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Hiccups can be quite bothersome, and humanity has devised unusual methods to stop them for generations. You’ve probably heard of a few techniques, such as swallowing a spoonful of sugar, sipping water from the opposite side of the glass, or letting your friends scare you. Here are seven folk remedies, trusted by grandmothers worldwide, to expand your options.
1. DISCOVER WHO IS THINKING OF YOU.
According to a widespread superstition, hiccups are a sign that someone is thinking about you. In Russia, people recite names of acquaintances—when the hiccups stop after a particular name, it means that person misses you. Similar traditions exist across Europe and Asia, though in Hungary, hiccups indicate you’re being talked about, not missed. In ancient Greece, hiccups meant someone was criticizing you.
2. CHANT A SACRED HYMN.
In Old English, hiccups were called ælfsogoða, meaning “elf hiccup,” as they were thought to be caused by elves. These ancient elves were not the friendly kind but rather demonic entities, requiring an exorcism. A 10th-century English remedy suggests creating a herbal salve, drawing crosses, and reciting a Latin religious verse. For those unfamiliar with Latin, a less appealing ritual involves spitting on your right forefinger, marking a cross on your left shoe, and reciting the Lord’s Prayer backward. The latter might work even without the spitting, though results are not guaranteed.
3. PLACE DAMP ITEMS ON YOUR FOREHEAD.
In the Philippines, hiccups are treated by wetting a small piece of paper towel and placing it directly on the forehead. If paper towels are unavailable, use thread, moistened with saliva. In Latin America, only red string is effective, and it can be reused for future hiccup episodes. The Sinti people, a Romani group, recommend tying a key to the red string, wearing it around your neck, and tossing the key over your left shoulder.
4. IMAGINE A GREEN COW GRAZING IN A BLUE FIELD.
iStockDr. Muiris Houston explains to The Irish Times that the “correct, though rarely used, medical term is singultus, derived from the Latin singult, which roughly translates to ‘the act of catching one's breath while sobbing.’” Houston notes that a popular hiccup cure from western Ireland involves picturing a green cow grazing in a blue field.
5. GRIP A PART OF YOUR FACE.
In 16th-century Scotland, those plagued by hiccups were advised to “hold their chin with their right hand while a gospel is sung.” Similarly, Vikings were instructed to wrap their tongue in a clean handkerchief, gently pull it away from their face, and silently count to one hundred.
6. PLACE A KNIFE IN YOUR WATER GLASS.
The Norwegian remedy for hiccups is, frankly, quite intense: drink three sips of water from a glass with a sharp knife inside (blade facing down). Don’t forget to hold your breath. Finns prefer a milder version: omit the breath-holding, replace the knife with a spoon, and add a bit of sugar. Ensure the spoon faces away from you.
7. HAVE SOMEONE ASK YOU RANDOM QUESTIONS.
iStockThis method might be more startling than a friend startling you from behind. “If you’re suddenly asked, ‘What is tofu made from?’ during a hiccup fit, it will catch you off guard,” explains the website Japan Style. “Legend has it that hiccups stop when you answer ‘daizu.’” If no one is around to quiz you, simply saying the word daizu aloud is believed to cure hiccups. (It translates to “soybeans.”)
Be sure to try this technique as soon as hiccups begin. In Japan, it’s believed that hiccuping 100 times in a row signifies impending death.
