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Home Remedy for Laryngitis

Laryngitis is the term used to describe a condition in which inflammation of the larynx results in a loss of voice. Generally caused by a viral infection, laryngitis can be accompanied by a sore throat and hoarseness, making it difficult to speak. Happily, most people with laryngitis are able to recover within a week or two using these simple home remedies to soothe their symptoms.

  1. Hydration

    • Drinking plenty of water will help your throat stay moist, lubricating the larynx. Sip eight to 12 glasses each day to speed your recovery. If water is not your thing, fruit juice works equally well as do herbal teas. Hot tea with honey may be particularly beneficial for a sore throat. The warmth from the tea soothes the irritated throat tissues while the honey acts as a natural antibacterial agent, creating a hostile environment for bacterial growth. It is best to avoid dehydrating drinks such as coffee, caffeinated soda, or those with alcohol as they only exacerbate the condition.

    Lemon

    • Lemon juice stimulates the production of saliva. Additionally, lemon juice is highly acidic and few microorganisms can survive when surrounded by it. Both of these factors can help cure a case of laryngitis. If you can stand it, down one tablespoon of lemon juice four to six times a day; if that particular medicine is just a bit too bitter to swallow, try mixing the lemon in with your water or adding it to a cup of honey-sweetened hot tea. Alternatively, you could remove the peel from a lemon and drop the whole fruit into boiling water for five minutes. Then remove the boiled lemon from the water and squeeze it to remove the juice. Mix one cup of honey into the warm lemon juice and take two tablespoons every four hours to relieve your laryngitis symptoms.

    Steam

    • Dry air can aggravate an already distressing situation. If you live in a dry climate or if the indoor climate is heated with blown air, you can alleviate some of your laryngitis symptoms with moisture. Turn the shower on before you step in and allow yourself to enjoy a long, steamy session, inhaling the warm, moist air. Later in the day, bring a kettle of water to a boil. Fill a large bowl with the hot water. Drape a towel around your head and lean over the bowl, trapping the steam inside the cloth. Breathe deeply for 10 minutes or until the water cools.

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