Home Remedies for Laryngitis : Horse voice? Perhaps it is the cold and flu that has gotten the better of you or, maybe you’ve sung your heart out at a rock concert or yelled your lungs out cheering your favorite team at a football match. Whatever the reason may be, you probably ended up with a scratchy throat, hoarse voice or maybe even loss of voice.
This inflammation of your voice box (larynx) caused due to vocal strain is known as laryngitis. It usually lasts for a few weeks and can be short-term or even chronic. And nope, laryngitis is not a sore throat. You have laryngitis if you have your lost your voice as a result of inflammation of the voice box and voice folds.
In most cases laryngitis is a result of voice abuse or over strained vocal cords or an upper respiratory infection. In some cases laryngitis may also be the result of excessive smoking. If you have tried remedy after remedy in vain, then allow us to present to you some natural ways to cure laryngitis that actually work!
Top 10 Home Remedies for Laryngitis – How to Get Rid of Laryngitis?
1. Cinnamon
Laryngitis in most cases is not just a nuisance but also painful. Cinnamon acts as an effective home remedy to get rid of laryngitis naturally. This herb has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, and soothes the soreness of your throat quickly.
How to use it?: Take one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and mix it with three teaspoons of honey. Boil the mixture in water for 10 minutes and consume this three times a day.
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2. Garlic
Garlic is a natural expectorant and the best laryngitis medicine you can lay your hands on. It also has anti-microbial properties that work almost instantly in killing the bacteria and virus that are generally the root cause behind laryngitis.
How to use it?: Crush a few pods of garlic and honey in a bowl. Make a paste out of it. Consume one teaspoon of this mixture with water at least four times a day. Alternatively, you can slice four garlic cloves. Heat one teaspoon of ghee, cook the garlic for a minute. Adding salt to taste, drink this mixture twice a day.
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3. Onion Syrup
If you are looking for a potent remedy to cure laryngitis, look no further than your kitchen rack! All you need is a couple of onions to treat a bad case of laryngitis. The antiseptic properties present in the onion, eradicate the bacteria and microbes that cause the cold thereby lessening hoarseness of voice.
How to use it?: Chop some onions and boil them in five cups of water. In a glass of lukewarm water, mix two to four tablespoons of this syrup, one tablespoon honey and a few drops of freshly extracted lemon juice. Consume this tonic twice a day.
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4. Lemon Juice
There is no better cure for laryngitis than lemon juice. While some may believe that the juice of this tiny fruit will aggravate a bad throat, it is quite the contrary. Lemon juice is in fact a great natural cure for laryngitis. It is acidic in nature and hence kills bacteria and virus causing the condition. It loosens mucus and increases the production of saliva, thus helps in keeping the throat hydrated.
How to use it?: Squeeze the juice of lemon in a warm glass of water, add one-half teaspoon of sea salt. Use this solution to gargle a couple of times a day.
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5. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
In any list of laryngitis remedies, apple cider vinegar finds itself a special mention. It is acidic in nature and has antibacterial properties that not just help in fighting the infection but also reduces inflammation of the vocal cords. Gargling with ACV will also curb the infection from worsening.
How to use it?: Blend two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a tablespoon of honey in half a cup of water. Consume this twice a day. You can also mix apple cider vinegar with warm water and gargle it several times a day for instant relief.
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6. Honey
Honey works wonders in fighting acne, restoring sleep, and even alleviating allergies. Apparently, this kitchen staple can also be used to treat laryngitis. It can be used in conjunction with most of the above said remedies, or on its own. Packed with antibacterial properties, honey fights the infection, and reduces both inflammation and pain in the throat. It also clears mucus blockages in the larynx region.
How to use it?: Consume a spoonful of honey, four times a day at proper intervals. You may add a dash of lemon juice for a quick recovery.
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7. Saltwater Gargle
Warm saline water gargling helps get rid of laryngitis naturally. Gargling with warm salt water helps kill bacteria and heals inflamed vocal chords, swelling and soreness.
How to use it?: Blend ½ teaspoon sea or table salt in a glass of lukewarm water and use it for gargling at least 4-5 times a day. While gargling, attempt to take the salt as far down your throat as possible without swallowing the mixture. Do not drink or eat anything for half an hour after gargling.
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8. Clove
Clove is yet another effective home remedy for laryngitis. Cloves have antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties that can be put to use in treating not just a tooth ache, but also a bad throat. It is also rich in antioxidants that aid in the treatment of laryngitis. It provides the warmth that is essential to a sore throat during laryngitis.
How to use it?: Mix one teaspoon of honey and four drops of clove oil properly. Consume this mixture three times a day for immediate results.
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9. Green Tea
Wondering as to how to get rid of laryngitis in 24 hours? Then you might want to try green tea. Not only is it a soothing, refreshing drink but it also cures the symptoms of a hoarse throat, owing to its antioxidant properties.
How to use it?: Simply take a fresh tea bag and dip it in a steaming cup of water. Let the bag soak in for three minutes. Remove the tea bag and sip on the concoction at regular intervals.
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10. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus has been used for curing symptoms of cold and cough for several decades now. It is said to help relieve and soothe irritation and soreness in throat naturally. Its fresh aroma in itself can help clear a blocked nose and give great relief to the throat.
How to use it?: Use fresh eucalyptus leaves while brewing a cup of tea. Drink a few cups a day to treat laryngitis naturally. You may also consume cough syrup or lozenges made of eucalyptus or inhale a vapour bath of it.
Word of Caution – Do not consume eucalyptus oil orally, as it can be poisonous.
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Other Tips to Treat Laryngitis
Be sure to drink adequate water to keep your throat moist, and try to speak softly to give your vocal chords some rest. This will remove unnecessary strains and help them recover faster. Also, do not smoke and avoid clearing your throat every now and then so as to prevent dryness. You can even suck on ginger root or consider using other herbs to naturally cure laryngitis. This will help make your voice sound good as new again.
These are but a few of the many home remedies that cure laryngitis. They work better than most OTC drugs in curing soreness and inflammation of the throat. If the condition persists even after three weeks, book an appointment with your doctor.
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In the grand scheme of diseases, laryngitis isn’t a biggie, but when your voice does tend to dive a couple octaves lower, it can be outright frustrating. But fret not, as the next time you are hoarse or have lost your voice, you already know what to do!