Holistic Treatment of Intermittent Intractable Hiccupping

Hiccups are a minor glitch in the nervous system. Intractable or chronic hiccups are medically treated only in extreme cases because the medication used causes severe fatigue. Holistic treatments, on the other hand, usually involve odd sensations that serve to reset the affected nerves.

Increase Carbon Dioxide

• Causing an increase in carbon dioxide in the body is the most common treatment for hiccups. Hold your breath or breathe into a bag for about 30 seconds at a time.

Get a Drink

• Taking a drink of water may be effective, but drinking while upside down has a greater success rate. One method is to fill your mouth with water, do a handstand against a wall, and then swallow, but it is physically easier to lean over a bed and drink from a straw.

Vinegar

• Drinking a solution of vinegar and sugar may be enough to distract the hyper nerves, but if that does not work you could try pouring a small amount of vinegar through your sinuses with a neti pot.

Electrolytes

• If your hiccups are caused by an electrolyte imbalance, fixing that problem may prevent your hiccups from returning. An electrolyte drink could help.

Anal Massage

• Though it may not be as convenient as holding your breath, in two severe cases it was reported that anal massage caused immediate relief from extreme hiccups.