Laryngitis is a very common condition characterized by inflammation of the mucous membranes of the larynx, which causes certain discomfort during speech. Loss of voice is one of the obvious symptoms and outcomes of the development of laryngitis.
There are two main causes of losing one’s voice. The first is the entry of a viral infection into the body through droplet transmission. Contracting laryngitis is very easy; it’s enough to walk outside in the winter cold with an open mouth, but curing it is much more difficult, and the whole treatment process can take not just one day or even a week. Moreover, laryngitis is not always accompanied by increased sweating and fever, typical of common colds or flu. A person with laryngitis feels itching in the throat, and their voice becomes drier.
But what about immunity, antibodies, and such? They are all in good order. The body, in the case of laryngitis, does what it naturally should do – tries to get rid of the disease as quickly as possible. Therefore, those with laryngitis experience a regular desire to clear their throat when feeling itchy, but instead of simply getting rid of it, the disease further irritates the throat, causing pain and additional discomfort.
The second reason for developing laryngitis is the simple neglect of people towards their vocal cords. Prolonged speeches at high pitches, singing, excessive emotional outbursts accompanied by shouting – all of this can lead to laryngitis and loss of voice.
What to do if you’ve lost your voice?
If you’ve lost your voice due to laryngitis, first of all, you should try to speak as little as possible and, if possible, stay indoors. Only after that should you begin treatment.
If you’ve lost your voice after catching a cold, it’s a good idea to see a doctor immediately and provide warmth to your vocal cords (wrap a warm scarf around your neck and drink hot tea, preferably with honey).
How to cure a lost voice?
A lost voice can be treated both with traditional medicine and by relying on folk methods. Regardless of the chosen treatment method, it is important to understand the principle and sequence of actions for laryngitis. To begin with, you should stop the inflammatory process. For this, expectorants are needed: syrups, tablets, decoctions, and infusions.
If you’ve lost your voice due to a cold, in addition to expectorants, you need to take antiviral medications. And when the disease subsides, it’s important to actively engage in its prevention, otherwise all previous treatment may go in vain.
How to quickly restore a lost voice with folk methods?
Foot baths with mustard. Boil ten liters of water, cool it slightly, and dissolve two to three tablespoons of dry mustard. Soak your feet for 15-20 minutes, then put on warm, preferably woolen socks.
Heat 50 grams of brandy, add a few drops of lemon juice, and put in three tablespoons of honey. Mix honey with brandy and drink it in small sips.
Add two teaspoons of sugar to two beaten egg whites, then add 50 grams of brandy, mix well, and drink in small sips, washing down with warm water.
Dissolve one egg yolk in 100 grams of warm milk and drink in small sips, gargling with throat lozenges.
Prepare a glass of fresh beetroot juice, add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (9%), and gargle once a day.
Prepare two tablespoons of aloe juice, add the same amount of warm boiled water, and gargle. Repeat the procedure three times a day.
In 500 ml of cold water, add three teaspoons of chopped onion, put on the heat, cover with a lid after boiling. After an hour, strain the infusion and gargle with it.
Put a glass of water on the heat, add two tablespoons of raisins, and after boiling, remove from heat, cool, and add a tablespoon of fresh onion juice. Drink the decoction three times a day, two tablespoons each time.
Eat garlic. Garlic can quickly restore a lost voice. Steam several cloves of garlic, chew well, and swallow. Repeat three times a day.
Inhalations. Boil water, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil, and inhale the steam over a towel.
