Once when I was working at a restaurant I got the hiccups and someone gave me an ounce of bitters plus a slice of lime to follow it. It works every time!

Hiccups can be stopped by drawing in your abdominal muscles for a few seconds. I have used this technique with success. It also works to relieve acid reflux.

A vast majority of undiagnosed illness; is rooted in genetics, and toxicology. Chemical triggers can cause a multitude of neurological symptoms. Keyword: Toxicant induced loss of tolerance(Tilt), or MULTIPLE CHEMICAL SENSITIVITY(MCS). No matter what you call the mechanism responsible for "chemical intolerance"; most any symptom can be attributed to chemical triggers. If you have Chemical intolerance(Multiple Chemical sensitivity(MCS), Tilt, or Ideopathic environmental intolerance, etc etc; the bottom line is that your bodies metabolism has become physicaly altered, and losses its ability to process toxic chemicals. The mechanism remains undefined, and the illness goes by many many names, even hypochondria. Very low concentrations of chemicals in the air, skin, and diet; can cause any number of eratic ailments, once you have suffered a primary exposure(or multiple toxic exposures over a prolonged period of time). Hicups are a neurological response. The average doctor(MD) has very little education in toxicology; which might explain their ignorance. If you have chemical intolerance(MCS, Tilt); you will need to educate yourself on the conditions. My recomendation: stop with the voo-doo stuff, witch doctors, etc-and start isolating triggers. I am talking about anything; made from, treated with, or derived from chemicals. That means just about everything. Another name for MCS is "total allergy" though it is not caused by the immune system activation; therefore not an allergy. Chemicals in Perfume, air fresheners, bedding(detergents, fabric softeners), cosmetics, hair sprays, etc; are a good place to start. Your hicups could be an addictive response(meaning that they are active when you are around the substance)-or a withdrawl response(they appear when you are taken away from the source). Start paying attention to your environment(where you are at, what you are doing, what you are wearing, what you eat, who you are around. Isolation can be very very difficult. Do not rule out things that you think are safe, because you have always used them. Your tolerance to chemicals may have been altered over time; and the trigger might be your favorite perfume, toothpaste, food item; or anything you inhale, absorb, or ingest. Isolation is very difficult, because chemicals are everywhere; even a tent in the woods, eating berries, and no cosmetics are not complete isolation. There are strong flame retardant chemicals on all camping gear, outdoor furniture, and clothing of all types. Chemicals are everywhere-and I mean everywhere. If you lost your ability to process them; you might have most any symptom.
My worst symptom, was severe brain cramping head aches, that lasted for over a month; so bad I wanted to put a gun to my head. I worked in a toxic building that altered my genetic chemical tolerance. The same water-bed I had slept in for years, had become a plastic toxic gass. The heater was heating up the rubber bladder, and my system cold not process the inhaled chemical gas(new car smell). 1500 dollars later, a hospital visit, and some tranquilizers; an organic bed stopped these head aches in 48 hours.

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity: A Toxic Headache
By Georgina Ruiz
Have you ever had a sudden bout of migraine headaches, fatigue,
stinging eyes, congestion, or mental confusion? Has your doctor been
unable to find anything wrong with you or to explain the symptoms
you’ve been experiencing? If so, you may be suffering from multiple
chemical sensitivity…

So what exactly is Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and how can it be treated?

If you have multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), you may be miserable
but have no idea why. That’s because MCS has a range of symptoms that
are triggered by exposure to chemicals. MCS can be ignited by a major
event, such as a chemical spill, or by long-term exposure to
chemicals found in carpet, paint, cosmetics, detergents, and everyday
household cleaners.

It can even be caused by exposure to natural substances in plants or perfumes, which many of us keep around our houses or that float around in poorly ventilated offices. Some experts believe that our nerves simply become overloaded by exposure to chemicals, becoming increasingly sensitive to their
effects. As that sensitivity grows so do your physical reactions: it¼br /> takes less and less exposure to the toxic chemicals to make you
feel lousy. You may react with allergy-like symptoms or worse.

