Treating hiccups with differential point prescription

Abstract

Belching, or hiccup in TCM, can be a very serious condition for the suffering patients experience in their working, learning and social situation, and yet, little attention is given for its treatment in Western Medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine theory suggests the condition may be a warning sign of deterioration of other acute or chronic diseases, which requires early diagnosis and treatment to prevent complications. Acupuncture treatment involves the principle of harmonizing stomach function and descending inverse through specific point selection, which is determined by the different types of hiccup. The acupuncture treatment, which is very inexpensive and without side effects, has been 100% effective in this study, has increased the patients’ acceptance and confidence in this therapy.