Remedies for a Lost Voice

One of the most annoying parts of having the common cold is losing your voice. You can't talk, and if you can, it sounds strained and weak. What can you do about it? There are tons of suggestions out there, from gargling salt water to drinking alcoholic concoctions. While some of these methods are a little far fetched, there are some that are reasonable suggestions. Here are are are a couple tested remedies that can soothe the throat, and get your voice back in no time.

1. Rest your voice. This is the most important thing you can do to get your voice back. Don't talk any more than you have to. If you do have to talk, do not try to whisper. This actually makes it worse, since whispering strains your vocal cords more than talking does. So if it is absolutely necessary to speak, try to use your normal voice.

2. Drink lots of fluids. Your vocal cords are irritated, and as a result, probably not as moist as they could be. Vocal cords need to be moist to vibrate, and thereby giving you your voice. So drink as much water and tea as possible. Avoid citrus fruit juices, as the acid can actually irritate your vocal cords more. As you are trying to get over your cold, it may be tempting to drink orange juice, but try to get your Vitamin C from other sources. Vitamin C drops are usually a good answer for this, since they give you more than a daily dose and keep your throat moist.

3. Drink tea with honey. The honey in the tea will soothe your vocal cords. A lot of times, people will recommend putting lemon in the tea, but I would advise against this. Again, the citrus in the lemon can irritate your vocal cords, so try to stay away from that. Teas can also tend to be acidic, so be careful which ones you choose. Caffeine free is usually the best option.

4. Avoid overly acidic foods. Foods like tomatoes and even chocolate contain high levels of acid, which can cause reflux, irritating the throat. Also, avoid alcohol, which will only dehydrate you more, slowing down the healing process.

5.Cough drops. I've heard that different brands work for different people. Basically, use whichever brand you feel comfortable with. Most of them achieve the same effect, and that is slowing any coughing (obviously) and keeping your mouth and throat moist. This will make the healing process go a little faster.