6 Immediate Natural Remedies To Calm Aphonia

If the aphonia does not remit with these remedies and lasts more than two weeks it is important to consult a specialist to rule out any possible complications

After making some kind of overexertion with the voice, such as speaking or singing very loudly, or due to an unforeseen chill or other external issues; we can suffer a sudden acute aphonia.

It may be difficult to speak in our usual tone or even lose your voice temporarily.

In this article we will share 6 natural and very effective remedies for these cases of acute aphonia. These will help you regain your voice in no time.

Why am I hoarse?

It is important to differentiate between acute and chronic aphonia. Since the treatments are different and you must choose the right one.

If it is something specific, the result of an overexertion with the voice, a cold or a cold, we can resort to natural remedies to solve it.

However, if the aphonia is chronic or  lasts more than two weeks, it is necessary to consult with the otorhinolaryngologist, so that we can perform a proper examination.

This disorder could be the consequence of a significant gastroesophageal reflux. In the most severe cases, it can be a symptom of a tumor.

Remedies for acute aphonia

1. Vinegar and baking soda

The combination of apple cider vinegar and baking soda is excellent for your health. It has so many virtues, that it helps in the improvement of a large number of conditions, pains and inflammations. In addition to helping us maintain a balance in our weight.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (30 ml).
• ¹⁄3 teaspoon of baking soda (2 g).

• 1 glass of warm water (250 ml).

What should you do?

• All ingredients must be mixed.
• Gargle should be done for one minute.
• Repeating them every hour, we will notice a very rapid improvement in aphonia.

2. Plantain or sage

These two medicinal plants help us to soften the throat when it is inflamed. They are, therefore, very beneficial for treating conditions such as:

• Acute aphonia.
• Tonsillitis.
• Pharyngitis.
• Hoarseness
• Upper respiratory disorders.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of the chosen plant, fresh or dried (15 g).
• A cup of water (250 ml).

What should you do?

• We will bring the water to a boil.
• Add the plant and let it boil for about 5 minutes in order to extract the mucilages, which are a viscous plant substance with emollient properties.
• By consuming food with mucilages we manage to soften, reduce inflammation and soften the mucous membranes of the entire digestive tract.

3. Propolis

Propolis is one of the best natural antibiotics out there. Thanks to its powerful antibacterial action, it is very useful to treat acute aphonia when it is related to an infectious process, such as a cold.

What should you do?

• In this case, we must take 5 drops of propolis every hour, until we notice an improvement and we can space out these doses.

There are different types of propolis. One of the most powerful is the Brazilian green, which also stands out for its strong flavor.

4. Oil, lemon and honey

This remedy is easy to prepare and it will provide immediate relief for our hoarseness. It is effective thanks to the antibacterial properties of lemon and antiseptic properties of honey.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil (16 ml).
• A tablespoon of fresh lemon juice (15 ml).
• 1 tablespoon of honey (25 g).
• ½ glass of hot water (125 ml).

What should you do?

• Combine all the ingredients with half a glass of hot water and drink it in small sips.

• You can also gargle if you wish, before swallowing it.
• You can take it three times a day, until the hoarseness disappears.

5. Tongue stretch

This curious and surprising remedy not only helps us to put an end to hoarseness quickly. It is also a technique that some singers and speakers use before using their voice, in order to relax the vocal cords. 

What is to be done?

• We will use a clean and dry cloth handkerchief.
• We will wrap the tongue and hold it tight with our fingers on both sides.
• Gently, we will stretch the tongue to the outside of the mouth, as if we wanted to take it out.
• We may feel a little discomfort, but we will stop if we notice pain.
• The process is repeated several times.

This stretch is easy to do and is very beneficial to take care of the voice and prevent aphonia in a natural way. 

6. Vocalization exercises

The voice exercises that singers practice can help us regain our voice.

What is to be done?

As we have aphonia, we will only do two exercises that do not involve a vocal effort. We will need a piano or an audio with the ascending and descending musical scale to follow the melody:

• We will sing with our mouths closed, as if we were saying the letter m.
• We will repeat the scale but with the letter r, making the tongue vibrate.
• These two exercises are repeated several times.

Acute aphonia is very common and can be resolved naturally. Remember that if it is persistent, it is necessary to go to a specialist and obtain a clear diagnosis.