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Fu's subcutaneous needling for intractable hiccups: A case report
Lu-Yao Dou1, Hua-Feng Cui2, Li-Wei Chou3,4,5
1School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
Rationale:
Intractable hiccups pose a significant impact on patients' quality of life and mental well-being, yet effective nonpharmacological interventions remain limited. Fu's subcutaneous needling (FSN), a novel acupuncture technique targeting myofascial trigger points (MTrPs), has not been previously reported in treating intractable hiccups.
Patient Concerns:
The patient developed intractable hiccups (30-40 episodes/min) following treatment for allergic cough, unresponsive to medications and conventional acupuncture.
Diagnoses:
Intractable hiccups.
Interventions:
FSN was applied to MTrPs in rectus abdominis, psoas major, erector spinae, and adductor magnus muscles. The needle was inserted subcutaneously toward tightened muscles, followed by fan-shaped sweeping for 2 minutes per session.
Outcomes:
Hiccup frequency decreased from 6/10 to 1/10 on the Hiccup Assessment Instrument after 7 sessions. Symptoms resolved completely with no recurrence at 1-month follow-up.
Lessons:
FSN may be a safe and effective alternative for intractable hiccups by inactivating MTrPs and modulating fascial tension. Further randomized controlled trials are warranted.
