Review of Clinical Research about the Treatment of Hiccup After Stroke with Herbal Medicine - Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Journals

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report a case of a woman with intractable hiccups after a traffic accident through Korean medicine treatment.Methods: A combination of treatments, including herbal medicine (Soshiho-tang), pharmacopuncture, acupuncture, Chuna, cupping, and moxibustion, was administered to the patient for 21 days. The frequency and duration of hiccups, the degree of body shaking, and total sleep time were measured daily. The accompanying symptoms were measured daily using the Visual Analogue Scale.Results: After Korean medicine treatment, Hiccup symptoms disappeared. Further, the degree of clinical symptoms and QOL improved significantly after Korean medicine treatment. No adverse events were observed.Conclusions: This study suggests that Korean medicine treatment can be an effective treatment for intractable hiccups after traffic accidents.

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A Case Report of Korean Medicine Treatment for an Intractable Hiccup Patient with Unknown Cause after a Traffic Accident

Park,

Yoon,

Lee

et al. 2023

“…는 胃失和降, 胃氣上逆, 動膈而成이 원인이 되며 和降胃氣하는 治法을 사용한다. 呃逆에 주로 사용 하는 처방에는 旋覆代赭湯, 丁香枾蒂湯, 橘皮竹茹湯이 있으며 6 , 함께 中脘, 足三里, 膈兪 등 주로 脾胃와 횡격막 관련 혈위의 침치료, 전침, 부항치료 등을 적용한다 7,8…”

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A Case Report of Central Nervous System Disorder Induced Intractable Hiccups Treated with Korean Medicine

Moon¹,

Min²,

Kim³

et al. 2022

Intractable hiccups are those which persist for more than one month and can often occur in patients with disorders of the central nervous system, such as stroke, epilepsy, or brain tumor. An 80-year-old male patient undergoing conservative hemodialysis for diabetic nephropathy, recently developed paralysis and dysphagia due to central nervous system complications including stroke and epilepsy. He was admitted to the ⃝⃝ Oriental Medicine Hospital, and treated with herbal medicine (Gyulpijugyeo-tang, Jeonssiigong-san, and Ijin-tang) and electrical acupuncture for 30 days. No side effects were observed during hospitalization. The frequency and duration of hiccups were measured daily and found to reduce, and the effect persisted during his admission. The patient took no other nervous system drugs. In conclusion, Korean medicine like gyulpijugyeo-tang and acupuncture can be effective for patients with intractable hiccups who cannot use alternative drugs or treatment, because of other complications.

Combined Korean Medicine Treatment of a Patient Diagnosed with Posterior Limb of Internal Capsule Infarction Presenting with Hiccups as the Chief Complaint - A Case Report

Hur,

Kim,

Shin

et al. 2024

Objective: Hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, followed by laryngeal closure. Persistent hiccups can occur in the central nervous system following a cerebral infarction. While medications, for example chlorpromazine, are commonly used for treatment, they often fail to fully resolve the hiccups, showing little to no improvement in symptoms. The aim of this study was to present the treatment response of a patient diagnosed with posterior limb of internal capsule (PLIC) infarction, who was experiencing hiccups and was treated with combined Korean medicine after taking chlorpromazine.Case Presentation: A 71-year-old male diagnosed with left PLIC infarction was experiencing problems in daily life due to hiccups and dysarthria. During the 10-day hospitalization, he received treatment that included herbal medicine (modified Hyeolbuchugeo-tang, Xiěfǔzhúyūtāng), acupuncture (GV20, LI11, ST36, LI4, LR3, and submandibular area acupoint), moxibustion, cupping, and physical therapy. After 10 days of hospitalization, the patient’s hiccups disappeared, and he did not have to take any chlorpromazine. The score on the Numerical Rating Scale fell from 7-8 to 1-2. The 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) fell from 11 to 7, and the EQ Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) rose from 20 to 80. The frequency (times per minute) of hiccups decreased and almost disappeared. During outpatient treatment, the patient stated that he did not experience hiccups for 7 months, and no significant side effects were observed.Conclusion: This study suggests that a patient with hiccups as a chief complaint can be effectively treated with combined Korean medicine. However, more studies with control groups are needed to confirm these findings.