Acupuncture Treatment for Hiccup

Hiccup

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

Western medicine – 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.



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

P/T – warm mid Jiao, expel Cold, descend Stomach Qi

Acupuncture Rx – sedate, moxa, foot yangming, hand jueyin, *Ren 22 (descend Qi), *PC 6 (Yin wei opens chest & diaphragm), *BL 17 (ge shu), *ST 36, Ren 12, LR 13, BL 20, 21, Ren 4

- nausea, vomit, acid reflux – ST 21

Stomach Fire up-surging

loud clear forceful hiccups, bad breath, thirst for cold drinks, dry stools and/or constipation,

P- slippery rapid, T- red, with yellow coat

P/T – clear and purge Stomach Fire, descend Stomach Qi

Acupuncture Rx – foot yangming, hand jueyin, *Ren 22, *BL 17, *ST 36, *PC 6, ST 25, 44, LI 4,

SP 4 & PC 4 (nausea- Chong)

- bitter taste or dry mouth – ST 43

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 slippery

Liver attack Spleen that causes Phlegm.

P/T – regulate Qi, transform Phlegm, harmonize Stomach Qi

Acupuncture Rx – foot yangming, both jueyin, *Ren 22, *PC 6, *ST 36, *BL 17, LR 14, GB 43, ST 40, GB 34

- dizziness – Du 20, GB 20

Spleen Stomach Yang deficiency

deep weak low tone hiccup, pale face, cold limbs, poor appetite, fatigue, cold body,

P- deep thin, T- white coat

P/T – warm mid Jiao, harmonize Stomach Qi

Acupuncture Rx – tonify, moxa, foot yangming, hand jueyin, *Ren 22, *PC 6, *ST 36, * BL 17, Ren 12,

BL 20, 21, Ren 6

- cold lower back – Ren 4 & 8 (moxa and needle)

Stomach Yin deficiency

short intermittent quick hiccups, dry mouth and tongue, irritable, dry stool, T- red, cracked, scanty dry coat, P- thin rapid

P/T – nourish Stomach Yin and fluids, descend Stomach Qi

Acupuncture Rx – tonify, *Ren 22, *PC 6, *ST 36, *BL 17, 21, Ren 12, KI 3 or 6

- poor appetite – Ren 10, SP 3





Alternative treatment methods

auricular – mid ear, shenmen, subcortex, ST LR SP

tricks – try to make person sneeze, shock them, hold breath, drink appropriate temperature water, push on eyeball, push with thumb on BL 2 for 5 minutes, SI 11 for 5 minutes, push down on Ren 22 for 1 minute while person holds breath, push SJ 17 until it hurts

scalp acupuncture – St region, chest region

electro – Ren 12, ST 36

moxa – direct

injection – vitamin B1 in Hua tou from T5-T7, BL 17, ren 12, ST 36, PC 6, Ren 22

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