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Hiccups
Causes
The vagus nerve impulse pattern in the throat causes spasms of the diaphragm which lead to a case of hiccups. By interrupting this pattern many people have success stopping hiccups. This is probably why very sweet or tart remedies seem to work well.
Remedies
Folk
Anise seed (for infants) Pour a cupful of boiling water over a teaspoonful of anise seeds; steep; give the baby one or two teaspoonful. It often cures immediately. Nursing the baby will frequently stop the hiccups, too.
Apple cider vinegar Slowly sip a glass of warm water mixed with one teaspoon of vinegar. Works better when the water is drunk from the far side of the glass.
Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) Mix two teaspoonful of baking soda, two teaspoonful of aromatic spirits of ammonia with four ounces of peppermint water. Dose: one tablespoonful; repeat if necessary.
Breathing Breathe into a small paper bag that is tightly pressed around your mouth. Or try spreading your arms out like a "T" and take a very deep breath. Repeat several times. Or try taking a deep breath and holding it as long as you can.
Chamomile Put 1 drop of chamomile essential oil in a brown paper bag; hold bag over nose and mouth; breathe in and out slowly and deeply through the nose.
Camphor Mix three drops of spirits of Camphor in half a glassful of water and drink.
Collar bones Put strong pressure on the collar bones.
Honey Take a teaspoon of honey.
Ice Eat or suck on a piece of ice.
Lemon Mix the juice of one lemon in half a glass of water; drink; repeat if the first drink didn't stop the hiccups.
Lemon/salt Put a teaspoonful of salt on half a lemon and then suck the juice out of the lemon.
Lemon/bitters Eat a slice of lemon which has been soaked in angostura bitters.
Orange Drink the juice from 1/2 an orange.
Peanut butter Eat 1 teaspoon of peanut butter.
Pepper, red Pour a half pint of boiling water over a quarter of a red pepper; steep; drink a wineglassful. If no red pepper is available, use five drops of tincture of Capsicum in a tablespoonful of water.
Pineapple juice Take a few rapid swallows of canned pineapple juice. Repeat hourly if necessary.
Sugar Cure hiccups by placing a teaspoon of sugar on the tongue and washing it down with a glass of cold water. Another sugar remedy suggests swallowing it dry.
Sugar/lemon Soak a cube of sugar in fresh lemon juice and let it dissolve in your mouth.
Tartar, cream of Add 1/3 teaspoon of cream of tartar to 8 oz. of warm water; drink 2 tablespoons at a time on an empty stomach.
Water Drinking water in various fashions has been an age-old cure. Here are several variations. Plug your ears and drink a glass of ice cold water; or slowly sip a cup of warm water; sip a cup of warm water with honey in it. For infants: hiccups usually disappear in 5-10 minutes. If hiccups do not disappear, give the baby a bottle of sugar water. Mix one-quarter teaspoon of sugar with four ounces of water.
Homeopathic
Cuprum metallicum 7: 5 granules immediately.
