How to get rid of hiccups with acupressure

Don’t hold your breath waiting for the hiccups to pass. Learn how acupressure can help stop hiccups. 

What are hiccups? 

Anyone from newborn babies to older adults can experience an abrupt, annoying, involuntary bout of hiccups. Hiccups are caused by repeated spontaneous spasms of your diaphragm, the large muscle located under your lungs that helps you breathe in and out. The muscle spasm, paired with the sound of your vocal cords quickly snapping closed, creates the distinctive sound of a hiccup.  

Why do we get the hiccups?

Though hiccups have no clear cause, there are a few factors that can contribute:

• eating too fast
• drinking carbonated or alcoholic beverages
• swallowing large amounts of air
• smoking.

How to get rid of hiccups

Hiccups are usually temporary and tend to go away on their own. They’re not typically a cause for concern, but if your hiccups last longer than two days, you should call your doctor.

Though there is no tried-and-true way to stop the hiccups, if you don’t feel like waiting, there are some home remedies that may help by stimulating your vagus nerve, a nerve that connects the brain to the body, or increasing carbon dioxide levels in your lungs, including:

• briefly holding your breath
• sipping or gargling cold water 
• pulling on your tongue
• breathing into a paper bag 
• swallowing a spoonful of sugar.

Those looking for a treatment for hiccups that doesn’t include eating, drinking or breath work can self-treat with acupressure. 

Acupressure is a form of Traditional East Asian Medicine that involves applying pressure to specific points on the body to help with various conditions. Acupressure is closely related to acupuncture, but does not involve the use of needles.

How acupressure works

While we do not yet fully understand how acupressure works, research has shown that acupressure stimulates the brain and body to release various chemicals including your natural pain killers, endorphins, immune system cells and neurotransmitters. In Traditional East Asian Medicine, acupressure stimulates your body's own healing response.

To remedy a bout of hiccups, you can practice using gentle or firm physical pressure on certain points of your body to restore balance to your mind, body and spirit. Acupressure is said to help to reduce stress and create a sense of calm and peace.

Pressure points that stop hiccups

The following acupressure points may help to relieve hiccups. You can do them one after another, or one at a time.

Jaw point

Place your pointer finger in the small indent behind your jawbone, just below your ear lobe. Gently press your finger toward your jawbone for 1 to 2 minutes as you focus on deep breathing. This point should feel tender but not painful. Release. 

Chest points

Trace one finger down the center of your neck until you feel the circular indent at the base. Place both of your pointer fingers in the indent and slide them down about 1 inch more. Trace your fingers out to the sides until you feel tender points in the muscles under the collar bones. Gently press these points with your fingers for 20 to 30 seconds or longer as you focus on deep breathing. Release.

Upper lip point

Place your pointer finger in the space between your upper lip and base of your nose. Press this point firmly with your pointer finger for 20 to 30 seconds or longer as you focus on deep breathing. Release.

You should not do acupressure on yourself if you:

• have a condition or injury that could be made worse by applying pressure to your body such as arthritis, bone disease, varicose veins or recent surgery in the acupressure area. 
• have bone cancer or a tumor in the acupressure treatment area.