This article was co-authored by Amy Chapman, MA. Amy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.
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If you are experiencing vocal problems like hoarseness, soreness, and changes in your voice, then you may need to let your vocal cords rest, especially if you have a career that requires a lot of talking or singing.[1] Remember to consult your doctor first before trying any remedies at home to heal your vocal cords. In general, your doctor will prescribe vocal rest, hydration, and sleep for mild to moderate cases. For severe cases, your doctor may recommend voice therapy, bulk injections, or even surgery.
Steps
Resting and Hydrating Your Vocal Cords
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1Consult your doctor. Make sure to consult your laryngitis first before using at-home remedies to heal your vocal cords. Your laryngologist will be able to diagnose the problem and prescribe a treatment for your specific case.[2]
- For mild cases, your doctor may prescribe voice rest.
- For moderate to severe cases, your doctor may prescribe cough depressants or antibiotics in addition to voice rest.
- For severe cases, your doctor may prescribe surgery to fix the issue, especially if you have nodules on your vocal cords.
EXPERT TIPAmy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.Voice & Speech Coach
Amy Chapman, MA
Voice & Speech CoachIf you use your voice professionally, it's a good idea to visit a laryngologist. If you have damaged vocal cords, the most important thing is to know exactly what type of damage you're dealing with. To find out, visit a laryngologist, which is an ENT with an extra fellowship in laryngology, and have them use a Rigid Stroboscopy. It's a bigger camera than the one used by a regular ENT, so it can show what's going on with your vocal cords.
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2Rest your voice. Depending on the severity of the damage, you should rest your voice for one to five days. To rest your voice you must avoid any kind of speaking, as well as activities that may strain your vocal cords like strenuous exercise and heavy lifting. Write things down if you need to communicate to others.[3]
- If you must talk, then take a 10-minute break for every 20 minutes of talking.
- Do not substitute whispering for talking. Whispering actually places more strain on your vocal cords than regular talking.[4]
- Activities you can do while resting your voice are reading, breathing exercises, sleeping, and watching movies or TV.
EXPERT TIPAmy Chapman MA, CCC-SLP is a vocal therapist and singing voice specialist. Amy is a licensed and board certified speech & language pathologist who has dedicated her career to helping professionals improve and optimize their voice. Amy has lectured on voice optimization, speech, vocal health, and voice rehabilitation at universities across California, including UCLA, USC, Chapman University, Cal Poly Pomona, CSUF, CSULA. Amy is trained in Lee Silverman Voice Therapy, Estill, LMRVT, and is a part of the American Speech and Hearing Association.Voice & Speech CoachAmy Chapman, MA
Voice & Speech CoachCertain injuries require more rest than others. A hemorrhage on your vocal cords, which is essentially a bruise, requires strict vocal rest. If you use your voice on top of that, it can create other pathologies, such as a fibrotic mass or a cyst or a polyp. You'll need at least a week where you don't make a sound—not a cough, a hum, or even a whisper.
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3Drink water. Drinking water will help keep your vocal cords lubricated, which can help promote healing. Keep a water bottle with you so you can refresh your throat whenever it feels dry.[5]
- At the same time, you should try to avoid liquids that can prevent a speedy recovery such as alcohol, caffeine, and sugary drinks.
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4Get plenty of sleep. Sleep also enables your vocal cords to rest and heal. Therefore, make sure you are getting at least seven hours of sleep each night while they are healing.[6]
- If you are taking a day or two off from work or school to rest your vocal cords, try not to go to bed too late.
Gargling with Water, Honey and Herbs
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1Heat a cup (236.6 ml) of water. In the microwave or on the stove, heat a cup of water until it is warm. Warm water is around 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 to 37.8 degrees Celsius). Make sure the water is not too hot (or too cold) as this can irritate your vocal cords.[7]
- For the best results, use filtered or bottled water.
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2Mix in two tablespoons (30 ml) of honey. Mix the honey in the warm water until it is dissolved. At this point, you can also mix in herb extracts that have been recommended by your doctor. Mix three to five drops of the extract into the water.[8]
- Herbs that are known to help sooth and heal your throat and vocal cords are cayenne pepper, licorice, marshmallow, propolis, sage, slippery elm and turmeric.
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3Gargle for 20 seconds. Take a sip of the liquid and tilt your head back. Allow the liquid to go as far back in your throat as possible without swallowing it. Softly blow air from the back of your throat to start gargling. Make sure to spit out the liquid once you finish gargling.[9]
- For each session, gargle three times. Gargle every two to three hours throughout the day.
