Hiccup Treatment with Chinese Medicine

Hiccup is generally known as Stomach Qi rebelling.

More related to Cold, and overeating. Stomach and Lung are involved.

Western medicine Diagnosis of Hiccup

– GI neurosis, gastritis. late stage cirrhosis, brain and kidney disorders, GI disorders in general can all cause the diaphragm to spasm. When a chronic severe disorder shows hiccups the prognosis is not good. Sudden Qi up surging to the throat, caused by Stomach Qi attacking the diaphragm.

Western Medicine: Kidney Disorders with hiccup has a poor prognosis

Etiology (causes) of Hiccup:

1. Irregular Diet eating too fast–too cold–too much =impairs ST,Qi cannot descend eating too pungent = dry heat in Stomach

2. Emotion Liver Qi Stagnation – anger turns to fire – creates phlegm – damages Spleen – effects Stomach -Usually Hiccups accompanied with Cough.

3. Spleen and Kidney Yang Deficiency Qi  - spleen looses clearing and descending turbid Qi function – Chronic diarrhea

4. Stomach Yin Deiciency. Lack of fluids – deficient fire in Stomach, fire goes upward causing hiccups

Differentiate:

Hiccup - comes from throat, comes suddenly, Nausea - comes from stomach, doesn’t come suddenly, Belching - gas released from stomach, ameliorated by belch, may be accompanied with acid regurgitation and abdominal distention loud = excess weak = deficient cold = deep sound heat = loud short

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment of Hiccup

Accumulation of Cold in Stomach deep long forceful hiccup, pain in Stomach (discomfort) is relieved by warmth and induced by cold, T- white moist coat, P- slow

Principle of Treatment – warm mid Jiao, expel Cold, descend Stomach Qi

Acupuncture points - sedate, Moxa, foot yangming, hand jueyin, *Ren 22 (descend Qi), *PC 6 (Yin wei opens chest and diaphragm), *BL 17 (ge shu), *ST 36, Ren 12, Liver 13, Bladder 20, 21, Ren 4- nausea, vomit, acid reflux – Stomach 2 Herbal Medicine Formula: Ding Xiang San

Stomach Fire loud clear forceful hiccups, bad breath, thirst for cold drinks, dry stools and/or constipation, P- slippery rapid, T- red, with yellow coat

Principle of Treatment – clear and purge Stomach Fire, descend Stomach Qi

Acupuncture points - foot yangming, hand jueyin, *Ren 22, *BL 17, *ST 36, *PC 6, Stomach 25, 44, Large Intestine 4, Spleen 4 and Pericardium 4 (nausea- Chong) - bitter taste or dry mouth – Stomach 43

Herbal Medicine Formula: Qing Wei San + Shi Di and Zhu Ru

Qi and Phlegm stagnation continuous hard to stop hiccups (can sometimes lead to vomiting), induced by emotional stress, poor appetite, nausea, gas, belching, chest fullness, T- thin greasy coat, P- wiry slipperyLiver attack Spleen that causes Phlegm.

Principle of Treatment – regulate Qi, transform Phlegm, harmonize Stomach Qi

Acupuncture points - foot yangming, both jueyin, *Ren 22, *PC 6, *ST 36, *BL 17, Liver 14, Gall bladder 43, Stomach 40, Gall bladder 34 - dizziness – Du 20, Gall bladder 20

Herbal Medicine Formula: Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Shi Tang

Spleen Stomach Yang deficiency deep weak low tone hiccup, pale face, cold limbs, poor appetite, fatigue, cold body, P- deep thin, T- white coat

Principle of Treatment – warm mid Jiao, harmonize Stomach Qi

Acupuncture points - tonify, Moxa, foot yangming, hand jueyin, *Ren 22, *PC 6, *ST 36, * Bladder 17, Ren 12, Bladder 20, 21, Ren 6 - cold lower back – Ren 4 and 8 (Moxa and needle)

Herbal Medicine Formula: Fu Zi Li Zhong Tang + Shi Di / Ding Xian

Stomach Yin deficiency short intermittent quick hiccups, dry mouth and tongue, irritable, dry stool, T- red, cracked, scanty dry coat, P- thin rapid Principle of Treatment – nourish Stomach Yin and fluids, descend Stomach Qi

Acupuncture points - tonify, *Ren 22, *PC 6, *ST 36, *BL 17, 21, Ren 12, Kidney 3 or 6 - poor appetite – Ren 10, Spleen 3

Herbal Medicine Formula: Yi Wei Tang

Alternative Treatment Methods for Hiccup 

Ear Acupuncture – mid ear, shenmen, subcortex, Stomach Liver SPtricks – try to make person sneeze, shock them, hold breath, drink appropriate temperature water, push on eyeball, push with thumb on Bladder 2 for 5 minutes, Small Intestine 11 for 5 minutes, push down on Ren 22 for 1 minute while person holds breath, push SJ 17 until it hurts

scalp Acupuncture points – St region, chest region

electro Acupuncture – Ren 12, Stomach 36

Moxa – direct

injection – vitamin B1 in Hua tou from T5-T7, Bladder 17, ren 12, Stomach 36, Pericardium 6, Ren 22

 *Always perform treatment from head to toe (top to bottom) to bring down Qi