hiccup remedies

you’re probably aware of most of the classic solutions to hiccups already:

• hold your breath and count to ten
• have someone scare them out of you
• drink water upside down
• drink hot water
• drink ice cold water
• bite a lemon
• hold your knees to your chest
• etc.

none of those methods really seem to work consistently for me. but i read a recent comment somewhere on reddit that seems to have the golden ticket!

this poster claimed that hiccups as a biological action stem from an ancient fish-y remnant in the brain. in essence, hiccups are your brain telling you to breathe through your gills. and you can calm your hiccups by reminding yourself that you are not a fish.

it sounds a little preposterous, and having done no further research into the topic i cannot claim whether it’s scientifically accurate or not. however, i can claim that it works consistently for me! the last four times i have had the hiccups, i’ve taken a deep breath and thought to myself “bro, you are not a fish”. and all four times, the hiccups have subsided nearly instantly.

so the next time you have the hiccups, try reminding yourself that you’re not a fish. you might just be surprised. and if it doesn’t work, well you can always try drinking some water off the roof of your mouth 😉