Hiccups are associated with consumption of certain medicines, strokes, breathing fumes, and/or even eating or drinking too much, yet hiccups are not a serious health issue(1).
However, hiccups can disrupt sleeping and eating patterns, speech changes, and cause exhaustion. Treating it is easier with these simple and handy home remedies for hiccups. Read on to know the simple home remedies for some quick fixes.
Home Remedies for Hiccups
1. Yogurt
By consuming a few spoons of yogurt, your inevitable hiccups stop and it is a perfect remedy of hiccups. Yogurt helps in calming down the diaphragm as well as helps in preventing the hiccups. Yogurt consists of alkaline properties, and its pH can help in calming hiccups caused due to acidity.
For preparing the yogurt mixture, take 1 cup of plain yogurt and add one teaspoon of salt. After consuming it, you will get instant relief.
Firstly, you need to add salt in the yogurt for preparing a homogenous mixture then have this mixture slowly.
[Also Read: How to Get Rid of Hiccups Naturally]
2. Honey
When you experience hiccups continuously, you can take a tablespoon of honey. Honey helps in easing the hiccup sensation. When swallowed, coupled with honey’s warmth, you will instantly get relief from hiccups because honey can activate the salivary glands and change the breathing rhythm as you swallow.
When you take one tablespoon of honey, your hiccups will stop instantly, and you will get rid of this irritating health condition. You may also add one teaspoon of honey to warm water and stir it properly. You can stop your hiccups by drinking this.
[Also Read: How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups]
3. Sugar
Sugar was the first remedy for treating the hiccups, and even now, it is considered an excellent remedy for getting rid of hiccups. When you put sugar in your mouth, it stops the diaphragm from spasming.
Place sugar cubes on your tongue for around thirty seconds, allow it to get dissolved, then start chewing it, and swallow slowly.
One teaspoon full of sugar for hiccups is enough, and you can also repeat if required.
4. Ice
Coldwater can shock the tract of digestive and helps in curing hiccups instantly. You may feel yourself gasping for some seconds, but there is nothing to worry. Take a deep breath to regain the normal breathing process. Your hiccups disappear in a jiffy.
With a few ice cubes and a glass of chilled water, you can calm down your hiccups instantly. Add a few ice cubes in a glass of water and drink it. You will feel relief from hiccups.
While sipping the water, swallow it with the chin touching the chest. It can help in stopping the hiccup reflex.
5. Lemon
Sprinkle sugar cubes on the wedge of the lemon and take a bite of it. Your hiccups will go in a few seconds.
You require one lemon wedge and a few crystals of sugar to do away with your hiccups.
The sour taste of lemon helps in saturating the mouth as well as the tract of the digestive. It can also help stimulate the nerves that cause the spasm. If you can eat a wedge of the lemon without sugar, it is more beneficial, and hiccups will go away in a couple of seconds.
6. Cardamom
Cardamom powder helps in relaxing the diaphragm muscles. It is one of the fantastic ways for curing hiccups because it provides relaxation to the diaphragm muscles by flushing out alcohol and other harmful substances from the body.
Powdered cardamom is renowned for offering relief from hiccups quickly. You need a teaspoon of cardamom powder and one and a half cup of water.
Add freshly ground cardamom powder in boiling water at low heat. Allow it to cool down and then strain it. You can drink the filtered cardamom mixture to get relief from hiccups.
7. Chamomile
Chamomile acts as a natural muscle relaxant, which helps in soothing the diaphragm muscles for easing contractions as well as controlling hiccups.
You can make fresh chamomile tea by soaking the chamomile herb in hot water for a couple of minutes.
You will need dried chamomile herb (1 teaspoon) or tea bag, a hot water cup, and a few lemon juice drops. You may add some lemon juice drops for making it tastier and drink this herbal tea.
[Also Read: Health Benefits of Chamomile Tea]
8. Ginger
Ginger acts as an excellent remedy to get relief from the annoying hiccups. It consists of anti-inflammatory properties that help in relaxing the diaphragm muscle. Ginger is the perfect solution for hiccups, which is caused due to indigestion.
You need to take 2-3 small pieces of ginger. Keep the pieces in the mouth. Suck the ginger pieces for a couple of minutes. You can also sip some fresh ginger tea slowly.
9. Vinegar
A glass of warm drink made of Vinegar and maple syrup not only helps in getting rid of hiccups but also soothes your throat.
You need one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon of maple syrup, warm water. Add the maple syrup and vinegar in the warm water, stir it for few seconds and drink this concoction.
[Also Read: Apple Cider Vinegar: Benefits and Uses]
10. Peanut Butter
When you eat peanut or almond butter, the breathing patterns get altered, thereby putting an end to your hiccups. Peanut butter is considered as one of the yummiest remedies for getting relief from hiccups. The chewing process can distract the uneasy breathing patterns caused by the hiccups.
You need a teaspoon of peanut or almond butter. Have this to get rid of hiccups. You can even go for chocolate or almond butter spread.
There are various home remedies you can use to stop hiccups. Try these home remedies to get rid of it. Numerous techniques such as holding the breath, drinking a glass of water, sucking the lemon wedges, gargle, use smelling salt, etc. can cause relaxation of the diaphragm and avoid the spasms that can cause the hiccups.
You can seek doctors who can prescribe medications for chronic and severe hiccups. Chlorpromazine is usually the first medication prescribed by the doctors for hiccups. Other drugs include haloperidol and metoclopramide. Some muscle relaxants, analgesics, stimulants, and sedatives also help alleviate hiccup symptoms.
FAQs
1. What are the causes of hiccups?
Nerve irritation can extend to the chest from the neck and cause hiccups. There are various conditions that can cause the irritation and result in hiccups, such as swallowing air, eating too fast, chewing gum, smoking, strokes, eating or drinking too much, damage to the vague or phrenic nerve, brain tumours, some medications, anxiety and stress, noxious fumes, and in case of babies, hiccups might associate with coughing, crying, etc.
2. What are the other treatment options for hiccups?
Treatment to get relief from the hiccups depends on the severity of the hiccups. Frequent hiccups subside on their own. However, home remedies are perfect for curing the symptoms of hiccups. For more severe hiccups, the doctors prescribe medications for managing the hiccups of the patient. Chlorpromazine is the first prescribed medication worked for hiccups, although drugs such as baclofen and medicines are also successful for treating hiccups.
2. How To Stop Continuous Hiccups?
There are some symptoms of hiccups avoidable. The different ways to reduce the risk, including avoid sudden temperature changes, avoid drinking sodas or alcohol, eating slowly & not too fast. Usually, hiccups last for a short while, and they go away, but if hiccups stay for longer, you must see a doctor.
