Home remedies offer hiccup relief

Q. I have had hiccups almost constantly for six months. I went to a gastroenterologist about this problem, and he prescribed omeprazole. It isn’t helping, however. Do you have any other suggestions?

A. Persistent hiccups can certainly be a problem. We trust the doctor ruled out any serious condition underlying your hiccups.

We could find no well-controlled studies demonstrating that omeprazole (Prilosec) or any other acid- suppressing drug would work for chronic hiccups.

Long-lasting hiccups are thought to be the result of nerve irritation. Although home remedies are not well-studied either, some may work through counterirritation of the vagus nerve. Here are some suggestions from readers:

“Bite into a lime or lemon wedge. This is an old bar secret.”

Another bartender’s secret is “A spoonful of Angostura bitters all at once.”

A reader who also had a long-lasting problem shared this: “I had a bout of the hiccups for a couple of weeks straight. It was a nightmare! I ended up going to a doctor who put a tube down my nose to let out trapped air in my stomach. Besides that, swallowing a teaspoon of sugar helps and so does this: Have somebody cover your ears while you drink a glass of water.” This last technique works best if the person presses on the little flap at the front of the ear called the tragus.

Other readers have found benefit from a sip of pickle juice, an olive or a bit of vinegar.

Q. My wife has suffered from constipation for years. She usually has just one or two small bowel movements a week, with difficulty.

She has tried prescription and over-the-counter medicines, including fiber and docusate, to no avail.

A recent colonoscopy was all clear.

We have read that natural colon cleansers are supposed to loosen and remove deeply impacted toxic buildup in the colon without side effects. My wife has high blood pressure, congestive heart failure and hypothyroidism. I wonder if such products would be safe in conjunction with her medications.

A. We are not enthusiastic about colon cleansing except prior to colonoscopy or bowel surgery. We worry about herbal colon cleansers because when they work, the resulting diarrhea can upset the balance of minerals in the body. This could be quite hazardous for a person with congestive heart failure.

Instead, we suggest she try sugarless gum and possibly add a few doses of Power Pudding, a mixture of bran, prune juice and applesauce. The guides we are sending you (Digestive Disorders and Constipation) have our 10 tips to combat constipation and a recipe for Power Pudding. Anyone who would like copies, please send $3 in check or money order with a long (No. 10), stamped (64 cents), self- addressed envelope to: Graedons’ People’s Pharmacy, No. GG-33, P.O. Box 52027, Durham, NC 27717-2027. It also can be downloaded for $2 from our website: www.peoplespharmacy.com.

2011 King Features Syndicate, Inc.