How do you get rid of hiccups?  Do you hold your breath?  Do you drink water upside down?  Do you take a teaspoon of sugar?  I think most of us have tried one or more ways to get rid of the nasty hiccups.  We used to use a teaspoon of sugar in our house and it usually worked, but now that we don't have any white sugar in the house we weren't sure how to get rid of them.  I heard a lady a few weeks ago talk about getting rid of hiccups with peppermint.  She said it worked for everyone in her family.  Well a few days I got the hiccups and thought let's try it and see.  It worked and it worked fast, no holding my breath, no ruining my teeth eating a teaspoon of sugar.  I just inhaled some peppermint and rubbed it on the back of my neck and they were gone.  So of course I had to try it on anybody else that had the hiccups.  My daughter Emily has had them twice and it has worked both times. 
EDUCATE:  Peppermint has an invigorating, clean, fresh, menthol aroma. This important essential oil has been widely studied for its potential health benefits. It is native to Europe and is a hybrid of the wintergreen and spearmint plants. Growing to approximately two feet tall, peppermint plants bloom from July through August, sprouting tiny purple flowers in whorls
and terminal spikes. Simple, toothed, and fragrant leaves grow opposite the flowers. Preparations for extracting peppermint essential oil begin with the leaves and flowering tops of the plant, where menthol—peppermint’s primary active component—is extracted.
EMPOWER:  One of the oldest and most highly regarded herbs for soothing digestion, peppermint may also restore digestive efficiency. Jean Valnet MD studied peppermint’s supportive effect on the liver and respiratory systems. Other scientists
have also researched peppermint’s role in improving taste and smell when inhaled. Dr. William N. Dember of the University of Cincinnati studied peppermint’s ability to improve concentration and mental acuity. Alan Hirsch, MD studied peppermint’s ability to directly affect the brain’s satiety center, which triggers a sensation of fullness after meals.
ENJOY:      • Add a drop of peppermint essential oil to herbal tea to soothe digestion. • Apply a drop topically on unbroken skin to stop itching. • For poison ivy or poison oak, apply peppermint essential oil on location or dilute with V-6™ Enhanced Vegetable Oil Complex. • Inhale peppermint essential oil before and during a workout to boost your mood and reduce fatigue.
• Place two drops on the tongue and rub another drop under the nose to improve alertness and concentration.  • Rub four drops on chest and stomach to relieve travel sickness. • Add peppermint to food as a flavoring. • Mix one 15 ml bottle of peppermint essential oil into a five gallon can of paint to dispel the fumes. • Place a few drops in a cup of hot water and
enjoy in place of coffee. • Drink a drop of peppermint essential oil mixed In a glass of cold water to cool off on a hot day.• Inhale the fragrance of peppermint to curb the appetite and lessen the impulse to overeat. • Mix peppermint essential oil in a foot bath to relieve sore feet. Keep water agitated while soaking feet.  Use peppermint to get rid of the hiccups.

Note:  Caution Possible skin sensitivity. If pregnant or under a doctor’s care, consult your physician. Dilution recommended for both topical and internal use. Do not apply peppermint essential oil to a fresh wound or burn. Dilute before using on sensitive areas such as the face, neck, genital area, etc. Keep out of reach of children. Avoid using on infants and very small children.

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