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Intractable or persistent hiccups treated with extracranial acupuncture: Two case reports
Zong-Wang Zhang1, Chang-Xiang Gong2
1Department of Anesthesiology, Shandong Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng.
Medicine
|May 24, 2020
Summary
Extracranial acupuncture effectively treated two cases of intractable hiccups, offering a new therapeutic approach. This novel method resolved persistent hiccups without recurrence, improving patient quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Acupuncture Research
- Clinical Case Studies
Background:
- Persistent and intractable hiccups significantly diminish quality of life.
- Current treatments for hiccups lack specific efficacy.
- Acupuncture presents a potential alternative therapy for refractory hiccups.
Observation:
- Two patients presented with intractable (7-year history) and persistent (7-day history) hiccups.
- One patient experienced associated symptoms including chest tightness and dyspnea.
- Traditional acupuncture provided no relief for the persistent hiccups.
Findings:
- Both patients with intractable or persistent hiccups were treated with extracranial acupuncture.
- Complete resolution of hiccups was achieved in both cases.
- No recurrence of hiccups was observed during follow-up.
Implications:
- Extracranial acupuncture, targeting the nervous system via the external occipital protuberance, offers a novel treatment for hiccups.
- This approach aligns with neural balance theory, suggesting nervous system regulation is key.
- The study introduces a promising new avenue for managing debilitating hiccup conditions.
