Many people enjoy eating fish, but getting fish bones stuck in the throat can be troublesome. Accidentally swallowing a fish bone can cause it to get stuck in the throat, and if not properly taken care of, it can lead to serious problems. So what is the most effective way to deal with a fish bone stuck in the throat?
Oral intake of vitamin C
If you accidentally get stuck with a small fish bone while eating fish, taking a vitamin C tablet can soften the bone. This is because the main component of fish bones is calcium, while vitamin C is acidic. When calcium encounters acid, it softens, making this method foolproof for small fish bones.
Valerian tea
Valerian, a traditional Chinese herb, has the ability to dissolve fish bones. If a fish bone gets stuck, you can boil 30 grams of valerian with an appropriate amount of water and slowly swallow the liquid within 30 minutes.
Swallowing orange peel
Orange peel contains fruit acid, which can soften small fish bones. If a fish bone gets stuck, you can peel an orange, cut the peel into small pieces, and slowly swallow them. This method can help dissolve small fish bones, but it may not be very effective for larger bones.
Inducing vomiting to remove the fish bone
If a fish bone gets stuck, you can try inducing vomiting to remove it. The method is to press the back of the tongue with a clean finger or chopsticks, which can cause a person to feel nauseous and vomit. This way, the stuck fish bone may come out along with the vomit.
Tips
Having a fish bone stuck in the throat is not a trivial matter. The most effective method is to seek medical attention promptly and have a doctor remove the fish bone using professional equipment to avoid infection or perforation, which can cause even greater harm.
