• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.109-112
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• 2001

Hiccups, also known as singultus, are spasmodic involuntary contractions of respiratory muscles that shorten respiration. The characteristic sound is caused by rapid closure of the glottis. In oriental medicine, the mechanism of hiccups is "reversed flow of Ki". Hiccups have been associated with neoplasm, infections, seizures, diabetes. renal failure, alcohol ingestion, various drugs, and ischemic events of the myocardium or central nervous system. We present a case of chronic hiccups after cerebral infarction that was successfully treated using moxibustion therapy.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.567-581
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• 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to summarize current clinical study trends and results regarding acupuncture treatments for hiccups. Methods: Studies published from 2012 to 2022 were searched on PubMed and domestic databases (OASIS, scienceON, RISS, KISS, KCI) using the keywords "hiccup^*", "singultus", "singultation", "hiccupping", "intractable hiccup^*", "acupuncture", "auricular acupuncture", "scalp acupuncture", "acupuncture point", "acupoint", "needle", "dry needle", "딸꾹질", and "침." The studies were analyzed according to the year, language, study design, characteristics of patients, and acupuncture intervention. Results: In total, 12 studies were selected: 8 case series, 2 case-control studies, and 2 case reports. Manual acupuncture was administered with more than 15 minutes of retention time, most frequently using ST36 and CV12. The acupuncture treatment was effective for hiccup symptoms in all studies, as assessed by clinical symptoms, such as duration time, number of episodes, and recurrence. Conclusions: Acupuncture treatment can be an effective and safe method for treating hiccups and can be used in clinical practice.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.39-43
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• 2008

A hiccup is caused by involuntary, intermittent, and spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. It starts with a sudden inspiration and ends with an abrupt closure of the glottis. Even though a hiccup is thought to develop through the hiccup reflex arc, its exact pathophysiology is still unclear. The etiologies include gastrointestinal disorders, respiratory abnormalities, psychogenic factors, toxic-metabolic disorders, central nervous system dysfunctions and irritation of the vagus and phrenic nerves. Most benign hiccups can be controlled by traditional empirical therapy such as breath holding and swallowing water. However, though rare, a persistent hiccup longer than 48 hours can lead to significant adverse effects including malnutrition, dehydration, insomnia, electrolyte imbalance, and cardiac arrhythmia. An intractable hiccup can sometimes even cause death. We herein describe a patient with non-small cell lung cancer who was severely distressed by a persistent hiccup.