7 Quick Remedies If You Have Inflamed Vocal Cords
Getting a cold or having your allergies act up happens to everyone, but what can you do if it happens when you’re in the middle of a run or have a big concert coming up? There are several things you can do to get through when your voice isn’t at it’s best, so I’ve compiled a list below to help whenever you might need it! Of course, the best thing you can do when your voice is tired or hoarse is go on voice rest for as long as possible, but when you can’t do that, do this!
STOP TALKING. If you have a four-show weekend ahead of you, only speak or sing on stage. Avoid talking at home and if your boss or teachers will let you, avoid speaking at work as well. Be sure you get a solid warm up in before your shows, but as soon as the closing curtain hits, you are silent once again.
Sleep as much as possible. I’m sure you’ve heard that the best way to get over a sickness is rest, but that is true for your voice as well. Sleeping allows your body to focus on healing you, not to mention the fact that you probably won’t be talking while you’re sleeping.
Invest in a personal steamer. This is the kind I use, but you can find all sorts of different ones online and at places like CVS, Walgreens, and Target. They are usually not too expensive, and if you are or hope to be a professional singer or actor (8 shows a week is exhausting even if you’re just talking!), they are essential. Steam is one of the fastest ways to reduce inflammation in your vocal cords. Drinking water is fabulous (see #4), but you must be doing this constantly over a few days for you to see a real difference; with steam, the effect is almost immediate because you don’t have to digest the water, it hits the cords straight on. Not only will the steam help reduce your inflammation, it will soothe your voice and feel lovely. I recommend steaming at least 20 minutes a day when you feel under the weather; if I’m in a show I steam 5-10 before going on, throughout intermission, and any time I am backstage.
HYDRATE. My students will tell you, I am all about water. Whenever someone tells me their voice is feeling a little tired or they have extra mucus, my first question is “How much water have you been drinking?” You vocal cords rub together every single time you make a sound, meaning if they aren’t properly lubricated, you will feel hoarse, fatigued, and have much less flexibility in your cords. I tell my adult students to drink at least a gallon (128 oz) of water per day - when they are healthy. When you are sick, you should be drinking even more than that! Doctors always tell you rest and fluids are the fastest cures for just about any common illness, there’s a reason! Water can help flush out your system, and keep your vocal cords hydrated along the way.
Try a spoonful of honey, chopped raw ginger, and cayenne pepper. It sounds gross, and it is, but it works! I was given this remedy by cast mate and vocal injury specialist when my voice went out during a performance a couple of years ago. It worked like a charm! Honey and ginger are natural anti-inflammatories, and raw ginger is digested the fastest; while the cayenne pepper helps to open your sinuses. The combo isn’t appetizing, but you’ll feel it working fairly quickly.
Invest in a humidifier. This is the one I use, but they make huge ones and even smaller ones. No need to break the bank, but I promise you won’t regret buying one! The best place for a humidifier for a singer is in your bedroom. I live in California - it’s super dry here - so when my voice started acting up in the last show I was in, I bought a humidifier just to see if it would help. I saw an improvement after the FIRST night. I slept with the humidifier on as high as it would go and never looked back! I’ve said it before, but dehydrated vocal cords are a singer’s worst enemy; a humidifier is simply another way to make sure you are keeping your vocal cords happy.
Be sure to include semi-occluded sounds in your warm ups. Most singers already use these sounds and I will write a blog about them in more detail in the future, but just know they are amazing for you! These are sounds such as humming, lip trills, rolled “R,” zzz, vvv, etc. These sounds cause back pressure on your vocal cords and cause your cords to square up and vibrate better, with less muscular effort. Semi-Occluded sounds help with vocal cord flexibility and can get your inflamed cords moving nice and gently, so you don’t inadvertently worsen your strain or inflammation. I include these in every warm up I do and every warm up I have my students do, as they are great for injury prevention and increase vocal agility.
There you have it folks! 7 quick remedies for when your voice just won’t behave. None of these are guaranteed to work for everyone, but I know they have worked for me and my students in the past and may wrk for you as well! I hope you never have to be in a situation where you need these tips, but sickness happens to us all unfortunately. Stay healthy and keep singing friends!