Bisoma Acupuncture Treats Chronic Hiccups
By David Lee
Hiccups are involuntary spasms of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, followed by a sudden closure of the glottis, which produces the characteristic “hic” sound. While typically harmless and self-limiting, persistent hiccups can significantly disrupt daily life and social interactions.
Case Study
Darryl, a 57-year-old male, had suffered from chronic hiccups for three years, with symptoms progressively worsening each year. His hiccups would cease for several hours at a time but then return with near-constant frequency, occurring every few minutes and severely disturbing his sleep. Medications provided minimal relief and came with the side effect of dry mouth.
He had attempted numerous home remedies, all of which were ineffective or provided only temporary relief. These included:
- Deep inhalation followed by breath-holding, then slow exhalation.
- Breathing into a paper bag to elevate carbon dioxide levels and relax the diaphragm.
- Controlled breathing techniques (e.g., inhaling and exhaling slowly for a count of four).
- Sipping ice water to soothe the phrenic nerve.
- Swallowing granulated sugar to interrupt errant nerve signals.
- Biting into a lemon to stimulate the vagus nerve.
- Pulling his knees to his chest and leaning forward to compress the diaphragm.
- Gargling with water and gently pulling the tongue forward to activate the vagus nerve.
Despite these efforts, his hiccups remained persistent and distressing, leading him to seek further treatment.
Protocol: Bisoma Acupuncture was applied using Horary points in the Wood Order: UB40, LI5, ST43, SI2, and GB44, on both right and left sides. This protocol resulted in an 80% overall improvement in symptoms.
Treatment Process: The patient underwent a total of 20 acupuncture sessions, initially twice per week, then transitioning to once per week starting with the 17th visit.
The first treatment utilized Metal Order Horary points (ST36, SI5, GB41, UB66, LI1) on the left side, but it did not relieve the hiccups. However, the second treatment with Wood Order points produced immediate and noticeable relief.
Continued use of the Wood Order for five sessions resulted in a 50% reduction in symptoms. By the 8th visit, symptom improvement had stabilized at approximately 50%.
Ongoing weekly sessions with bilateral Wood Order points led to gradual and consistent improvement. By the 20th treatment, the patient reported an 80% decrease in the intensity, frequency, and duration of his hiccups.
Discussion: While acupuncture appears to offer significant symptom relief—and possibly complete resolution—underlying causes must also be addressed. In this case, the patient was an avid bodybuilder, likely consuming large quantities of muscle-building foods that did not align with his constitutional type.
Notably, he had a history of dairy intolerance in childhood, and although he seemed to outgrow it, the overconsumption of whey protein in adulthood may have reactivated an underlying sensitivity. The body may have manifested this dietary conflict through persistent hiccups as a form of rejection.
