Very common among the ailments are cold, cough,
loss of appetite, anemia, obesity, hiccups, and so on.
Hidhma is otherwise known as Hikka in Sanskrit, and hiccup
in English is common among people of all ages, right from
infants to old people.
It gets its name from the sound “hic” that is
made when we get this ailment. You get the same number of
hiccups as that of your breath.
There are five classifications of hidhma, which are Kshudra
hidhma, Gambira Hidhma, Annaja hidhma, Mahati Hidhma, and
Yamala hidhma.
Normally, for treating hiccups in infants, either castor oil is
applied on the top of the head or the infant is nursed by the mother,
while drinking water is recommended for adults.
Kshudra Hidhma
In this type, you tend to get mild or soft bouts because of increased exertion, which keeps on increasing vata, and thereby producing Kshudra Hidhma. The root base of the shoulders is the origin of this type of hikka, and this is a minor type.
Gambhira Hikka
The origin of this hikka is the umbilicus or large intestine, and is characterized by more vibrating and yawning, sound of the hiccup. Most of the symptoms are similar to that of Maha Hikka.
Annaja Hidhma
Consumption of hard, dry, and improper food or fluid causes
this kind of hikka. Painless hiccups are produced when these
consumed foods or fluids, aggravate Vata.
It is recommended to eat accustomed foods and fluids to
subside the hiccups. If the sneezing follows the hiccups,
it is recognized as well Annaja Hikka or Hidhma, which means
unaccustomed food-produced hiccups.
Maha Hikka
The origin of this hiccup is from cavernous inside.
It is characterized by sounds, forceful bouts, loss of actions
of body, speech, channel of food is obstructed, a feeling of vital
organs being hit, is produced, the body is bent backwards, emaciation,
and so on.
Yamala Hidhma
It is also known as Vegini and Parinamvati hikka, as it appears in pair, and during the absorption of food. This occurs with force or vega, and is characterized by increasing during the time of digestion, tremors in head and neck, irrelevant talk, flatulence harsh thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, yawning, and so on.
How to treat Hidhma?
Anoint with the mixture of oil and salt, and administer sudation
to the patient. Then give rice and curd for consumption. If the
patient has cough, infectious ache in the heart region, vomiting,
give a mild emesis therapy using Saindhava, honey and Pippali. This
should induce evacuation of bowels, and therefore, mix the mixture
with any tart fruit & warm water.
If that does not solve the problem, prepare a cigarette with the
paste of root of, laksha, eranda devadaru, mansi manashila, ela,
and leaves of haridra, seal it with some amount of ghee, and give
it to the patient to smoke. Sudation therapy must be provided to
people fit or unfit for it. Warm milk with honey or oil should be
poured over the throat and chest. This is one of the treatments
for Hidhma.
Drugs for curing Hidhma
Churna, Lauha, Rasa Kalpa, Aasav, Ghrita, Bhasma, Arishtha, and Pishthi are few forms of drugs used in the treatment of hidhma.
