Whether it be holding your breath or swallowing sugar, we all have our own “go-to” hiccup remedy. Recently, the guys at Mental Floss investigated just how many of these home remedies were based in actual science, and you may be slightly disappointed with the results.

Although most doctors will be able to tell you that hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, science still isn’t completely sure what exactly causes them. According to Elliott at Mental Floss, most experts believe that hiccups are caused by the vagus nerve, which extends from the brainstem to the abdomen, the central processor, and diaphragm, but when it gets to the specifics, things are less clear.

Most cultures have their own idea of how to “cure” hiccups, and these remedies can differ greatly depending on where in the world you grew up. While some may swear that drinking large volumes of water is the only way to cure hiccups, others may argue that breathing into a paper bag works every time for them.

In the mid-90s Tyler Cymet, head of medical education at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, performed a five-year study exploring the validity behind many popular hiccup remedies, The Guardian reported. Although the study was small, involving only about 54 patients, Cymet found that none of the home remedies he tried proved effective in ridding patients of their hiccups. Over the past 20 years, there have been more studies investigating the effectiveness of certain hiccup remedies, with some suggesting that organisms and rectal stimulation may be potentially effective. However, as Mental Floss reported, a 2012 study reviewed evidence produced in past studies and concluded that “there is insufficient evidence to recommend a particular treatment for hiccups.”

If you're interested to learn what other misconceptions about hiccups Mental Floss was able to debunk, click on the video below: