Did you watch your favorite team playing on the TV? Did all the screaming leave your voice hoarse? There is a high chance you have developed laryngitis. Infection or irritation and overuse of your vocal cords can cause inflammation, which results in this health condition. Although pretty annoying to deal with, laryngitis is not a severe health condition and can heal with time. Read on to know some of the best home remedies for laryngitis; you can try to treat this condition effectively. What Is Laryngitis? When there is inflammation in your larynx, also known as a voice box, it results in a health condition called laryngitis. Your voice box contains tissue folds, also called vocal cords, that vibrate when you produce a sound. Stiffness, redness, inflammation, and swelling are some of the symptoms you experience when you have laryngitis. When this condition lasts a long time, it is called chronic laryngitis, and when this condition lasts for a short period, it is called acute laryngitis. Causes Of Laryngitis: As already discussed, there are two kinds of laryngitis, and the causes vary slightly. Acute Laryngitis: Using vocal cords excessively, it may cause a temporary condition called acute laryngitis. Sometimes an infection may also be the culprit. Simple treatment of the underlying conditions is the key. Some of the causes of acute laryngitis are: Extra strain on your vocal cords. Viral infection. Too much alcohol intake. Bacterial infection. Chronic Laryngitis: Chronic laryngitis has severe and long-lasting effects that may be because of exposure to irritants for an extended period. Some of the causes of this condition are: Acid reflux. Passive or active smoking. Minor yeast infections which might be the result of using an asthma inhaler frequently. Exposure to allergens or harmful chemicals frequently. Overuse of your voice. The occurrence of sinus infections frequently. Home Remedies For Laryngitis: 1. Apple Cider Vinegar: The antimicrobial properties of apple cider vinegar help treat laryngitis caused by infections, making it a perfect home remedy for hoarseness (1). It also helps reduce the swelling in your voice box with the help of its anti-inflammatory properties. Ingredients: Two tbsp of apple cider vinegar. One tbsp of honey. A glass of water. Preparation: Take a glass of water and mix the honey and apple cider vinegar to it. Drink this solution. You can also mix a spoonful of apple cider vinegar into a glass of warm water and gargle with it. Following this procedure at least twice or thrice a day may produce significant results. 2. Drink Plenty Of Water: Drinking an adequate amount of water helps the effective functioning of your body. Hydrating your body plays a crucial role in clearing out the mucus and keeping your throat moist. Don’t forget to drink a warm glass of water as frequently as possible to avert the risk of contagious infections by keeping your throat from drying out. 3. Eucalyptus Oil: Essential oils are packed with benefits and are gaining prominence in many ways. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties of Eucalyptus oil helps you relive the symptoms of laryngitis (2). Ingredients: Five drops of eucalyptus oil. A bowl filled with hot water. Preparation: Take a bowl and fill it with hot water. Add the eucalyptus oil to the hot water. Inhale the vapor from the hot water by covering your head fully with a towel. You can do this process twice a day. 4. Ginger: Ginger acts as a natural laryngitis treatment because of its antimicrobial properties. It helps treat some of the symptoms associated with laryngitis, such as dry, irritating cough along with throat infections. Ingredients: Thin slices of ginger root. One cup of water. Preparation: Place the ginger root in a bowl and fill it up with a cup of water. Boil the contents for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain the contents of the bowl into a cup. Let it cool down. Consume a spoonful of this concoction twice or thrice a day. 5. Honey: As we already know, water keeps your body hydrated, and combining honey with a glass of warm water, make it the best remedy for laryngitis. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of honey help reduce the pain and inflammation in the throat associated with laryngitis 6. Garlic: Garlic is one of the ingredients that adds a lot of taste to many cuisines. The antimicrobial properties of garlic come from the compound called allicin that helps relieve laryngitis symptoms (4). Ingredients: One clove of garlic. Preparation: Slice the garlic into two pieces. Place each piece on either side of the cheek. Without chewing, slowly suck the juices. Dispose of the garlic after a few minutes. Rinse your mouth with water. 7. Pineapple Juice: Bromelain is an enzyme that is found in a pineapple in abundance. This enzyme’s anti-inflammatory properties help you eliminate the excess mucus and reduce the swelling in your throat. Ingredients: One cup of pineapple cubes. Preparation: Place the sliced pineapple cubes into a blender. Blend the fruits thoroughly, forming a smooth paste. You can add water to the mixture to dilute the pulp. Strain the pulp and take the juice into a glass. 8. Slippery Elm Tea with Lemon: Slippery elm tea has been an essential part of eastern and native Indian herbal medicine, and that keeps your upper airways inflammation-free. The gel-like substance found in slippery elm relieves the throat’s inflammation and irritation by forming a coating internally. Lemon acts as a powerful antioxidant giving you an immune boost. Ingredients: Two tbsp of slippery elm. One cup of water. Preparation: Boil a cup of water. Add the slippery elm to the boiling water. Let the contents simmer for 12 minutes. Consume one to two tbsp of this syrup at least 2 to 3 times a day. Precaution: If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is better to avoid this remedy. 