Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Thanks to all who wrote on hiccups. My patient's case has worsened, and he just spent two days in the hospital. He has been given every drug known to help hiccups and the only thing that gives even a little relief is Vicodin, which he does not want to keep taking. And it isn't really working anyway. He has now had the hiccups for 12 days straight with the only relief being a 5 hour period one night. Again, I appeal to anyone who has had experience with a hiccup cure using acupuncture or herbs (or homeopathy or biofeedback or anything) to contact me either on or off the list. Julie Chambers info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Just got this, Cara Dear reader, A few weeks ago I had a horrible case of the hiccups. I mean they actually hurt, and they lasted about an hour-and-a-half. I know that doesn't sound terribly long; in some cases hiccups can last for years. And though they're usually a trivial problem, they can -- if they're stubborn enough or persistent enough -- actually lead to hospitalization or sometimes even death. Even though my hiccups did go away, it wasn't an experience I really wanted to repeat. So the last time I spoke with Dr. Wright, I asked him if he knew a hiccup cure I could try. While everyone seems to have their own " cure " for hiccups, such as eating a spoonful of sugar, holding your breath, swallowing water while bent over, eating yellow mustard, and - - in extreme cases -- prescription drugs, Dr. Wright suggested that a bartender's hiccup cure may be the simplest and most productive answer. In fact, there's even been some research done on this matter. In an open trial of people suffering with the hiccups, 88 percent of those who sucked or chewed on a lemon wedge soaked in Angostura bitters were cured. Angostura bitters (named after what was once Angostura, Venezuela) was developed in 1824 by Dr. J. Siegert, who intended it to treat fatigue and stomach ailments. Beyond saying that it contains herbs and spices, the Siegert family has kept the formula for Angostura bitters one of the most guarded secrets in history. It is now the single most widely distributed bar item in the world and is used in many classic cocktails such as the Pink Gin, Old Fashioned, Manhattan, and Rum Punch. I stopped on my way home that day and picked up my own supply. I haven't had a bout of hiccups since that nasty case a few weeks ago, but it's a relief to be prepared just in case they happen to come back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Bob, Yes, imaging (CT) of the brain, chest, abdomen, and a " fluroscope " of the diaphragm have all been performed, and were negative. Thank you. Julie - " Bob Damone " <bdamone Thursday, June 26, 2003 1:03 PM Re: More on hiccups > Has the patient had a thorough neurological workup, including an MRI? > Sometimes a mass can be at fault > > Bob Damone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 , Julie Chambers <info@j...> wrote: > Thanks to all who wrote on hiccups. My patient's case has worsened, and he > just spent two days in the hospital. He has been given every drug known to > help hiccups and the only thing that gives even a little relief is Vicodin, > which he does not want to keep taking. And it isn't really working anyway. > He has now had the hiccups for 12 days straight with the only relief being a > 5 hour period one night. > > Again, I appeal to anyone who has had experience with a hiccup cure using > acupuncture or herbs (or homeopathy or biofeedback or anything) to contact > me either on or off the list. > > Julie Chambers > info@j... Has the patient had a thorough neurological workup, including an MRI? Sometimes a mass can be at fault Bob Damone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Julie, This may sound facetious and it is intended to get a laugh. But maybe by laughing, your patient can cure himself of his hiccups. I suggest you get him to find a book entitled My Ten Years in a Quandry by Robert Benchley. In it there is an essay about curing hiccups, which is entitled something like Cure Those Hiccups (although Benchley probably spelled it " hiccoughs " ...or something like that). It contains several cures including my favorite which consists of rolling down an inclined lawn and snatching a mouthful of grass every time your face is earthward. It certainly should make him laugh unless his hiccups have made him morbid. And maybe the laughter will reset the hiccup center in his brain. Ken , Julie Chambers <info@j...> wrote: > Thanks to all who wrote on hiccups. My patient's case has worsened, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Dear Ken, Thank you for the suggestion. Silly as it sounds, it might work. I remember getting almost hysterical with laughter because I wrote to my students, " A good qigong exercise for qi stagnation is to giggle for 30 minutes " - I had meant to write " jiggle for 30 minutes " but maybe giggling for 30 minutes would be more effective! Julie Ken wrote; > > This may sound facetious and it is intended > to get a laugh. But maybe by laughing, your > patient can cure himself of his hiccups. > > I suggest you get him to find a book entitled > My Ten Years in a Quandry by Robert Benchley. > In it there is an essay about curing hiccups, > which is entitled something like Cure Those > Hiccups (although Benchley probably spelled it > " hiccoughs " ...or something like that). > > It contains several cures including my favorite > which consists of rolling down an inclined > lawn and snatching a mouthful of grass every > time your face is earthward. > > It certainly should make him laugh unless > his hiccups have made him morbid. And > maybe the laughter will reset the > hiccup center in his brain. > > Ken > > , Julie Chambers > <info@j...