions that help to prevent the contractions.

In most cases, hiccups disappear after a few minutes without the need for any intervention. However, in some cases, hiccups can last for hours and even days. There are cases of people who have suffered hiccups for years and some of them have even had hiccups for decades. These, however, are unusual and extremely rare cases. Among the many home remedies for hiccups, drinking water is the most popular. The individual has to take slow and measured sips of water as the swallowing mechanisms helps to soothe the muscles of the diaphragm and help to reduce hiccups. Some recommend heating the water slightly as heat is known to soothe and relax muscles. Breathing in deeply and holding one’s breath for a few seconds before slowly exhaling again is also considered to be one of the effective remedies for hiccups. Holding one’s breath helps to prevent muscle contractions and this prevents hiccups. Furthermore, deep breathing also helps to calm the entire system and this reduces hiccups as well. An old folk remedy for hiccups involves scaring the individual. While this may seem a little farfetched, the theory is quite sound, as the sudden panic causes a change in breathing patterns and this helps to eliminate hiccups. This is a method that is often used to treat hiccups in children when other methods cannot be used. It is important not to scare the child too much but it should rather be an act that causes a temporary and fleeting moment of fear which is then followed by relief as the child realizes that there is nothing really to fear. This method can sometimes go awry when incorrect scaring tactics are used as it could lead to deep seated fear. For example, suddenly switching off the lights may cause fear and get rid of hiccups but it could also make the child afraid of the dark. Unexpectedly shouting “boo” at a child may in fact be all the child needs to get rid of hiccups.

When it comes to treating hiccups, each individual reacts differently to a particular hiccups treatment. In order to cure hiccups, try different methods until you find a treatment for hiccups that suits you.