A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction (spasm) of the diaphragm muscle. When the muscle spasms the vocal cords snap shut, producing the hiccup sound.

Common causes of hiccups include:

• eating too quickly,

• eating or drinking too much,

• diseases that irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm,

• abdominal surgery,

• strokes,

• swallowing air while chewing gum.

• Overuse of alcohol

• an electrolyte imbalance

• an anesthesia reaction after surgery

• diabetes

• kidney failure

• arteriovenous malformation (a condition in which arteries and veins are tangled in the brain)

• cancer and chemotherapy treatments

• Parkinson’s disease (a degenerative brain disease)

• brain tumors,

• breathing noxious fumes, and

• certain classes of drugs, including barbiturates, steroids, and tranquilizers.

Most cases of hiccups can be cured or resolved in a short time and rarely are they a medical emergency.

In some cases hiccups can be persistent and last for many hours or even days. This may be due to a serious underlying disease or condition. It is important you immediately visit your doctor or healthcare provider because treating any underlying causes of your hiccups will usually make them go away.

Natural remedies to get rid of hiccups include:

There are several anti-hiccup natural remedies that may be prescribed in treating severe and persistent hiccups, e.g.

• Cinnamon is the chief remedy for persistent and long lasting hiccups. Boil a teaspoon of cinnamon in half cup of water for a few minutes. Drink when lukewarm. You can take this every 8 hours till hiccups disappears.
• Take two to three pieces of onion with salt.
• Take salted yogurt during hiccups.

–  Put a small piece of ginger in your mouth and suck its juice or mix 2g dried ginger powder with 1 teaspoon honey. Have it thrice a day.

• Chew cardamom to get rid of hiccups or
  add half teaspoon cardamom powder in 1 glass of lukewarm water and drink.
• Burn a few mango leaves. Inhale the smoke.
• Take a lemon and heat. Cut into two pieces. Sprinkle little salt and black pepper on it and suck it.

Bottom line – Most cases of hiccups go away within a few minutes or hours. If you regularly get hiccups or have hiccups that last for more than two days, talk with your doctor or healthcare provider. Your persistent hiccups could be a sign of an underlying health condition.

By Homeopath Oluwafunmise

08028366901