Is it All in Your Mind?
MCS is a controversial and much debated diagnosis. In fact, the
Centers for Disease Control and the American Medical Association do
not acknowledge MCS as a legitimate medical diagnosis, and many
physicians do not believe the disorder exists. Others view it as a
serious illness that warrants serious attention.

The symptoms and illnesses of veterans of the first Gulf War and of those involved in the clean up of the World Trade Center after 9/11 have drawn even
more attention to the syndrome: many of the symptoms appear to be
linked to their exposure to environmental chemicals and toxins.

The skepticism of the medical establishment appears to stem from inconsistent patterns of symptoms, inconsistent test results, and no specific triggers for the disease. And some researchers note that about half of the people complaining of MCS also have psychiatric problems such as depression and anxiety.
“Symptoms can be very different for each individual, and this
confuses the medical profession,” says Alison Johnson, Chair of the
Chemical Sensitivity Foundation (chemicalsensitivityfoundation.org)
and producer/director of such documentaries as Multiple Chemical
Sensitivity: How Chemical Exposures May Be Affecting Your Health.

Johnson has worked closely with members of Congress to educate them
about the effects that chemicals have on people’s health, both in
extreme situations, such as 9/11, and in daily life. She agrees that
bouts of depression, anxiety and anger are common MCS symptoms, and
that determining if mental health issues precede MCS or are caused by
it is difficult.

Other experts argue that MCS is often looked upon by the medical
community as an allergic reaction and contend that comparing it to
allergies is not an effective way to deal with the disorder. MCS is a
separate and distinct condition, they say, and so must be treated as
such. No definitive tests can diagnose the disorder, and the medical
profession has yet to develop protocols for treating it.

MCS Symptoms: What to Watch For

The varied symptoms of MCS are experienced differently by each person
who has them and are easy to confuse with other medical conditions.
Some of the most common symptoms include:
• Headaches
• Rashes
• Depression, anxiety and anger
• Joint and muscle pain
• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Stuffy head/congestion
• Sneezing
• Breathing problems
• Confusion
• Dry mouth and dry eyes
• Insomnia
• Digestive difficulties

(Editor’s note: It is possible that exposure to a toxic environment is responsible for other diagnoses, such as ADHD )

Behind the Misery
¼br /> According to Johnson, people with MCS may lack the enzymes they
need to rid their bodies of the toxic chemicals. In fact, in a number
of recent studies, researchers have uncovered a genetic difference in
people’s ability to detoxify chemicals. “Genetic differences are
among the most promising explanations, ” Johnson says, noting that
eventually laboratory tests may be available to confirm a MCS
diagnosis.
Everyday, many of us are surrounded by toxic products and fumes whose
chemicals have been linked to MCS. These include:
• Cigarette smoke
• Pesticides
• Household cleaners
• Perfume
• Nail polish remover
• Shampoo, hair spray and other personal care products
• New carpeting
• Paint or paint thinner
• Fabric softener and detergents
• Gasoline and exhaust fumes
• Glue

How to Fight Back
The smartest thing you can do to relieve MCS symptoms is, of course,
to stay away from problem chemicals. “People should ask themselves if
anything has changed in their environment, ” says Johnson, noting that
many of us fail to make a connection between items we use every day
and how we feel.
“The EPA has stated that air fresheners are a form of indoor
pollution, for example,” says Johnson. “And no one has to use fabric
softener or be around cigarette smoke.”

Replacing some of the chemical-heavy items you use with natural,
chemical-free products may help – and is not too difficult to do.
Many non-toxic beauty and household cleaning products are now available in
local health food stores and online. Researching these can be a great
first step towards relieving your symptoms.
“Don’t assume that ill health is inevitable,” Johnson urges. “If you
don’t feel well and can’t figure out why, take a look around you and
question each product you use.”