How to get rid of hiccups

To effectively get rid of hiccups, Andrew Huberman recommends a specific breathing technique that targets the phrenic nerve, which is responsible for diaphragm contractions leading to hiccups. Here’s how to do it:

Breathing Technique to Stop Hiccups

1. Inhale Deeply: Take a big deep breath in through your nose.
2. Second Inhale: Before exhaling, take a second brief inhale through your nose.
3. Third Inhale: Follow that with a third, even quicker inhale through your nose.
4. Hold Your Breath: After the three inhales, hold your breath for about 15 to 20 seconds.
5. Exhale Slowly: Finally, exhale slowly through your nose or mouth.

This unique pattern of breathing serves to hypercontract the phrenic nerve, which can help alleviate the spasming that leads to hiccups. It disrupts the cycle of hiccuping, and many people find it effectively eliminates their hiccups almost instantly. If the hiccups don't go away after trying once, you can repeat the process 1.

Other Common Remedies

While traditional methods like drinking water or breathing into a bag might be suggested, they are generally less effective compared to this focused breathing approach. The bag method, for example, tries to increase carbon dioxide levels but is often not as reliable 2.

For a detailed discussion, you may explore the full episode titled “How to Breathe Correctly for Optimal Health, Mood, Learning & Performance” on the Huberman Lab]{sid=doc_2048}.