9. Lozenges: Throat lozenge, commonly known as a cough drop, is medicated tablets that lubricate your throat’s irritated tissues. These tablets dissolve slowly, adding moisture to the throat giving out the flavors that relieve the soreness that comes with laryngitis. Suck onto a tablet that has honey in it. The anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of honey keep your throat moist. 10. Salt Water Gargle: Gargling with salt water can help soothe the irritated throat; one of the common symptoms of laryngitis (8). It helps eliminate the germs in your throat. It is easy to prepare, and the process is easy to follow. Ingredients: ½ a tbsp of salt. One glass of warm water. Preparation: Take a glass of warm water and add the salt to it. Mix the contents well. Take a sip of the warm salt water into your mouth and gargle around the throat. Spit it out. Make sure you don’t swallow the saltwater. You can gargle as often as possible. 11. Vicks Vaporub: Vicks vapodrops is a product that has menthol as an active ingredient. It relieves the cough temporarily with its cooling effect. The vapors in one powerful drop can also soothe the pain associated with laryngitis. It is important to remember that this remedy offers you only temporary relief since the menthol in the product may make your vocal cords dry. When you have laryngitis due to viral infection, then it cannot be treated with antibiotics. 12. Humidifier: The inflammation of vocal cords can result from breathing in dry air, resulting in throat irritation and loosen phlegm, especially during winters. You can soothe a dry and inflamed throat by using a humidifier, which adds much-needed moisture to the air. Adding cooling essential oils like menthol or eucalyptus to the humidifier can be helpful. Although some people might find using critical oils helpful, there is little evidence to prove its effectiveness. Precaution: Make sure you keep the essential oils away from the reach of children. 13. Vitamin C: Improving the immune system may have a positive effect on the incidence and severity of URTI. Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is naturally found in many fruits and veggies but citrus fruits. It is a water-soluble vitamin and one of the natural home remedies for laryngitis. Iron absorption, wound healing, collagen formation, neurotransmitters, and glucose metabolism improvement are crucial roles where vitamin C is useful. Vitamin C protects your system against the oxidative stress generated during infections with its antioxidant properties (9). 14. Voice Exercises: Vocal exercises play an essential role in maintaining the quality of your voice. This is especially necessary if you are in a profession that uses voice significantly more, such as singing. Learning proper techniques to produce your voice can reduce the incidence of damage to your vocal cords. Make sure to add at least 3 to 5 minutes of vocal exercises to your routine to make your vocal cords more flexible by minimizing the vocal cords’ rubbing. Precaution: Performing voice exercises is a preventive measure and should not be done if you have a sore throat. 15. Voice Rest: Swollen and irritated vocal cords are one of the prominent symptoms of laryngitis. Giving your voice box some time to heal is the first step in the right direction. So, shouting or any situation that requires a lot of talking is a big no-no. If you are in a profession dependent on your voice, try using an amplifier not to strain your voice. Use a volume that feels natural to you, and avoid wasting your voice when you are in front of a group. 16. Over The Counter Medication: Over the counter medication is one of the quick remedies for lost voice. These will make you feel comfortable by reducing the swelling in your vocal cords. Some of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce vocal cord swelling are: Ibuprofen(Advil, Mortin). Naproxen(Aleve). Prevention Tips For Laryngitis: Along with following the home remedies mentioned in this article, you can avoid the occurrence of laryngitis by taking some precautions: 1. Preventable Foods for Laryngitis: Having a sore throat makes eating some things much more difficult. Here is the list of foods that you must avoid when you are suffering from laryngitis: Orange Juice Tomatoes Citrus Onion Chocolates Sugary Foods Peppermint Spicy Foods 2. Avoid Smoking and Alcohol: Consuming alcohol and smoking not only harms your body, but they also cause water loss in your body,s making you dehydrated. 3. Avoid Dusty Environments: Inhaling the particles that may irritate your nasal passages, causing intense cough or sneezes, which slow down the healing process of your vocal cords. 4. Avoid Spicy Foods: Consuming spicy foods may result in GERD or heartburn, which may cause more damage to the existing throat condition. 5. Include various fruits and vegetables that keep the mucous membranes in your throat health, such as Vitamins A, E, and C. 6. Unnecessarily clearing your throat may increase the swelling by creating an abnormal vibration of your vocal cords. So avoid clearing your throat unnecessarily. Usually, laryngitis takes a week to resolve on its own. But you can get relief faster by using home remedies for laryngitis mentioned in this article. Consult a doctor if the symptoms of hoarseness last for more than a few weeks. Don’t forget to let us know how these home remedies have helped you.