How to Treat Hiccups With Natural Medicine

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm, the muscle that works to draw air in and out of the lungs, becomes irritated. The muscle begins to jerk suddenly, forcing you to suck air quickly into your throat, causing a hiccup. Most bouts of the hiccups only last for a few minutes; however, they can sometimes last for hours or even days. There are no hiccup medicines, but a few natural remedies can have you cured in no time. Read on to learn more about how to treat hiccups with natural medicine.

Instructions

1. Cover the diaphragm with an ice pack until the hiccups go away. Sucking on a piece of ice can also make an effective natural medicine for the hiccups. Ice will cool the diaphragm muscle and relieve the spasm that causes the hiccups.

2. Fill a glass with cool water and take small sips repeatedly, one after the other, until the hiccups stop. The esophagus, or the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach, passes through the diaphragm. Quick, repeated swallowing will disrupt the diaphragm and help stop spasm.

3. Rub the back of your tongue gently with the tip of your finger or a cotton swab to stimulate the gag reflex. While this natural remedy is not the most comfortable, the reaction of gagging will "reset" the diaphragm and stop the hiccups.

4. Drink a small amount of vinegar, one of the oldest natural medicines for stopping the hiccups. Drinking 1 tsp. of white or apple cider vinegar will cause your body to jerk a bit in disgust due to the strong flavor, but your body's reaction is just what the doctor ordered to stop a spasming diaphragm.

Tips & Warnings

• See a doctor if your hiccups last for more than a day or two, as it can be a sign of another serious medical problem.