One Extra Treatment for Hiccups

I’ve written beforehand about how Paul Ingraham helped treatment my patello-femoral ache syndrome.

Extra not too long ago, Paul regarded into hiccup cures as a result of his father had an intractable case. What lastly labored for dad? Respiration right into a plastic bag.

Boosting blood CO2 (hypercapnia) by inhaling a PLASTIC bag. This one is sort of believable and is straightforward and secure to attempt. Hypercapnia positively impacts some sorts of hiccups. The story (from a sensible supply, a great “pal of PainSci”): “There’s a fair simpler manner out of hiccups — at zero price. Discovered it from my uncle, who studied medication in Brazil within the 50s. Anesthetized sufferers with hiccups had been in ache, in order that they wanted to eliminate it ASAP. Technique: breathe in a PLASTIC bag, sufficiently small so that you can get hypercapnia (get increased blood ranges of CO2). You need to maintain the bag REALLY tight round your nostril and mouth to stop air from escaping, and when you’ve got hassle with dizziness, it is advisable to sit down down for it. As quickly because it will get uncomfortable, principally after 4-6 breaths, you’ll be able to cease, the hiccup shall be gone. I do not know what this does to the phrenic nerve, nevertheless it works 100%.”

Security Notes: Clearly there may very well be some hazard with this methodology. If he’d had low O2 or was struggling for breath, we seemingly would not have dared. (Alternatively, if he’d been in that state, he would’ve been on the hospital.) However he was supervised, with no chance of getting caught, and a matter of only some breaths. Maybe there was nonetheless some danger… however I feel not treating these hiccups was additionally a danger.

I’ve by no means tried that methodology for my hiccups. My private favourite residence treatment is “consuming from the far aspect of the glass.” AKA, consuming water the other way up. Watch this video of a great ol’ boy demonstrating the approach though I’d goal for consuming at the very least 6-8 fl oz of water earlier than quitting. Do not ask me the way it works; it might have one thing to do with the taste bud or diaphragm.

Steve Parker, M.D