Getting Rid of Hiccups

Many of us have tried some strange remedies to get rid of hiccups, most of which proved to be little or no help at all. Some people try standing on their heads, drinking gallons of water, eating a spoonful of honey, or spinning in circles. Others insist that any method that relaxes or stimulates the diaphragm will work just fine. There seem to be lots of home remedies for getting rid of hiccups.

And there are lots of "home remedies" and math curriculum available to help students learn math and improve their math skills in elementary school. However, if you're looking for a proven method that helps students actually remember the concepts they're being taught, Excel Math could be just the solution. Constant review and spaced repetition of math concepts ensure students remember those concepts long after they are first introduced. Excel Math uses a unique Spiraling Strategy to make sure math concepts lodge in a student's long-term memory.

 In Excel Math, we give students the opportunity to master the old, while being challenged with the new. This is a sample Student Sheet (we've given you the answers so you can check your work):

Teacher's Edition page from Excel Math Grade 3

Here's what teachers are saying about these Excel Math lessons:


“We absolutely love Excel Math. We were recognized last year for our performance, and it’s all due to Excel Math. Our scores continually reach the 90’s overall, and last year even the Special Population reached 89.9%.”  — 3rd Grade Teacher from Brownsboro, Texas


“I tested this curriculum with our 4th Grade class. The test scores were amazing. I now am using it with all our classes…I love the writing component. Keep doing what you are doing!”  — Principal from Clovis, New Mexico

Now back to the hiccups. Let's take a look at a few hiccup remedies recommended by Philip Hagen, a physician in preventive medicine at the Mayo Clinic and co-editor of the Mayo Clinic Book of Home Remedies:

• Drink a glass of water or water with a teaspoon of sugar in it to help stimulate the upper throat and interrupt the hiccup reflex
• Slowly dissolve a teaspoon of sugar in the mouth.
• Breathe into a paper bag to increase carbon dioxide in the blood, repressing hiccups.
• Hold your breath until it's slightly uncomfortable. Repeat, if necessary.
• Bite on a lemon.
• Have someone scare or startle you.

 Just keep in mind that simpler is often better. "I've heard of people standing on their heads and drinking water," Dr. Hagen says. "That just strikes me as a little unsafe." 


These remedies haven't usually worked for me, but apparently they do for others.My two favorites are:

• Drink a glass of water with a paper towel over the top of the glass so you have to suck the water out of the paper towel. Take several sips. This usually works the first or second time.
• Drink a glass of water while holding your breath and swallowing at least 5-6 times.

Which hiccup remedies or other home remedies have you tried that actually worked?