Nothing can be more irritating than persistent hiccups. Medically it is known as Synchronous Diaphragmatic Flutter (SDF) or singultus. It is a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm which occurs at the same time as a contraction of the larynx or the voice box and total closure of the glottis (glottis is the middle part of the larynx, where the vocal cords are located), blocking air intake. Experts are not sure about what exactly causes hiccups. The underlying causes for these sudden spasms are many—cerebro vascular diseases, hysteria, diseases of digestive tract, tumors, uremia, acute myocardial infarction, postoperative condition, improper diet, anger or common cold. Drugs may prove ineffective for hiccup in severe diseases. However, acupuncture often produces instant cure.
A study was done at China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine to find the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating hiccups. Ten approaches were selected to effectively treat the condition. Of these, body acupuncture was the most often used approach which showed an effective rate of 97.4 per cent. Through puncture to more than one point approach produces a strong stimulation and was effective in 98 per cent cases. Bleeding tapping method was used until blood began to ooze out and obtained good results. The method of moxibustion was also commonly used. Another approach to treat hiccups was through ear points. For ear points, there are two approaches—acupuncture or pressing. In another method, the patients were told to close their eyes and, with the skin over the eye stretched tight by the acupuncturist. The rest of the approaches included nose acupuncture, hand acupuncture, electro acupuncture and thread embedding.
Acupuncture has shown good results for hiccup and any of the above-mentioned approaches may be used. For stubborn cases, however, simultaneous use of several approaches may be required. For example, body acupuncture along with ear acupuncture and electro acupuncture may prove effective in severe cases.
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