5 Natural Remedies for Laryngitis

Waking up with a voice that sounds like grinding gears can be quite a surprise. You may feel perfectly fine but an alien growl spills out of your mouth every time you speak.

This may be laryngitis, an inflammation of your voice box (larynx) as well as surrounding soft tissue. There are many causes for laryngitis and a variety of conventional medicines to combat symptoms. However, before reaching for a chemical fix try one or more of these 5 natural remedies for laryngitis. Some may even be in your kitchen cabinet right now.

The Quick List

Overuse, environmental factors, excessive irritation or infection are some possible causes of laryngitis.

These could be the result of:

• Excessive talking, singing or shouting; often due to job requirements or hobby
• Smoking or inhaling second hand smoke of any substance
• Cold or upper respiratory infection, especially if it involves a lot of coughing
• Acid re-flux aka GERD particularly during sleep

Laryngitis can last from one day to several weeks which is often the case with acid re-flux.

Turning to Nature

It always seems wise to turn to nature for a potential remedy. This gives you the opportunity to let your body easily embrace a botanical solution rather than figure out what to do with a foreign synthetic choice.

When it comes to laryngitis there are a variety of single and combination formulas that just may have you singing in the shower once again.

5 natural remedies for laryngitis:

ACV

Apple cider vinegar is a go-to fix for many ailments. It holds substantial anti-microbial properties that can be a significant tool in fighting a variety of infections and conditions, particularly laryngitis.

The moment you realize your voice is a squeaky mess, gargle with one tablespoon of raw, unfiltered ACV mixed into clean, warm water three times per day. Always discard solution after gargling, do not swallow. Rinse your mouth out with clean water afterward.

Cool Down with Ginger

This root consists of a heated, spicy constitution that is excellent for quelling heat related symptoms such as stomach indigestion, acid re-flux and laryngitis. It is a like-cures-like approach (similar to homeopathy) that attempts to ‘burn out’ a heat symptom.

You can make your own ginger tea by thinly slicing fresh ginger root (about 20 slices) and boiling in a quart of water for about 20-30 minutess. Let cool, add fresh lemon juice and raw honey and drink warm throughout the day.

No time for making tea? Simply slice some ginger root and suck on them all day long until your throat succumbs and you can recite the Gettysburg address without a problem.

Salty Savior

When it comes to any mouth or throat related conditions, warm salt water is an age old remedy. Salt has long been an inexpensive, significantly effective antibacterial and all it takes is some constant exposure for it to kill practically anything.

Gargle three times (or more) per day with just a half a teaspoon of table salt mixed with warm water. Gargle for about one to two minutes being sure to also swish around your mouth; never swallow this mixture.

Garlic Boost 

Garlic is considered to be the natural penicillin as it holds powerful antimicrobial, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties.

Crush two cloves of garlic and gently boil in about a quart of water. Drink throughout the day. Also, add garlic to current recipes so you eat more at each meal. These two approaches should kick your immune system into high gear and giving your laryngitis a real one-two punch.

Concerned about smelling like garlic? Eat it before bed and by the time you wake up it should be through your system (although, depending on how you process this stinky savior you may have to sleep on the couch if sharing your bed with someone).

Chamomile Tea with Buckwheat Honey

A stubborn cough could also be a cause of laryngitis and some don’t even realize they are coughing as they sleep. If you are battling a cold or nasal drip cough, try chamomile tea with buckwheat honey sipped on all day long.

According to the Journal of Herbal Pharmacotherapy, chamomile showed significant results when compared to a placebo in cough duration trials.

Buckwheat honey was also studied as a cough suppressant and cited as “superior to a placebo in improving cough frequency, cough severity” and “as effective as dextromethorphan, a common over-the-counter cough medication” (Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine as reported by Livestrong)

Just in case it creeps up on you one day, keep this list of 5 natural remedies for laryngitis. Chances are you’ll be back to your speed talking self in no time.