> wrote: > > Thanks to all who wrote on hiccups. My patient's case has > worsened, > > > > > > Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Julie, Norman Cousins was convinced that laughter could cure his cancer. He died laughing. Ken Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 , Julie Chambers <info@j...> wrote: > Thanks to all who wrote on hiccups. My patient's case has worsened, and he > just spent two days in the hospital. He has been given every drug known to > help hiccups and the only thing that gives even a little relief is Vicodin, > which he does not want to keep taking. And it isn't really working anyway. > He has now had the hiccups for 12 days straight with the only relief being a > 5 hour period one night. > > Again, I appeal to anyone who has had experience with a hiccup cure using > acupuncture or herbs (or homeopathy or biofeedback or anything) to contact > me either on or off the list. > > Julie Chambers > info@j... Julie, If you have a complete intake on him, can you post it again? What is the pattern diagnosis for his case? Has he tried to consistently take a focused and well- designed herbal prescription yet? If so, what have you tried giving him? There are several patterns to look for including stomach repletion or vacuity cold, upward counterflow of stomach fire, depression and stagnation of the qi dynamic, and stomach yin vacuity. Of course, in any of these patterns, the main issue is loss of harmoniuous downbearing of stomach qi. Can we get more details and then proceed in an orderly fashion to a possible treatment while he pursues biomedical evaluation to rule out something serious? Glad to help, Bob Damone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Dear Emmanuel, Thank you for your questions. The patient does not show fear, fright or anything like it. He has one of the most placid constitutions I have ever seen, especially given what he is under. He was very calm and focused and graciously appreciative of the treatment I gave him. Deep breathing had not helped at all. He did not seem to be doing shallow breathing either. He was very calm and cooperative. I think the Vicodin helped just because it is a sedative and dulls the nervous system. I have just posted some additional details about this case, and maybe this will cause some other ideas to emerge. Thank you again. The next step that has been suggested is to block (not cut, I hope!) the phrenic nerve, but he doesn't even want to do that. He wants to get out of the hospital and try a team approach with acupuncture, homeopathy and hypnotherapy. Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 Catherine, that is my favorite cure too, and it always works for me. But he has tried all these things. Julie - Catherine Hemenway Thursday, June 26, 2003 9:54 PM Re: Re: More on hiccups My favorite hiccup cure, which works for me about 99.5% of the time is to drink a few sips of water while holding my breath and holding my ears closed at the same time! The ears closed (or the acrobatics to try to do it all) is what makes the difference. I imagine he's beyond these simple cures, but you never know. Catherine - Julie Chambers Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:48 PM Re: Re: More on hiccups Dear Emmanuel, Thank you for your questions. The patient does not show fear, fright or anything like it. He has one of the most placid constitutions I have ever seen, especially given what he is under. He was very calm and focused and graciously appreciative of the treatment I gave him. Deep breathing had not helped at all. He did not seem to be doing shallow breathing either. He was very calm and cooperative. I think the Vicodin helped just because it is a sedative and dulls the nervous system. I have just posted some additional details about this case, and maybe this will cause some other ideas to emerge. Thank you again. The next step that has been suggested is to block (not cut, I hope!) the phrenic nerve, but he doesn't even want to do that. He wants to get out of the hospital and try a team approach with acupuncture, homeopathy and hypnotherapy. Julie Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 > , Julie Chambers> <info@j...> wrote:> > Thanks to all who wrote on hiccups. My patient's case has> worsened,> Dear Julie, Here are some random thoughts and questions that might spark an idea within you. Since your patient's hiccups have worsened, it might be worth noting what makes hiccups better and worse. It's noted in WM (Merck) that high partial pressure of CO2 makes it better (holding the breath), and low partial pressure of CO2 makes it worse (rapid breathing which blows off CO2). Note that high blood CO2 stimulates the vagus nerve. Also soothing or stimulating the vagus nerve plays a role. For example, stomach bloating can bring on hiccups. Rapid breathing is associated with fear, and the lower CO2 will make the condition worse. Lower CO2 removes stimulus to the vagus nerve. Fasting on clear broth or warm water may calm the stomach. Opiates will calm the stomach and other smooth muscle innervated by the vagus nerve. It's noted that even cutting the phrenic nerve will not cure all cases which are refractory (only Merck would make this kind of helpful comment.) It seems more to do with the vagus and with medullary dysfunction. Emotions clearly play a role. Thus, in the worst cases finding a Chinese formula that may at least calm the patient or even directly treat their fear or anxiety may be helpful. Does fear and anxiety fit your patient's profile? Is that why vicodin is helping? Can you envision a formula that addresses fear and anxiety based on your reading of the pulses? I hope these questions are helpful. Emmanuel Segmen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 26, 2003 Report Share Posted June 26, 2003 My favorite hiccup cure, which works for me about 99.5% of the time is to drink a few sips of water while holding my breath and holding my ears closed at the same time! The ears closed (or the acrobatics to try to