by Janeen Elite

Created on: November 25, 2009

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx that can cause pain and discomfort in the throat as well as affect a persons ability to speak.

There are a few possible causes of laryngitis such as: shouting, yelling or talking loudly for long periods of time, GERD or heartburn, smoking, or even an upper respiratory infection caused by a virus such as the common cold.

While laryngitis is normally not serious and can heal on its own, if you experience it often or if the episode lasts longer than a week, it is a good idea to consult your doctor to ensure it is not something that need more attention.

Home Remedies for Laryngitis

Give Your Voice a Rest

One of the best remedies to heal laryngitis is to simply give your voice a rest and talk as little as possible. When you do need to talk, keep your voice low, as if you were talking to a person sitting next to you. Do not whisper however, because ironically, whispering can put an even greater strain on your vocal cords.

Stay Awake From Smoke

If you are a smoker or live with someone who is, it is best to stay away from it, especially while trying to treat laryngitis. Smoke is a known irritant of the throat.

Try taking an antacid or acid reflux reducer.

In some instances, laryngitis can be caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) acid reflux or what is otherwise known as heartburn. It is quite possible that acid-rich contents of the stomach are coming back up the throat and irritating the larynx. This can occur even more frequently at night while sleeping.

If your laryngitis is being caused by GERD you might feel as if something is stuck in your windpipe and have the urge to clear your throat often, especially when you first wake up in the morning. It might feel like mucus or a postnasal drip in the back of your throat and usually starts to clear up as the day goes on .

It this only occurs occasionally, you might want to try an taking over the counter heartburn medication to see if it helps. If the situation persists however, you might need to visit a doctor.

Drink Water

Often laryngitis is accompanied by a dry and scratchy throat so drinking a lot of water can help keep it moist.

Drink Hot Tea

Tea is another soothing liquid that can help sooth a sore throat as well as help keep it moist. Try to stay away from caffeinated teas however because they can have the opposite effect of deydrating even further.

Avoid Dehydrating Substances

Stay away from coffee and alcohol for a few days because like caffeinated tea, these are also very dehydrated substances that can delay healing time.

Gargling

There are some mixed reviews when it comes to gargling.

Some doctors suggest gargling with a salt water, apple cider vinegar or lemon juice mixture. Others however say that the larynx is too far down to really be effected and that you can actually strain your voice even further by the act of gargling. A quick call to your doctor can probably give you more insight into this practice and its effectiveness for you.

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