How to Work Through a Cold in Voice Acting - Sore Throat

As voice actors, we have to accept the facts sometimes: we’re human. And as humans, we get sick and since using our voice is how we work, getting sick can really affect our lives (and our income). We can try our best to prevent getting sick; washing our hands frequently, avoiding large crowds of people during flu season, never leaving the sound booth, etc. But in case you do get sick, here are a few remedies you can try out to conquer that cold and get back to sounding “normal” again (whatever that means for you!)

To Remedy a Sore Throat:

1) Gargle with Warm Salt Water - It moistens your sore or scratchy throat and brings temporary relief. Try a half teaspoon of salt dissolved in 8 ounces of warm water four times a day.

To calm the tickle in your throat, try a gargle made from tea. Or use one that's got honey in it.

2) Drink Hot Liquids - They relieve your congestion and soothe the inflamed lining of your nose and throat. If you're so congested you can't sleep at night, try a hot toddy, an age-old remedy. Here's how:

• Make a cup of hot herbal tea.

• Add 1 teaspoon of honey and one small shot (about 1 ounce) of whiskey or bourbon if you wish (adults only!).

Limit yourself to one, though. Too much alcohol inflames the membranes in your nose and throat. 

If a hot toddy isn’t your style, try these various liquids while hot: ginger tea, mint tea, chamomile tea or green tea, hot soups (or broths) like chicken noodle or vegetable, or a glass of hot water with a dollop of honey and some lemon. Chamomile tea is believed to promote restful sleep, which is important for healing.

3) Boost your Immune System with Vitamins - Vitamin C has been demonstrated in some studies to shorten the duration of a cold and decrease the severity of symptoms — but it doesn’t directly affect congestion. So if you’re battling congestion related to a cold, popping some extra vitamin C may help you get over your cold symptoms faster. But if your congestion is related to allergies, vitamin C won’t bring relief. 

Instead, try a few herbal treatments, especially menthol and eucalyptus oil, can also help ease a stuffy nose. Menthol, a derivative of peppermint oil, can be found in inhaled balms and rubs for congestion. Although Menthol doesn't actually decrease congestion, instead it stimulates the nerve receptors in the nose, which makes the nose feel like more air is going through it, and this is often perceived as cold air. But there’s no real effect on congestion or the amount of air moving through the nose. Still, mentholated products are a good option to try when seeking fast short-term relief from sinus congestion. 

Eucalyptus oil may act as an expectorant, possibly by loosening phlegm in the lung region. For a soothing way to possibly improve chest congestion, try a eucalyptus oil steam: stir 5 drops of pure eucalyptus essential oil into 1 quart of boiling water in a heatproof bowl. Lean over the bowl, covering your head and the bowl with a thick towel, and inhale the steam for 10-15 minutes. Repeat three to four times a day while you’re fighting the infection.

4) Use Coconut Oil - Coconut oil is very soothing on the throat, has anti-inflammatory effects and may help your body fight infection. Take up to 2 tablespoons per day alone or in warm beverages. It's best to limit coconut oil to about 2 tablespoons per day, as it can have a laxative effect at higher dosages. If you've never tried coconut oil, start out taking 1 teaspoon at a time to minimize potential side effects. Coconut oil is also very soothing because it helps lubricate the mucous membranes in the throat. 

For best results:

• Add a spoonful to hot tea or hot cocoa.

• Add a spoonful to soup.

• Simply put a spoonful in your mouth and allow it to melt down your throat.

5) Use Cinnamon - Cinnamon may help fight throat pain and infection due to a cold or flu. It can be prepared as a tea or added to other warm beverages to help ease throat discomfort. Cinnamon tea is available for purchase in most grocery stores in both herbal and regular varieties. You can also add cinnamon to herbal or black tea. 

6) Herbal Lozenges - There are herbal throat lozenges available for purchase online and in some natural grocery stores. Brands such as Halls, Wedderspoon, and Ricola are great choices. 

7) Throat Coat Tea - an herbal tea derived from the slippery elm tree and licorice root that’s especially beneficial for sore throats. This can be purchased online or in local stores the medicine department.  

8) Hot Sauce - It may sound strange to use hot sauce to relieve a fiery throat, but this condiment has actually been proven to provide relief for sore throats. Hot sauce is made from peppers that are high in capsicum which can be used to fight inflammation and provide pain relief. So, while it may burn at first, dropping a few drops of hot sauce into a warm glass of water to gargle may just be the right remedy to cure your sore throat.

9) A Good Night’s Rest - When you’re sick, getting a complete 8 hours of sleep will greatly benefit the healing process. Your body is fighting off infection tremendously when you’re sleeping and being asleep allows time for your throat to recover.