Hiccups are quite harmless but can quickly become annoying if they go on for too long.

Here are some of the tips to trick your vagus nerve, the nerve responsible for swallowing and breathing, into stopping hiccups instantly.

A spoonful of honey in a glass of water

A teaspoon of honey mixed in a glass of warm water is said to have several benefits, but we bet you’ve never heard of it being used to stop hiccups before. Stir the honey completely in the glass of water, and drink it slowly so as to tingle your vagus nerve which helps in stopping hiccups.

Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels| Drinking honey water provides instant relief from hiccups

Some hot sauce

Distract yourself from the annoying hiccups by taking a few quick sips of a spicy sauce. The burning effect of the hot cause will distract you from the hiccups and it should put an end to them soon.

Drinking water while pinching your nose

Having a glass of water while pinching your nose is also a very effective method to cure hiccups instantly. Gulping down a huge amount of food, such as rice also works the same. If the problem still persists, repeating the same steps will instantly provide you relief from hiccups.

Eating Cocoa powder

Quickly eating a teaspoon of cocoa powder, or drinking a chocolate drink like Milo will also help eliminate your hiccups instantly.

Delphine Hourlay/Pexels. Eat cocoa powder to eliminate hiccups

Breathing out of a paper bag:

Take a paper bag, place it on your mouth, and start breathing in and out of it. Take at least ten deep breaths to have instant relief from hiccups. For best results, take quick, sharp breaths.

Drinking water in small sips:

Take small sips of water while breathing in between. This should put an end to your hiccups instantly.

Using the double straw technique

Gulp down water as quickly as you can using two straws in a glass of water. Make sure that one of the straws is pressed against the side of the glass.

Christopher/Pexels. Use the double straw technique for hiccups

Inhaling/exhaling with your tongue sticking out:

Start by taking a deep breath and then slowly exhaling; force out as much air as you can until you feel like taking a deep breath once again. Then, hold your breath as you block your ears with your fingers, while sticking your tongue out. It may look comically odd to others, but it surely helps to relieve those hiccups almost instantly.