Can sneezing cure hiccups?

[Joal 555]

The title says it all really. I had the hiccups (hicoughs?) for about half an hour. Then I sneezed 3 times and the hiccups stopped as if by magic!

Has anybody else experienced this?

[Trillium]

No, but it makes sense. Hiccuping is due to a spasm of the diaphragm, and anything that interrupts that spasm (e.g., holding your breath) will make the hiccups stop. Sneezing would interrupt the diaphragmatic spasm rather effectively!

[murphy dee]

I'll have to try this next time I have hiccups! Might even be more fun than a spoonful of sugar.

[Wishing]

The title says it all really. I had the hiccups (hicoughs?) for about half an hour. Then I sneezed 3 times and the hiccups stopped as if by magic!

Has anybody else experienced this?

No, I can't say that I have, although as the others have said, it makes perfect sense. I have had the opposite happen though...I've ended up actually getting the hiccups after a sneezing fit. Typical!!

Bless you x 3 by the way

[Pearlised]

"can sneezing cure hiccups"

Apparently yes lol

i'm definately trying this next time!

[count tiszula]

Not so long ago there was a thread about this question appearing in Plato's Symposium. If I've got it right, Aristophanes, who provides the comic relief, keeps hiccoughing and is eventually persuaded to induce in some manner to stop the hiccoughs by sneezing.

I think I commented that this is perhaps the first recorded use of the comic character sneezing as a sign of how ridiculous he is which is now such a trope of popular culture.

Actually, anyone wanting an introduction to Greek philosophy would do well just to read the bits that involve Aristophanes; what a hoot!

[sillystarsmoons]

I didn't know this. Next time I have the hiccups I will try it lol. But bless you.