Last year, I completely lost my voice. I was opening up my mouth trying to speak and no sounds came out. It was the first time something like that had happened and it totally freaked me out. I spoke with a doctor about it and it turns out I had a case of laryngitis. She prescribed me some pills and it cleared up in a few days. As a singer, this kind of thing can wreak havoc on your gigging schedule and your money. I was unprepared and didn’t really know what to do to get my voice back other than relying on those pills to work. Luckily, I had no upcoming gigs at least for another week, so I had time to nip it in the bud (but not much)!
But it doesn’t have to be this way. There are many things you can do to protect and or restore your voice if this situation happens to you. Even a slight cold can affect your ability to hit certain notes which can lead to poor performance or having to cancel gigs altogether. We singers and vocalists need to be very careful to protect ourselves against colds and allergies. Unfortunately, you can’t always prevent a cold or allergy attack. In that case, having a way to remedy these situations on hand can help minimize the issue. Here are the 10 best cold and allergy remedies for singers and vocalists.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar, especially the organic kind with “The Mother” included is very beneficial in many ways. It’s acidic which helps cut phlegm. You can gargle it by diluting it with cold war water. You can also drink it with warm water, lemon, and honey, as a tea. If there is a mild infection, drinking apple cider vinegar can help kill the bacteria that cause it. Add 2 tablespoons to water and drink it twice a day. Make sure the apple cider vinegar you get is raw and organic with “The Mother!”
Turmeric
Turmeric gets rid of vocal fold swelling. For allergy sufferers, turmeric is incredibly effective. You can take turmeric via a liquid concentrate like this or capsules. You can also make a turmeric tea. To make the tea, mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder and ½ teaspoon of honey into a glass of hot water. Drink this twice a day to help relieve the symptoms of allergies.
Steam Machine
A lot of our singer/vocalist friends swear by this method! You can use a small steam machine to clear congestion and remove mucus. Inhaling the hot steam is supposed to penetrate your throat while the heat from the steam gets rid of the congestion. To make the hot steam even more effective, add a drop of Eucalyptus Essential Oil to the water in the steamer. This boosts the steam’s ability to decongest.
Hot Water Concoctions
Hot water mixed with herbs and spices reduces phlegm. Hot water itself helps to open sinuses. Adding extra beneficial spices and herbs to it can make your life much better if you’re suffering from allergies and colds. Here’s a list of things you can add to your hot water tea to get rid of congestion fast…
- Honey – antibacterial properties
- Garlic – antibacterial properties
- Lemon – acidic (cuts phlegm)
- Ginger – natural decongestant
- Cayenne – natural decongestant
Pineapple Juice
We’re not sure if you remember, but your grandmother most likely fed you pineapple juice when you got sick during the winter. That’s because pineapple juice is an old home remedy for getting rid of colds and sinus problems. Pineapple juice is acidic. So it cuts phlegm and reduces swelling in vocal folds, especially if you have major swelling. Pineapple is an incredible source of Vitamin C, which is a super immune booster that can fight off colds. Pineapple also contains a substance called bromelain. This neat ingredient is an anti-inflammatory and is seriously good at fighting infections and getting rid of bacteria. Here’s a neat little trick. To get the most concentrated amount of the natural benefits of pineapple, juice the core and drink that too.
Gargle Salt Water
In addition to pineapple, another old remedy for colds and allergies is gargling with warm saltwater. Just mix a ½ teaspoon of salt into 8 ounces of water and use the solution to gargle for several seconds then spit it out. This easy remedy helps a great deal with throat irritation.
Mucinex
The active ingredient in Mucinex, Guaifenesin, is great for thinning mucous and adding fluid to the vocal folds. This Mucinex can counteract symptoms of the common cold and make you feel as good as new. Be sure to check the bottle. The only active ingredient should be guaifenesin. Any other OTC meds that claim to loosen or get rid of mucus may dry out your vocal folds which can cause serious damage in the long run.
Neti Pot
No, not the grass. A Neti Pot is a small teapot that you fill with special salt and warm water. It gently rinses out your nasal passages. It’s a great, natural way to clear out congestion in your nasal passages. It removes dust particles, pollen, other debris while keeping nasal passages clear and allowing you to breathe easier. In fact, it’s recommended to use the Neti Pot even if you’re not sick! It clears out bacteria to help prevent you from getting sick. It also helps with allergies! How does it work? It uses the gentle flow of gravity to deliver the all-natural saline solution into the nasal passages. Studies suggest that Nasal Washing regularly may reduce the duration and frequency of cold & flu symptoms and promote long term nasal health. A word of caution…for the remedy to work you have to use sterile water, not from the tap and hold your head at a 45-degree angle. If not used properly, it could have the opposite effect and introduce even more bacteria to your ecosystem. If you typically don’t have good luck with products due to not reading instructions or user error, this product may not be the right solution for you.
Saline Nasal Spray
If the Neti Pot sounds like too much work or commitment, try the saline nasal spray option. It’s just like the Net Pot, but a lot less intense. It relieves sinus pressure and shrinks swollen nasal membranes.
Just Plain Water
When you’re dealing with a cold, water is the last thing you would think of to alleviate your symptoms. Without a doubt, water is a magic elixir that helps your body work at its optimum levels in so many areas. It works especially well when fighting off harmful bacteria and infections. Water helps to flush out toxins and to keep your vocal folds moist. We don’t realize it but a lot of these remedies are drying agents. They specialize in drying out mucus/phlegm. So it’s safe to say that these ingredients can inadvertently dry out other areas like your mucus membranes which can cause damage to a singer’s voice over time. Water helps to rehydrate your body’s water levels with special attention to moistening your mucus membranes for singing! So while you’re flushing out all of the bacteria and infection, drinking more water can act to keep your body hydrated.
Things to stay away from…
While we’re on the topic of helpful remedies for cold and sinus, it’s important to know what to stay away from especially when it comes to our vocal cords. Not every remedy is great for the purpose of singing. So it’s important to be on the lookout for things that can not only combat the issues that come along with cold and allergies but to also identify ways you can protect your vocals.
Mint and Menthol – While touted as great remedies for cold and flu, they are actually not the greatest choice for singers battling these issues. Mint and menthol can actually have a drying effect on your vocal cords and should only be used sparingly.
Alcohol – Think a good old-fashioned Hot Tidy will do the trick? Think again! Alcohol is B-A-D for your vocal folds. Alcohol is a diuretic. That means it actually works to REMOVE FLUID from your vocal folds causing dehydration. Making you have to work your vocals even harder to get those pleasant sounds out of your throat. Over time this could lead to a vocal injury. Stay far away from that whiskey.
Bottom line, just because you’ve come down with a cold, doesn’t mean all is lost as a singer. You have options. Any of these options can help rectify a bad situation in no time. While going to the doctor and getting a slew of pills worked for me that one time, I’m going for the more natural route and using some of these remedies listed above instead. They are a natural, more healthy way to attack these ailments and a lot cheaper too.
By the way, if you have to be out of the limelight for a while due to sickness or just taking a break, watch this video we put together about engaging your fans even when there’s nothing to say. What have you tried that’s worked? Share in the comments section below. We’d love to hear your favorite remedy for cold, sinus, and flu for singers!
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Great article, Anitra! I never knew there were so many natural remedies for colds and alergies. Although I’m not a singer myself, I might have to try some of these next time I come down with something.