When it comes to getting rid of those pesky little diaphragm spasms we call hiccups, it seems everyone and their mother—literally—has a tried-and-true method. While some make sense from a medical perspective, others are fairly unconventional.
And while hiccups almost always go away on their own, they’re beyond irksome, so we’ll take any help we can get when it comes to stopping them as quickly as possible—even if slurping water while hanging upside down feels a little odd.
Read on for 15 methods people swear by to get rid of hiccups, and—as annoying as they might be—thank your lucky stars you don’t have Charles Osbourne’s problem—an Iowa man who hiccuped continuously for 68 years, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
1. Gulp water without breathing in.
An effective method to curing hiccups: Take seven big swallows of water without taking a breath.
2. Light a match.
Some swear that blowing out a match and dropping it in a glass of water takes away hiccups when you drink it.
3. Breathe in and swallow.
Breath in as much as you can, then—without letting any air out—swallow. When you can’t swallow anymore, exhale slowly.
4. Plug your ears.
Who knew plugging your ears with your fingers whole sucking down a glass of water with a straw gets rid of hiccups?!
5. Lemon and bitters.
If you can stand it, eat the inside of a lemon wedge doused with Angostura bitters. Though unpleasant, this remedy—discovered by a former bartender and endorsed by a doctor—has a high success rate. If you really can’t stomach the sour lemon, sprinkle on some sugar.
6. Use pickle juice.
Try to gulp a half a teaspoon of salty pickle juice every few seconds until your hiccups subside. Don’t have any? A spoonful of salt will do the trick.
7. Drink upside down.
You’ve definitely heard this one: Drink a glass of water while either laying upside down over the side of a couch or bed, or bending over.
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