do it all) is what makes the difference. I imagine he's beyond these simple cures, but you never know. Catherine - Julie Chambers Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:48 PM Re: Re: More on hiccups Dear Emmanuel, Thank you for your questions. The patient does not show fear, fright or anything like it. He has one of the most placid constitutions I have ever seen, especially given what he is under. He was very calm and focused and graciously appreciative of the treatment I gave him. Deep breathing had not helped at all. He did not seem to be doing shallow breathing either. He was very calm and cooperative. I think the Vicodin helped just because it is a sedative and dulls the nervous system. I have just posted some additional details about this case, and maybe this will cause some other ideas to emerge. Thank you again. The next step that has been suggested is to block (not cut, I hope!) the phrenic nerve, but he doesn't even want to do that. He wants to get out of the hospital and try a team approach with acupuncture, homeopathy and hypnotherapy. Julie Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2003 Report Share Posted June 27, 2003 What has always worked for me- 100% of the time- is 30 sips of water without stopping. It forces you to breathe through your nose in long regular breathes. It seems to take the spasm out of the diaphragm muscle. I used to get hiccups all the time. -- Cara O. Frank, R.Ac herbbabe China Herb Company Julie Chambers <info Thu, 26 Jun 2003 21:20:00 -0600 Re: Re: More on hiccups Catherine, that is my favorite cure too, and it always works for me. But he has tried all these things. Julie - Catherine Hemenway <chemenway Thursday, June 26, 2003 9:54 PM Re: Re: More on hiccups My favorite hiccup cure, which works for me about 99.5% of the time is to drink a few sips of water while holding my breath and holding my ears closed at the same time! The ears closed (or the acrobatics to try to do it all) is what makes the difference. I imagine he's beyond these simple cures, but you never know. Catherine - Julie Chambers <info Thursday, June 26, 2003 7:48 PM Re: Re: More on hiccups Dear Emmanuel, Thank you for your questions. The patient does not show fear, fright or anything like it. He has one of the most placid constitutions I have ever seen, especially given what he is under. He was very calm and focused and graciously appreciative of the treatment I gave him. Deep breathing had not helped at all. He did not seem to be doing shallow breathing either. He was very calm and cooperative. I think the Vicodin helped just because it is a sedative and dulls the nervous system. I have just posted some additional details about this case, and maybe this will cause some other ideas to emerge. Thank you again. The next step that has been suggested is to block (not cut, I hope!) the phrenic nerve, but he doesn't even want to do that. He wants to get out of the hospital and try a team approach with acupuncture, homeopathy and hypnotherapy. Julie Chinese Herbal Medicine, a voluntary organization of licensed healthcare practitioners, matriculated students and postgraduate academics specializing in Chinese Herbal Medicine, provides a variety of professional services, including board approved online continuing education. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2003 Report Share Posted June 27, 2003 Hi Julie, In Dr. Chen's book on single point acupuncture, the recommended point to use is sj17 behind the ear. When I asked about it there was no meridian explaination bbut mererly experience. I have seen it demenstrated twice with mild cases just using pressure with immedite results. Dr. Chen stated that it had been used effectivelly on chronic cases with needling. bob --- Julie Chambers <info wrote: > Dear Emmanuel, > > Thank you for your questions. The patient does not > show fear, fright or anything like it. He has one of > the most placid constitutions I have ever seen, > especially given what he is under. He was very calm > and focused and graciously appreciative of the > treatment I gave him. Deep breathing had not helped > at all. He did not seem to be doing shallow > breathing either. He was very calm and cooperative. > I think the Vicodin helped just because it is a > sedative and dulls the nervous system. > > I have just posted some additional details about > this case, and maybe this will cause some other > ideas to emerge. > > Thank you again. > > The next step that has been suggested is to block > (not cut, I hope!) the phrenic nerve, but he doesn't > even want to do that. He wants to get out of the > hospital and try a team approach with acupuncture, > homeopathy and hypnotherapy. > > Julie > SBC DSL - Now only $29.95 per month! http://sbc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 27, 2003 Report Share Posted June 27, 2003 Julie/Ken Joy (laughter) causes Qi to slacken (Lungs/Heart). Thought causes Qi to bind. If I had cancer, and being serious by nature, laughter would help to ameliorate the fright which cause Qi to derange and again being too sad would cause the Qi to disperses or angry because it rises or fearful because Qi percipitates/vaporizes. But above all deep breathing into the Dan Tian helps regulate and helps descend the diaghram and focus the qi with the mind and breath to release Qi Stag. and reduce the 7 Affects or the 5 Minds. Unfortunatly, this is something that takes time and the reason it was practised for thousands of years ago as the Nei Jing says was so that people would know how to regulate the Qi but these days it is not practiced. Rod. > " kenrose2008 " <kenrose2008 > > > Re: More on hiccups >Fri, 27 Jun 2003 01:56:14 -0000 > >Julie, > >Norman Cousins was convinced that laughter >could cure his cancer. > >He died laughing. > >Ken > > > > _______________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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