Hiccup

Hiccup is an involuntary spasm of the glottis and diaphragm , causing the characteristic sound . Occasional attack of hiccup suggests a mild case and can be removed without medication , but if it persists , treatment is required . Hiccup is mostly caused by irregular diet , stagnation of the liver qi and presence of cold in the stomach , leading to upward perversion of the stomach qi instead of descending .

Etiology and Pathogenesis

Irregular food intake causes failure of the stomach qi to descend , or emotional frustration stagnates the liver qi , leading to upward perversion of the stomach qi .

The attack of the stomach by cold , overeating of raw and cold food , or taking drugs of cold nature gives rise to retaining of the stomach yang and upward perversion of qi .

Differentiation

Retention of food :

Main manifestations : Loud hiccups , epigastric and abdominal distension , anorexia , thick , sticky tongue coating , rolling and forceful pulse .

Analysis : Retention of food in the stomach disturbs the function of the spleen and stomach in transportation and transformation and impedes the qi activities in the middle jiao . The stomach is in normal function when its qi descends . Failure of its qi to descend may lead to loud hiccups , epigastric and abdominal distension , and anorexia . Thick , sticky tongue coating , and rolling , forceful pulse are the signs of retention of food .

Stagnation of qi :

Main manifestations : Continual hiccups , distending pain and feeling of oppression in the chest and hypochondrium , thin tongue coating , string - taut and forceful pulse .

Analysis : The liver qi , if stagnated , will attack the stomach , causing upward perversion of stomach qi , therefore , hiccup , distending pain in the chest and hypochondrium , and feeling of oppression appear . String - taut and forceful pulse is a sign of stagnation of qi due to depression of the liver .

Cold in the stomach :

Main manifestations : Slow and forceful hiccups which may be relieved by heat and aggravated by cold , discomfort in the epigastria , white , moist tongue coating , slow pulse .

Analysis : The stomach qi fails to descend because of stagnated cold , so hiccup is forceful . In case of disturbance of the stomach qi , discomfort in the epigastria occurs . If cold gets heat , smooth circulation of qi results , and then hiccup is relieved ; but if cold gets worse , hiccup is aggravated . White , moist tongue coating and slow pulse indicate the presence of cold in the stomach .

Treatment

Method : The points of the Stomach Meridian and some other points related are selected as the principal points . Reducing is applied for retention of food and stagnation of qi , while both acupuncture and moxibustion are used for cold in the stomach . The ' treatment is aimed at pacifying the stomach , facilitating the descent of qi and checking hiccup .

Prescription : Geshu ( B 17 ) , Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , Neiguan ( P 6 ) , Zusanii ( S 36 ) . Supplementary points : Retention of food : Juque ( Ren 14 ) , Inner - Neiting ( Extra ) .

Stagnation of qi : Tanzhong ( Ren 17 ) , Taichong ( Liv 3 )

Cold in the stomach : Shangwan ( Ren 13 ) . Explanation : Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , Neiguan ( P 6 ) and Zusanii ( S 36 ) may pacify the stomach , subdue the ascending qi and relieve the oppression feeling in the chest . Geshu ( B 17 ) is able to check the perversive ascending ofqi and stop hiccup . Juque ( Ren 14 ) and Inner - Neiting ( Extra ) pacify the stomach and remove stagnation . Tanzhong ( Ren 17 ) relieves the depressed feeling in the chest and diaphragm and checks hiccup . Taichong ( Liv 3 ) may pacify the liver qi . Moxibustion to Shangwan ( Ren 13 ) may warm the middle jiao to dispel cold , promote the smooth distribution of yang and check hiccup .

Remarks

Cupping : Commonly used points : Geshu ( B 17 ) , Geguan ( B 46 ) , Ganshu ( B 18 ) , Zhongwan ( Ren 12 ) , Rugen ( S 18 ) .