- Make sure to gargle before you go to bed. This way the herbs and honey can soothe and treat your vocal cords while you sleep.
Using Steam Inhalation
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1Heat six cups (1,419.5 ml) of water. Pour six cups of water into a pot. Place the pot on the stove and set the heat to medium-high. Once the water starts to steam or evaporate (about eight to ten minutes), turn off the heat and take the pot off the stove.[10]
- Water that is 150 degrees Fahrenheit will provide enough steam.
- If the water is boiling then it is too hot. Let the water cool for a minute or two before you begin the steam inhalation.
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2Pour the hot water in a bowl. Place a bowl on a table and pour the hot water into it. You may add herbal extracts to the water at this point. Add five to eight drops of extract to the water.[11]
- You can add herbal extracts like chamomile, thyme, peppermint, lemon, oregano, and clove to the water for added benefits.
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3Drape a towel over your head and shoulders. While you are sitting, lean over the bowl at a comfortable distance away from the steam. Place a towel over your head, shoulders, and the bowl to create an enclosure.[12]
- This will trap the steam so you can breathe it in.
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4Breathe in the steam. You only need to breathe the steam in for eight to ten minutes for this to be effective. Set a timer to keep track of the time. Once you have finished the steam inhalation, try not speak for 30 minutes afterwards. This will enable your vocal cords to rest and heal after the procedure.[13]
Healing Serious Trauma
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1Set up an appointment with a voice therapist. A voice therapist will help you strengthen your vocal cords through various exercises and activities. Depending on the severity of the damage, your voice therapist may also help you recover breath control while speaking, as well as regain muscle control around the damaged vocal cord to prevent abnormal tension or to protect your airways while swallowing.[14]
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2Receive a bulk injection. Bulk injections are done by your laryngologist. It consists of injecting your damaged vocal cord with collagen, body fat or another approved substance to enlarge the cord. This enables your vocal cords to make closer contact when speaking. This procedure may improve your speech and reduce pain when swallowing and coughing.[15]
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3Get surgery. If voice therapy and/or bulk injections do not improve your situation, then your doctor may suggest surgery. Surgery may consist of structural implants (thyroplasty), the repositioning of your vocal cords, nerve replacement (reinnervations), or a tracheotomy. Discuss the options with your doctor to see which procedure fits your individual situation and needs.[16]
- Thyroplasty consists of using an implant to reposition your vocal cord.
- Vocal cord repositioning consists of moving your vocal cords closer together by moving tissue from the outside of your vocal box toward the inside.
- Reinnervation consists of replacing the damaged vocal cord with a healthy nerve from a different area of your neck.
- A tracheotomy consists of making an incision in your neck to create an opening to access your windpipe. A tube will be inserted in the opening to allow air to bypass the damaged vocal cords.
wikiHow Video: How to Heal Your Vocal Cords
References
- ↑ http://www.utswmedicine.org/stories/articles/year-2016/vocal-cords-care.html
- ↑ http://www.livescience.com/34762-larynx-inflammation-laryngitis-treatment.html
- ↑ https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/taking-care-your-voice
- ↑ http://www.livescience.com/34762-larynx-inflammation-laryngitis-treatment.html
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShO1HlFzNlc
- ↑ https://completevocal.institute/hoarseness/
- ↑ https://www.chorusamerica.org/singers/natural-vocal-care
- ↑ https://www.chorusamerica.org/singers/natural-vocal-care
- ↑ https://www.chorusamerica.org/singers/natural-vocal-care
- ↑ https://completevocal.institute/hoarseness/
- ↑ https://completevocal.institute/hoarseness/
- ↑ https://completevocal.institute/hoarseness/
- ↑ https://completevocal.institute/hoarseness/
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vocal-cord-paralysis/basics/treatment/con-20026357
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vocal-cord-paralysis/basics/treatment/con-20026357
- ↑ http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/vocal-cord-paralysis/basics/treatment/con-20026357
About This Article
If your vocal cords are strained from overuse, it's important that you let them heal by resting your voice and staying hydrated. Talk to your doctor before you do anything since they may recommend medication and voice therapy for serious damage. While you recover, speak as little as possible and write things down to communicate whenever you can. If you need to speak, give your voice a 10-minute break every 20 minutes. Avoid whispering, since this actually strains your vocal cords more than talking. Keep a bottle of water with you all day and sip it whenever your throat feels dry. You should also try to gargle warm water with honey for 20 seconds every few hours and before bed to soothe your throat. Try adding a few drops of a herb extract, like licorice, marshmallow, or sage. For more tips, including how to inhale steam to help heal your vocal cords, read on!
Medical Disclaimer
The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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