There are hundreds of "cures" for hiccups, and although my method may sound just as campy, it has worked for everyone I have suggested it to. It's a simple situation of mind over matter. Hiccups are spasms in your diaphragm; a sudden spasm of your diaphragm causes air to rush into your lungs. Your windpipe responses by closing suddenly, thinking something is wrong. Hence, the "hic" sound. The only way to get rid of the hiccups is to control the spasms, and this can be accomplished through focused, controlled breathing. The best form of controlled breathing is Pranayama, commonly known as yoga breathing.
Much like blinking your eyes, breathing can be manipulated, and by learning to control your breathing, you can regain control of your diaphragm during hiccups. Yoga breathing gets you in touch with the diaphram through slow, deep breathing. The key to this type of breathing is
focus and
control. Just breathing deep will do nothing, you have to mentally take control of your lungs' sympathetic system. It can be done.
For a
how-to on yoga breathing, Health and Yoga has a
great page on the intricacies of the breathing technique. The basic idea is to breathe in through your nostrils slowly, and fill your lungs all the way down to your belly, and exhale slowly pushing all oxygen out of your body. Ideally, yoga masters are able to slow their breathing with each inhale/exhale. Great masters can breath in for thirty seconds and out for thirty seconds. Yeah, I'm not one of those people, but I have found that the focused breathing allows me to control my diaphragm and regain normal breathing.
If hiccups last for a long time, however, seek professional help.
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Reader comments (Page 1 of 7)
holy bejazus, a seriously lapsed beginner yogini, ONE deep breath (ok close on 30 sec), one break, one cheater deep breath did it. THANKS!
ReplyHi there, I've been using techniques similar to this for years, without anybody's advice. I just taught myself. I kind of just tell myself, "No more hiccups" and they're gone. I never get more than 3 hiccups. I've always wondered how I did it, but you're absolutely right. They are a case of mind over matter. Lately I've been doing the same with sneezing, and it works. It's strange.
ReplyTake a sulpher match and light it, as it is flaring douse it in a small glass of water and drink the water right away.
Replypresto no more hickups. I have used this for 60 years and have never failed to stop the hickups. Its the sulpher. Taste is not that bad if you only take 1-2 swollows of the water.
A spoonfull of peanut butter will cure the kiccups.
ReplyThanks for all your good ideas...I hate getting them...very nasty to stop them...never hear about peanut butter probably the oils in peanuts settles down the air movements in the body>?
ReplyI always do deep breathing to get rid of my hiccups, and it works great. Don't need to "mentally control" of my system, but I figured the best way to stop muscle spasms is to stretch and regulate the muscle, which I think it what deep, rhythmic breathing does. Always works, usually within a minute or two.
Replythis absolutely did not work for me........i tried three seperate times because i had read about it before..........definitely not a cure for all!
ReplyI have shared this hiccup cure with hundreds of people and it has only failed for one or two people: concentrate on HAVING the hiccups, then COUNT the seconds between hiccups. HIC, 1-2-3-4, etc. HIC, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8, etc. You will only hiccup about 4 more times. This remedy is what is in common with all other remedies: You are waiting to see if you hiccup again. The yoga cure shown here is similar, but this is much easier!
Replyjust tried this last week- during Elvis week in Memphis!
ReplyWe were eating at a place called "PIG "- great Bar- B- Q!
Got the hiccups- this sweet waitress gave me this method to try- what the heck!
Put a paper towel over the glass of ice water - sip thru the paper towell- NO KIDDING!!- TWO SIPS-- CURED!! AMAZING!!
IM THE BIGGEST SKEPTIC EVER! IT WORKED FOR ME!!
A spoonful of sugar or a piece of candy will get rid of the hiccups.
ReplyI read this in Newsweek years ago and I still use it. I know neither candy nor sugar are good for you but it is better than having hiccups.
This sound absolutely ridiculous but I swear it works. Drink a glass of water through a straw while plugging your ears. When i first was told to try it, I thought the person was crazy but for some reason it actually does work.
ReplyThis sound absolutely ridiculous but I swear it works. Drink a glass of water through a straw while plugging your ears. When i first was told to try it, I thought the person was crazy but for some reason it actually does work.
ReplyThis sound absolutely ridiculous but I swear it works. Drink a glass of water through a straw while plugging your ears. When i first was told to try it, I thought the person was crazy but for some reason it actually does work.
ReplyThis sound absolutely ridiculous but I swear it works.
ReplyDrink a full glass of water through a straw while plugging your ears. When i first was told to try it, I thought the person was crazy but for some reason it actually does work.
Drink a full glass of water through a straw while plugging your ears. When i first was told to try it, I thought the person was crazy but for some reason it actually does work.
ReplyAll you have to do is put a wash cloth over a glass of watter. Then suck the water through the wash cloth. I have had many, many people do this and it always works. I have 4 children also and it has never failed. Good luck!
Replya tablespoon of sugar held in the back of the throat and dissolved slowly does the trick. everyone I have told has relief immediately
Replyactually, in my experience a spoonful of sugar stops hiccups immediatly every time.
ReplyA LEMON SLICE WITH BITTERS AND SUGAR ON THE SLICE WILL KNOCK OUT HICCUPS-A OLD BAR REMEDY.
Replyhave someone "feed" you a glass of water. The other person has to hold the glass while you drink it. We use hand motions to say more or slow down or stop. I've done this to numerous people and have NEVER seen it not work - on others and myself.
Reply