Hiccup is an involuntary and sudden contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm. Normally, this action is repeated many times. A weird sound (hic) is produced. The sound is because of the epiglottis which closes when air suddenly tries to rush in. Hiccups are not as painful usually, though they can be very irritating at times. When they continue for a long period, they are very irritating.

Hiccups are also part of the body's defense system. If you swallow a large piece of meat or drink plenty of fluids, the glottis (the opening from the mouth to the throat) automatically closes to prevent food from getting into the wind¬pipe. At the same time, the diaphragm forces the food upward by contracting its muscles. When the danger has passed, the nerves of the diaphragm and glottis relax. If they don't, a person has hiccups.

Causes of Hiccups:

1. If you eat too fast, you can swallow air along with your food and end up with a case of the hiccups.

2. In these instances, your stomach, which sits underneath and adjacent to the diaphragm, is distended or stretched.

3. Sobbing or crying

4. Consuming very hot food.

5. Consuming excessive alcohol or soda.

6. Coughing badly.

7. Laughing badly.

Treatment of Hiccups:

1. Holding your breath and counting to 10 is one way some people can get rid of their hiccups. Other people say that drinking from the "wrong" side of a glass of water is the way to become hiccup-free.

2. Putting sugar under your tongue might work.

3. Pound 5-6 green cardamom. Boil in 2 cups of water. When it boils down to 1cup remove, sieve and drink while warm.

4. Drinking water frequently in short durations is also helpful.

5. Eating a bowl full of yogurt with a pinch of salt is also a good home remedy.

6. Tickling the throat with the cotton swab is also helpful.

7. Drink one ounce of white vinegar.

8. Sucking crushed ice provides immediate relief.

9. Breathing into a paper bag or a sharp yank on the tongue.

10. Black Pepper (Piper nigrum) - Inhaling black pepper powder can induce a person to sneezing.

11. Mustard (Brassica junpea) - Due to its strong taste, mustard has capacity to stimulate the nerves in the throat region.

12. Take more fibers in the diet which will help in the proper digestion of food.

13. For acute hiccoughs, Mayurpichcha mashi is given along with ginger and honey.

14. Try massaging the region at the back of the neck. This is the place where the nerves are much accessible.

15. Somnath rasa is also a commonly prescribed medicine for hiccoughs.

16. For persistent hiccoughs, take Chitrakadi vati in quantities of 250 milligrams thrice a day.

17. Eating something spicy and pungent can stop hiccoughs.

18. The age-old remedy is to get someone to suddenly frighten you. Like, get someone to scare you by suddenly shouting in your face. This will divert your nerves and stop the hiccoughs.

Read About Home Remedies also Read about Home Remedies for Hiccups and Home Remedies for High Blood Pressure

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