I have found a technique that works really well when my students have hiccups. It is based off the theory that hiccups are caused by the diaphragm experiencing a muscle spasming and that pressure will cause the muscle to relax.
Just a word of caution: Due to the placement of the xiphoid process, anyone attempting this should use caution. If there is any question about how to do this, leave it to a physician. Also, I am not a licensed physician and am providing this information only so that it can be investigated further by researchers and physicians. I cannot be held liable for your actions should you harm another person while attempting this.
As I said before, this works really well on my dance students when they have hiccups in class. I came up with this idea based off the fact that a muscle can be released by pressure and that some hiccups are caused by the diaphragm moving in the opposite direction than it should while breathing.
Placing two fingers on either side of the linea alba (usually the thumb and first finger) just medially to either the 6th or 7th rib, you press in and up to get under the rib and into the diaphragm. With the other hand, you press on the posterior side of the thoracic cavity at the same level. You will want to hold this for at least ten seconds if not longer (especially if the hiccups are spaced at greater intervals). Occasionally, I have felt the diaphragm trying to initiate another hiccup but it is of lesser magnitude and I can release the patient (dancer) just after that.
I would like to see if this works with severe cases of hiccups, and I hope that it can be useful to health care professionals in a medical setting.
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