What's Hiccup, doc?

Tried and true hiccup cures

I hate hiccups.

One or two is fine. When they’ve been going on for five minutes or more, it’s annoying. Ask my niece, Kathryn, who had chronic hiccups when she was a teenager.

Everyone has their favorite hiccup remedies. Hold your breath. Scare a person. Eat a tablespoon of sugar. Yeah, yeah, none of that works for me.
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So here are my top three tried and true remedies that I’ve either used or observed with absolute success.

3. The Staredown. Have someone look you in the eye, as close as possible without touching noses. The person without the hiccups says, “Hiccup for me… right now.” Eye contact is essential. The person repeats, “If you have the hiccups, then hiccup….. Do it!” They magically go away. I’ve seen Joan do it several times with total success. But… it usually doesn’t work with people you know super well, for some reason. Try it, it may work.

2. Upside-down washcloth gulp. Fill a glass full of water, at least eight ounces. Cover the glass with a washcloth, preferably clean. Bend over, and then drink the water through the glass from the opposite rim of the glass. Apparently, this method works because it forces your abdomen muscles to contract, which stops hiccups. I’ve done this, and it works. Most of the time.

1. Vinegar, neat. This works for me 95% of the time. One shot of vinegar and they’re gone. I’ve had the best success with apple cider vinegar, but you can use any type… white, balsamic, red wine, tarragon and so on.

So the next time you get the hiccups, stop holding your breath. Just order a shot of vinegar. Neat!

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