Hiccups in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different hiccups patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm followed by the sudden closure of the vocal cords, which produces the characteristic "hic" sound. This common reflex can occur sporadically and resolve on its own or become persistent, affecting the individual's quality of life.
While often benign, persistent or severe hiccups can signal underlying health issues. Understanding hiccups in their various forms, including neurological and recalcitrant types, is essential for effective management and treatment.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) interprets hiccups as a disruption in the body's natural flow of Qi, specifically an upward disturbance of Stomach Qi, or a manifestation of disharmony between the organs.
According to TCM, the body is a system of balanced energies, and hiccups are a sign that this balance is disturbed. Identifying the precise pattern of disharmony is crucial in TCM, as it guides the treatment strategy to not only alleviate the symptoms but also to address the root cause of the hiccups.
TCM Patterns for Hiccups
Qi Rebellion
Causes: Hiccuping
Rebellious Liver Qi
Hiccuping
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Hiccups, Sighing, Nausea or vomiting, Belching, Stomach churning, Irritability, Breast engorgement, Headaches, Dizziness
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
Hiccuping
Along with: Irritability, Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal oppression, Acid reflux, Hiccups, Belching, Nausea or vomiting, Sighing, Weak limbs
Rebellious Qi
Hiccuping
Along with: Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing, Asthma
Rebellious Stomach Qi
Hiccuping
Along with: Nausea, Dysphagia, Belching, Vomit, Hiccups
Qi Stagnation
Causes: Hiccuping
Liver Qi Stagnation
Hiccuping
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Irregular periods, Globus sensation, Pre menstrual breast distension, Pre menstrual tension, Anxiety, Anger, Melasma
Stomach Qi Stagnation
Hiccuping
Along with: Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Hiccups, Irritability
Qi Deficiency
Causes: Hiccuping
Stomach Qi Deficiency with Phelgm
Hiccuping
Along with: Persistent belching, Hiccups, Vomit, Nausea or vomiting, Upper abdominal focal distention, Chronic gastritis, Stomach prolapse, Stomach dilation, Peptic ulcer, Chronic hepatitis
Phlegm
Causes: Hiccuping
Stomach Qi Deficiency with Phelgm
Hiccuping
Along with: Persistent belching, Hiccups, Vomit, Nausea or vomiting, Upper abdominal focal distention, Chronic gastritis, Stomach prolapse, Stomach dilation, Peptic ulcer, Chronic hepatitis
Yin Deficiency
Causes: Hiccuping
Stomach Yin Deficiency
Hiccuping
Along with: Loss of appetite, Preference for sipping, Slight abdominal distension after eating
Herbal Formulas for Hiccups
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address hiccups
Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Regulates the downward flow of Stomach Qi
- Expectorant, treats hiccups
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal oppression...
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing, Asthma
Stomach Qi Deficiency with Phelgm
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Persistent belching, Hiccups, Vomit, Nausea or vomiting, Upper abdominal focal distention, Chronic gastritis...
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood
- Alleviates pain
- Harmonizes Blood
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Rebellious Liver Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Hiccups, Sighing, Nausea or vomiting, Belching...
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing, Asthma
Ban Xia Hou Pu Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Regulates the flow of Qi,
- Clears Phlegm
- Treats esophageal spasm
- Descends Rebellious Qi
- Dissipates clumps
- Relieves Stagnation
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal oppression...
Rebellious Stomach Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Nausea, Dysphagia, Belching, Vomit, Hiccups
Stomach Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Hiccups...
Xiao Yao San
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen
- Relieves Liver Qi stagnation
- Nourishes the Blood
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Si Ni San
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Regulates Liver and Spleen
- Eliminates Internal Heat
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Liver Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Hiccups, Sighing, Nausea or vomiting, Belching...
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing, Asthma
Yi Wei Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Strengthen the Stomach
- Creates Body Fluids
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Stomach Yin Deficiency
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Loss of appetite, Preference for sipping, Slight abdominal distension after eating
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation
- Tonifies Spleen
- Clears Deficient Heat
- Nourishes the blood
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Si Mo Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Expands the chest and dissipates clumping
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal oppression...
Yue Ju Wan
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Releases all types of Stagnation (Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Food and Dampness)
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Stops hiccup
- Augments Qi
- Clears heat
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal oppression...
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing, Asthma
Yi Guan Jian
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the Yin
- Spreads the Liver Qi
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Ding Xiang Shi Di Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Augments the Qi
- Warms the Middle Burner
- Directs Rebellious Qi downward
- Stops hiccup
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Liver Qi invading the Stomach
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Irritability, Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Hypochondriac pain, Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal oppression...
Rebellious Stomach Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Nausea, Dysphagia, Belching, Vomit, Hiccups
Zuo Jin Wan
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver Heat
- Directs Rebellious Qi downward
- Stops vomiting
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Stomach Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Upper abdominal pain, Upper abdominal distension, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Hiccups...
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Arrests wheezing
- Stops coughing
- Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing, Asthma
Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San
Addresses these hiccups patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Transforms Dampness
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Middle Burner
Addresses These Hiccups Pattern Variations
Rebellious Stomach Qi
How it manifests:
Hiccuping
Accompanying symptoms:
Nausea, Dysphagia, Belching, Vomit, Hiccups