Creative and effective hiccup remedies from around the world -

Hiccups are funny when you’re young, but they can be a little embarrassing and a lot of a nuisance when you’re trying to hold a conversation, sing a song, or eat your food! They sometimes go away on their own within a couple minutes, but other times they can be quite painful and persistent.

Over centuries, people have come up with an endless list of tricks to get rid of hiccups. Some remedies we've heard from a friend and perhaps didn't believe, others have been passed down through generations of our families, and many, many others seem weird to us but might actually work.

Click through to find out the most surprising ways to hack your hiccups.

© Shutterstock

What is a hiccup? -

Hiccups occur when your diaphragm spasms involuntarily. Your diaphragm is the large muscle beneath your lungs that helps you breathe in and out. When it spasms, you inhale suddenly and your vocal cords snap shut, creating that hiccup sound.

© Shutterstock 

What causes hiccups? -

You might be bringing on your hiccups by eating too much, eating too quickly, drinking carbonated beverages or alcohol, eating spicy foods, being stressed or emotionally excited, or being exposed to a quick change in temperature.

© Shutterstock 

The key behind the remedies -

Though there aren’t many scientific studies on the effectiveness of hiccup remedies, the linking factor between the most effective ones seems to be that which stimulates the vagus or phrenic nerves, which are connected to your diaphragm, Healthline reports.

© Shutterstock 

Pull on your tongue -

It might sound like a prank when someone tells you to grab the tip of your tongue and gently pull it forward a couple times, but it actually has some scientific backing. The gentle pull stimulates the nerves and muscles in your throat, functioning like a pressure point that may just be the hiccup cure you didn't know you needed.

© Shutterstock 

Drink water through a cloth or paper towel -

This old wives tale remedy involves covering a glass of cold water with a cloth or paper towel and sipping through it. You'll have to try it to see if it works!

© Shutterstock

Practice measured breathing -

You can disrupt your respiratory system by taking consciously slow, measured breaths. Try breathing in for a count of five and out for a count of five. This is good even to prevent hiccups, since measured breathing combats stress and strong emotions, AKA hiccup triggers.

© Shutterstock 

Eat a spoonful of honey or peanut butter -

Let a nice thick spoonful dissolve in your mouth a little before swallowing. Perhaps the effort of it moving down your esophagus will distract your diaphragm? At least it will be tasty!

© Shutterstock 

Drink from the opposite side of the glass -

This one is a little weird to imagine, but slowly drink a glass of water from the opposite side that you normally would. That means tipping the glass under your chin and leaning your head forward. You'll look ridiculous, but it might work!

© Shutterstock

Hold your breath -

This is a very common hiccup cure we learn from a young age. Inhale a large gulp of air and hold it for about 10-20 seconds, then breathe out slowly. Repeat as necessary.

© Shutterstock 

Get scared -

It really does work! When you genuinely gasp, you interrupt the respiratory cycle, and that jolt to the nervous system can reset the nerve impulse causing your diaphragm to spasm. But, ironically, a well-timed “Boo!” can also be the trigger to hiccups.

© Shutterstock

Squeeze your palm -

Press your thumb into the palm of your hand, where you'll be hitting a pressure point. Pressure points are areas of your body that are particularly sensitive to pressure, and this may help to relax your diaphragm or stimulate your vagus or phrenic nerves.

© Shutterstock 

Suck on a lemon -

This one always feels like a prank when someone suggests it, but apparently it works! Some people add a bit of salt on the lemon slice first. Just make sure you rinse your mouth after to protect your teeth from the citric acid.

© Shutterstock 

Tap or rub the back of your neck -

When you think of hiccups, you wouldn't think of the back of your neck. But apparently rubbing or tapping the skin there can stimulate your phrenic nerve.

© Shutterstock 

Put a drop of vinegar on your tongue -

As unpleasant as it may be, many people believe a drop of straight vinegar can do the trick.

© Shutterstock 

Hug your knees -

This one's a little dramatic to do in public, but take a seat, bring your knees to your chest, and hold them there for two minutes.

© Shutterstock 

Suck on an ice cube -

Some say sucking on an ice cube for a few minutes helps stop hiccups, while others say it just gives them brain freeze!

© Shutterstock 

Eat some sugar -

Kids will be extremely pleased to hear that putting a pinch of granulated sugar on their tongue is actually good in this one instance. The key is to let it sit there for five to 10 seconds, then swallow.

© Shutterstock 

Gargle ice water -

Gargle ice water for 30 seconds to really get that vagus nerve stimulated. At the very least you can't hiccup while you're gargling!

© Shutterstock 

Compress your chest -

Lean or bend forward to compress your chest, which puts pressure on your diaphragm.

© Shutterstock

Poke the back of your throat with a cotton swab -

Gently swab the back of your throat until you experience your gag reflex. It's uncomfortable, but it may stimulate the vagus nerve. We can't imagine this is anyone's first choice of remedy...

© Shutterstock 

Use the Valsalva maneuver -

This maneuver involves pinching your nose and keeping your mouth closed while trying to exhale, often used to make your ears "pop." But this method shouldn't be attempted if you have heart disease or retinopathy!

© Shutterstock 

Massage your carotid artery -

Your carotid arteries on both sides of your neck are what you feel when you check your pulse. Lie down, turn your head to the left, and massage the artery on the right side in a circular motion for five to 10 seconds.

© Shutterstock 

Drink ice water -

For some people, sipping cold water is the key to stopping hiccups. Apparently it helps stimulate the vagus nerve!

© Shutterstock 

Distract yourself with something engaging -

Hiccups often go away fastest when you just stop paying attention to them. Pull out a game or a puzzle, or put on a great song, and try to get your mind properly distracted.

© Shutterstock 

What to avoid -

Don’t chew gum or drink fizzy beverages because that extra air won't do you any favors! You'll also want to avoid alcoholic or hot drinks, as well as spicy food.

© Shutterstock 

If they don’t go away? -

If you regularly get hiccups or have hiccups that last for more than two days, you should talk with your doctor. Persistent hiccups could be a sign of an underlying condition such as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), a stroke, or even multiple sclerosis.

Sources: (Healthline) (NHS)

See also: The best home remedies for common ailments

© Shutterstock