Home Remedies for Laryngitis

Ningthoujam Sandhyarani Oct 8, 2018 Tap to Read ➤

Laryngitis, an inflammation of the larynx, can be treated by certain self-care remedies like resting the voice box, breathing through the nose, steam inhalation, moistening your throat, using a humidifier, drinking ample amounts of water, and avoiding hazardous smoke and fumes.

Laryngitis refers to inflammation of the voice box or larynx. Very often, it is caused due to the overuse or constant irritation of the larynx. In a few cases, it results from an infection of the larynx, caused by viruses and other disease-causing microbes.

In normal sound production, the voice cords open and close smoothly, whereas in the case of an individual having laryngitis, the inflammation of voice cords disturbs the passage of sound, resulting in a hoarse or raspy voice.

Other signs of this condition include a weak voice, dry throat, sore throat, and dry cough. In severe inflammation cases, it may lead to temporary loss of voice.

Based on the manifestation of symptoms, laryngitis can be an acute (symptoms lasting for 1-2 weeks) or a chronic (symptoms lasting more than 3 weeks) condition. Most cases are of the acute type, which have shown positive responses with over-the-counter medications and effective home remedies.

A chronic or long-lasting laryngitis condition, characterized by recurrent onset of symptoms, may be an indication of a severe health condition. Hence, timely and correct laryngitis diagnosis is always advisable in order to rule out other medical conditions.

Some Home Remedies

Acute laryngitis can be treated by following laryngitis remedies. Very often, its symptoms are exacerbated by other medical problems like common cold, flu, strep throat, respiratory tract infection, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Thus, the actual home treatment would differ based on the causal factor. For example, if vocal cord strain is the cause, then resting your voice is an effectual home cure for laryngitis.

Avoid Shouting

The effective home remedy is proper resting of the voice box. The affected person should not indulge in speaking loudly or talking for a long time, which otherwise would cause worsening of the larynx inflammation.

Do Not Whisper

Whispering triggers the inflammation of the larynx. Even though whispering is speaking in a low voice, it puts more strain on the voice box than normal speaking. Thus, the affected person should avoid whispering as much as possible.

Breathe Through the Nose

One of the natural laryngitis cures is breathing through the nose. This ensures that the throat is not exposed to cold air and does not dry out, which are observed in case of breathing through the mouth.

Steam Inhalation

Inhalation of steam and steam bath are effective home treatment methods to cure this condition. Take steam inhalation using a bowl of hot water.

For a steam bath, close your bathroom and fill it with steam by running very hot water. You can then stay in the bathroom filled with steam for about 10-15 minutes.

Using a Humidifier

A humidifier helps in maintaining the recommended humidity level in a room, which in turn prevents a dry environment. Hence, using a room humidifier is also one of the best cures for this condition.

Drink Lots of Water

Keeping oneself hydrated helps in shortening the duration of the symptoms. Drink ample amounts of water everyday (8-10 glasses) to get relief from larynx inflammation.

Lemon and Honey Mixture

You can have tea, prepared with lemon and honey. Boil about 250 ml of water and then squeeze in one lemon and add 2 teaspoons of honey. Drink after the solution cools down.

Moisten Throat

As a dry throat worsens the inflammation of laryngitis, moistening the throat is a good measure for overcoming this problem. You can gargle with saline water or chew a piece of your favorite chewing gum.

Say No to Decongestants

Decongestants are strictly not recommended during the onset of laryngitis symptoms. The main reason behind this is that these medications lead to a dry throat, resulting in exacerbation of the condition.

Avoid Throat Cleaning

With such symptoms like a dry and sore throat, it is quite tempting to cough and clean the throat. Coughing and/or cleaning throat increases the degree of irritation to the larynx, and hence should be avoided as far as possible.

Avoid Smoking

Another remedy is to refrain from smoking or inhalation of other hazardous fumes. Smoke and fumes worsen the condition of the larynx, and hence it is advisable to minimize exposure to such irritants for the treatment of this condition.

In addition to the aforementioned tips, there are also homeopathic remedies for this condition. If you are planning to administer homeopathic medicines, make sure you purchase them from a reliable brand. In case the symptoms do not subside after practicing these remedies, then it is recommended to consult and seek advice from a qualified physician.

Disclaimer : This is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.