Hiccup

Also written as Hiccough
Hiccups are an involuntary spasm of the Diaphragm which usually only lasts a short while. There are recorded cases of Hiccups lasting for long periods and being seriously debilitating for the individual. In severe cases the person may have trouble breathing, or inability to sleep. Western Medicine generally recommends medical intervention if the Hiccups last for longer than a day, or if they cause difficulty breathing or sleeping.

Causes
Causes of Hiccup can be such things as eating or drinking too fast, drinking carbonate beverages, excess spicy or cold food, alcohol or smoking.

From Internal Medicine point of view, Hiccups, although not really a disease of the Stomach, are closely related to Acid Reflux as the primary pathogenisis of both are rising Stomach Qi. Therefore people with recurring Hiccups or long-lasting Hiccups can be treated based on this idea.

Western Tradition

Formulas
1. ‘Take Hot water and put your hands into it, and hold them there a good while, and the hicket [hiccup] will cease, it has been proved and found true’. (The Secrets of Alexis, 1615)
2. ‘In many case sneezing will put an end to Hiccups’ (Syrian ‘Book of Medicine‘, Budge, 1913)
3. Breathing into a paper bag is an old folk treatment and appears to work for some.
4. Holding the breath for as long as possible.
5. Sipping Ice-cold water.
6. A spoonful of Vinegar of Squill
7. Rue or Rue seed taken in wine
8. Parsley seed, Cumin, Aniseed
9. Betel nut (as much as a Chickpea) given in wine.
10. Galangal, Cyperus, Clove, Wormwood, Mint
11. Costus, Rose, Mastic, Spikenard

Powder to Warm the Belly (Rondeletius)
Powder of Aloeswood (Mesue)
Powder of Galangal Compound (Diagalanga) (Mesue)
Powder of Cumin Greater (Nicholas)
Electuary of Quince Compound
Electuary of Cumin (Diacyminum) Mesue
Philonium Romanum Galenii

Chinese Classification

Formulas