Have you ever had to wake up without your voice? I’m sure many of you have experienced this symptom. Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box which leaves you entirely without voice for a few days. Laryngitis presents itself with difficulty in talking and hoarseness of voice along with a sore throat. It will sometimes have an accompanying cough, fever and congestion and frequent irritation in your throat that you find the need to clear it all the time.
The causes of laryngitis are many. Sometimes all you need to lose your voice is a bit of cheering in an event. Overstraining your voice box is one reason that can lead to laryngitis. Bacterial, fungal and viral infections of the throat could be another reason that can leave you with a hoarse voice. Infectious diseases like tuberculosis and syphilis too are factors that contribute to bouts of laryngitis. External pollutants that can cause laryngitis are smoking and atmospheric pollution.
Severe and prolonged cough too could make you talk in whispers. While serious conditions like tuberculosis that could be the cause of laryngitis require prolonged treatment to set the problem right, other conditions can be treated at home using home remedies. Home remedies are safe on your throat and help your recover your lost voice quicker.
The simplest solution to your entire throat problems, a salt water gargle can recover your voice box and your sore throat faster than you ever assumed. Take glass of warm water and add half a teaspoon of salt into it. Mix well and gargle. Salt being an antibacterial and healing agent will effectively remove all the germs in your throat and heal your sore throat.
When you gargle, remember to take the salt water as far back into your throat to touch the larynx which is where you want the healing action to take place. Keep the water as long as you can in the throat and avoid drinking or eating anything for half an hour.
Just like salt water, a solution of water and vinegar too can exert its great influence in curing laryngitis. Take equal quantities of vinegar and water and mix well. Gargle with this solution 4-5 times a day for fast relief from your symptoms. Vinegar too is a great antibacterial and helps in removing the fungal and bacterial action if any.
Mouthwash has antibacterial qualities and so can be used for gargling and swishing your mouth off the bacteria and virus that could be present in your mouth and throat to make you feel much better in an instant.
Ginger can relieve the pain and soreness associated with laryngitis and also put an end to your cough and cold which could have trigged the infection in the larynx. Chew a piece of ginger and allow the juices to lurk in your throat for some time before you swallow. Alternately, you could also make ginger tea and drink slowly while it is still hot, leaving your throat feeling good and much better after a few gulps.
Garlic has antimicrobial properties and hence must be used for curing your laryngitis. Crush 2-3 flakes of garlic and consume every day. You can add it in your food as well while cooking.
When you have laryngitis, straining your voice can aggravate the situation. Given enough rest, laryngitis will subside on its own without any other medication. Therefore, make sure that you give enough rest to your voice to recover fast. If you are in the teaching profession, make sure that you take a few days off to help relieve your larynx off the infection and inflammation.
Dry weather can further aggravate the condition of laryngitis and leave your throat irritated and sore all the more. This is why it is very important to leave the atmosphere moist while you have laryngitis. Use a humidifier to keep the atmosphere moist. If you do not have a humidifier, keep a bowl of water in your room.
The irritation in your throat can become worse when it is dry. Therefore it is important to keep your throat moist which soothes your larynx and leads to faster recovery. Consume water frequently whenever you feel your throat getting dry. Instead of water, you may also consume fresh fruit juices and herbal teas. Honey being a natural moisturiser can help in keeping the throat moist. Add a few drops of honey along with your herbal tea or water.
Drinking lemon juice will not only hydrate your throat, but also help in production of saliva and destroy the multiplication of germs due to its acidic properties. The best way to get maximum benefit from lemon is to gulp it down your throat without adding water 3-4 times a day. Lemon can also be mixed with honey in order to improve its curing power.
Steaming can reduce and remove any dryness in the throat due to dry weather and also due to dehydration. Moisture can immediately make you feel better. You do not have to spend extra time for steaming as it can be done while you have a warm shower. Leave the bathroom door closed and set the heat to a maximum while you leave the tap open. The steam build up inside the bathroom can be used for inhaling and exhaling while you take bath. Alternately, use a pot of boiling water to inhale the steam and help in alleviating the situation.
While you use home remedies for treating laryngitis, make sure that you allow yourself plenty of voice rest as this will help in reducing the friction and strain inside the throat. Keep your throat hydrated with one of the home remedies mentioned above and within a week you will be up and going.
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