Vocal Problems - Natural Remedies & Solutions

Cari Cole

What do Vocal Problems Come From?

Vocal problems and strain usually stem from poor vocal technique and health issues like dehydration, stress, acid reflux and allergies among others. The art is in the diagnosis. What is going wrong? Is it technique or health or both? It is usually a combination.  Sometimes I can pinpoint the problem and get singers back on the road to health in a matter of minutes. And sometimes the origin of the problem is more mysterious - but there is always an answer.

The Plan

Besides visiting an ENT that specializes in singing voices and setting up vocal lessons, vocal rest and hydration are generally the first steps to feeling better. The next step is to get some good vocal technique for the speaking and singing voice to avoid a reoccurrence in the future. The final step is to get your diet and health in better shape to seal the deal on your vocal health.

Cari’s List of Natural Remedies & Solutions

1. Rest – Vocal rest for 2-3 days at a time as often as possible during the first few weeks after diagnosis. That means no speaking (carry a pad of paper and pencil with you) and no whispering as it is harder on your voice than speaking. Vocal rest will take down the swelling of the vocal folds and sometimes reduce the size of a nodule. Sometimes 7-10 days of vocal rest can eliminate a nodule all together if you catch it right away. And don’t forget, sleeping 8 hours plays a large part in vocal health and recovery.

2. Hydration – Keeping your voice and your body full of moisture is crucial to vocal health.  Your vocal cords are comprised of 80% water. If your vocal folds are plump with water, they will close properly creating great tone. If they are dry, they will not close properly, rubbing together sometimes and causing hoarseness, swelling, and eventually nodules.

Insider Tip:  Being thirsty is a sign that you are already dehydrated. Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily to avoid being dehydrated. Insider Tip: Whenever you drink water, let it linger at the back of the throat before swallowing to hydrate the throat muscles.

3. Steaming, Humidifying, and Purifying Hydration – When you feel extremely dry, and even drinking eight glasses of water doesn’t seem to be enough, steaming 3 times daily will hydrate your vocal folds very effectively. Use a facial steamer (Vicks makes a good one) found at most drugstores for an easy application. Steam for 10 minutes 3 x a day until you are better.
Insider Tip: Some vocalists steam before performance for extra moisture.  

4. Gargle – Gargle with Vocal Eze spray 5-8 times a day. Spray 4-5 pumps into your throat, mix with your saliva, and let it sit in the back of your throat for a few minutes (then swallow). Also gargle with Throat Coat tea and a dash of salt three times daily to hydrate and moisturize the vocal folds.

5. No icy cold or boiling hot fluids – Drinking icy cold fluids will cause your vocal muscles to contract. This can cause a host of problems to a recovering vocalist. Drinking boiling hot fluids can increase inflammation and swelling. Room temperature fluids are best for all vocalists. Throat coat tea contains licorice root which is a natural anti-inflammatory and will help soothe your throat. Drink warm.

6. Eliminate all vocal strain – No shouting, yelling, talking non-stop, and no glottal strokes. All of these can easily cause more damage and take you much longer to recover.

7. Learn to speak and sing without glottals – Glottals are hard attacks that rub the vocal folds together creating irritation and voice loss. Glottals happen on words that begin with vowels or sometimes a vowel in the middle of a word. The middle of the word vowels are harder to deal with and are approached more in detail in vocal therapy. But you can do a lot for your voice by trying to eliminate the glottals that happen at the beginning of words starting with a vowel. Try saying the word “anywhere” or “everybody” with a small “h” before the vowel. “H-anywhere” and “H-anybody”. The “h”  is a little puff of air that will always protect the vowel folds from rubbing.

8. Align Your Head – Keep your head aligned over your shoulders. Do not let your head jut forward during speaking or singing. This will cause you to use your throat muscles and result in vocal strain and hoarseness.

9. Sore Throat/Hoarseness homeopathic remedy by Boiron – Use 3 days in a row and then 2 days off. Repeat for the first 2 weeks. Then use sparingly when performing (1-2 days prior to performance). This reduces inflammation at the vocal folds.

10. Fresh Fruits – Eat fresh fruits like melon, pear and strawberries every day and before singing.  Cantaloupe, Honey Dew and Watermelon are the best. These fruits help to keep the throat moist and hydrated. They are all excellent for the throat – you can feel the difference! Use before singing and daily.

11. Steam daily (2-3 times) – Use the Vicks steamer with water or a pot of hot water.

12. Stay away from all fried foods and acidic foods to avoid reflux.

13. Keep allergies under control with homeopathic remedies (visit your health food store) and keeping your bedroom and home super clean. Get tested to determine what you are allergic to and then use homeopathic remedies and herbal tinctures to build up immunity.

14. Reduce tension in the throat, neck, tongue, jaw and diaphragm muscles. Get a massage once a week and doing yoga 3-4 times a week will greatly reduce tension.  Try to find a yoga class that teaches a slower moving Vinyasa yoga which is better for stretching the body and releasing tension.

15. Use proper warm ups. When you are ready to sing (usually after 4 - 6 weeks of vocal therapy if the nodule is small), always warm up before singing (I use cool down’s as warm ups for the first 2 months of therapy - see below). Begin with lip and tongue trills from high to low… let the sound start on the roof of the mouth… continue on with “ping” from high to low to help you feel the sound in the mouth and not in the throat.. end with tongue pulls on “gee” sighing from high to low. Never push your voice under any circumstances… use the technique of marking, especially in group singing or singing over loud voices (like a choir). Marking means singing the notes lightly without straining in the throat muscles. Feel the sound come from the mouth and the front of the face while using the support of the breath.  (see my exclusive set of Warm up exercises below).

16. Use Cool Downs following performances.  Cool downs are exercises on Gee-hee’s that help to thin the edges of the vocal folds and reduce swelling.  Cool downs are approximately 10-20 minutes following performance, or shortly after. They are also used as a warm up for a voice that is hoarse or raspy. Work with a professional vocal coach to design a cool down series for your voice.

The Vocal Recovery Process

Vocal therapy will teach you how to breathe, speak correctly, and ultimately sing correctly.  Most times, nodules come about from the speaking voice or bouts of yelling, talking loudly, or coughing fits.  They can also be caused by medical conditions such as acid reflux and allergies. Learning to get all the issues under control is a step-by-step procedure in vocal recovery. 3 - 6  months of vocal therapy with a qualified voice teacher who is a vocal therapist is usually what it takes for a full recovery.

Warming Up

Warm Up exercises are the key to consistency in performance.  When your voice is relaxed and powerful, you get to be the star you’re meant to be.  Warm up ~ Don’t wear out! 
Here’s to your vocal health!
In love and support,

This article is reprinted with the permission of Cari Cole. Cari Cole is a renowned vocal coach, artist development expert, songwriter & music producer.  She helps artists find their voice, craft their style, and create successful music careers. Cari’s client list includes Grammy winners, American Idol finalists, legendary rock stars, Major & Indie label artists and thousands of aspiring & emerging artists.  Her Singer’s Gift Vocal series is foundational for pop and rock vocalists. To find out about Cari’s products and programs, please visit her information-packed website and blog: www.caricole.com.