Suffering from a whispery, harsh or weak voice and looking for ways to get your voice back.
Almost everyone among us has experienced temporary voice loss. It happens when your vocal cords are not healthy. Swollen and inflamed vocal cords lead to unusual vibrations resulting in hoarseness of voice or total but temporary loss of voice. It is very common in those who are suffering from a sore throat and runny nose.
What causes loss of voice
Medical causes of loss of voice include acute laryngitis or chronic laryngitis. Acid reflux, dust, chemicals, smoking, alcohol consumption and voice abuse also causes temporary voice loss.
Whatever the cause may be losing voice is frustrating as it affects your professional as well as personal life. So, instead of sitting and waiting for your body to naturally heal your condition better look for some ways to speed the recovery process. Read this article till the end and try natural home remedies that will help you get back your voice in no time.
Home remedies to get your voice back fast
1. Salt water gargle– Salt water gargle is one of the most effective ways to get back your voice quickly. Saltwater softens the vocal cords and minimizes swelling and inflammation. Salt kills and eliminates bacteria. Saltwater cleans, hydrates and soothes your throat.
What to do
Add a pinch of salt to a glass of lukewarm water and gargle with it. Repeat this two times in a day.
* Hypertensive individuals please avoid it.
2. Lemon– Lemon is rich in vitamin C, and it prevents the spread of infection. It cures the irritation of vocal cords and reverses loss of voice. It reduces inflammation and soreness of throat and keeps your throat moisturized and hydrated.
What to do
Add juice of a lemon to a cup of lukewarm water and gargle with it. Repeat this 2-3 times in a day. You may also add a pinch of salt to the solution. Also, consume lemon water two times in a day to boost your immunity and recover soon.
* If you suffer from high blood pressure refrain yourself from adding salt to lemon water.
3. Straw technique- This is a vocal cord exercise. It may sound crazy, but it works.
How it works
Take a drinking straw and blow into it gently for 5 minutes. This will stretch your vocal cord and warm it. Repeat this a few times in a day. Eventually, vocal cords will reinvigorate, and your voice will be back to normal.
4. Cayenne pepper– cayenne pepper will not only efficiently bring back your voice but will also ease pain and inflammation. It eliminates throat infection.
What to do
Mix a teaspoon of cayenne pepper and honey each. Mix well and consume the mixture regularly. Alternatively, you may add a one-fourth teaspoon of cayenne pepper to a glass of warm water. Also, add a half teaspoon of lemon juice to it, Mix well and drink the solution slowly.
5. Honey– Honey is an antibacterial, antibiotic and humectant. It kills bacteria, boosts body immunity and also hydrates throat. It soothes irritation and reduces swelling and inflammation.
How to use
Use organic honey. Add a teaspoon of honey to steaming water. Also, you may add a half teaspoon of lemon juice. Drink honey tea slowly. Drink it two times in a day.
* Make sure that honey tea is not that hot to burn your throat but the temperature should be bearable.
6. Apple cider vinegar- Apple cider vinegar maintains the PH balance and does not let the bacteria to thrive. It is antimicrobial and eliminates the infection. It reduces discomfort and pain as well as speeds the recovery.
What to do
Add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a glass of lukewarm water and drink it two times in a day. Also, add apple cider vinegar and warm water in equal amounts and gargle with this solution several times in a day.
7. Ginger- Ginger is very commonly used to treat a common cough, a sore throat, and cold. It soothes mucous membrane of the throat, treats inflammation and brings your voice back. Being antibacterial it fights off infection.
What to do
Crush a few slices of ginger and extract its juice. To a tea spoon of ginger juice add a pinch of black pepper and half teaspoon honey and consume it.
8. Steam- Steam looses mucus, reduces inflammation and eases discomfort.
What to do
Fill a bowl with steaming water. Add a few drops of lavender essential oil or any other essential oil. Place your face over the bowl and cover your head with a towel. Inhale deeply for a few minutes. Repeat this a few times in a day.
9. Slippery Elm- Slippery Elm magically heals vocal cords and treats throat irritation by coating the mucous membrane.
What to do:
To 2 cups of water add about four teaspoons slippery elm and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and drink the concoction 2-3 time in a day.
10. Garlic- Since ages, garlic has been the first choice to treat respiratory problems. It is antibacterial and expectorant. It clears your throat and nasal passage, reduces inflammation and brings back voice.
What to do
Chew a piece of garlic or crush a few cloves of garlic and add a teaspoon of honey and consume the mixture.
11. Yoga– To warm your voice warm up your entire body by practising yoga. Yoga also tones your diaphragm to action.
What to do
Sit on the floor with your knees bent slightly part. Place your both hands on our knees stretching arms straight out. Inhale from profoundly and then exhale through your mouth. While you exhale stretch your tongue out and vocalize a loud ‘OM’ sound. Sound should come not from your throat but your mouth.
Other necessary steps you need to take to get your voice back
- Hydrate yourself– Hydrating yourself is very important when you are sick. Drink warm water to hydrate and soothe your throat. Also keeping your throat wet minimizes the need to clear your throat or a cough.
- Keep your nasal passage clear- Postnasal drainage down the trachea is an essential cause for throat congestion, so you need to clean up your nasal passage. Instead of sniffling better blow your nose. You may use nasal decongestants or may use a neti pot to rinse your nasal passage. Steam will also help. Keep your body upright and while sleeping use a pillow to prevent the drainage of mucus down the throat.
- Clean your throat- Whenever mucus is felt at the back of your throat gargle with warm water, hack and spit to eliminate mucus from your mouth.
- Avoid the triggers– Smoking, air pollutants, decongestants and dust inhalation irritates vocal cord, causes the throat to dry and leads to loss of voice. Better avoid the triggers by using pollution mask when out and air purifier when indoors. A humidifier will also help to keep throat and voice box moist.
- Cut tea and coffee- Tea and coffee causes dryness of throat. While suffering from inflammation of vocal cords and throat better avoid intake of tea and coffee.
- Avoid intense citrus fruits– Intense citrus fruits causes acid reflux. The chemicals in acid reflux irritate vocal cords and make your condition worse. So avoid intake of intense citrus fruits.
- Rest– Give your vocal cords a break and take rest. Refrain yourself from speaking or even whispering. To communicate better make gestures or carry a notebook. Your silence will heal your voice. Limiting the use of vocal cords is the most crucial step you need to take for quick recovery.
If even after trying the above home remedies and necessary steps to get your voice back there is no recovery or if the loss of voice is accompanied with other symptoms such as fever or a cough better pay a visit to your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.
