Tip #8: 5 simple remedies to keep your voice in shape!
As we have mentioned previously, the vocal chords are very delicate membranes that need all our love and care! As voice-actors, we need simple yet effective home remedies to help our voices in great shape to avoid nasty illnesses or complicated situations that may let us out of work for days, or even months! Here are a few:
Honey & Lemon
Honey and lemon is a tried-and-tested elixir to soothe a tired throat. Simply boil some water, slice some lemons, and then pour the boiling water over the lemon wedges in a cup. Add honey, stir, and drink slowly while it's still warm.
Extra Tip: Use Jarrah honey for its antibacterial qualities. If you can't find it, regular honey will do.
Peppermint Tea
Peppermint tea is a good choice to combat phlegm. It will help clear the back of your throat without drying it. For preparation, a tea bag steeped in boiled water for a few minutes will work perfectly. However, if you have peppermint leaves, you can also add them to a cup of boiled water, put a plate or a cup on top, and let it rest for a few minutes. It will taste fresh and delicious!
Extra tip: Adding honey to the tea helps battle a sore throat, too.
Licorice Root Tea
For voice actors and singers who work day in and day out, this tea helps numb a sore throat. Its flavor is quite strong, but it's totally worth it when you're in a pinch! Preparation is as simple as dipping the tea bag into boiled water. You can also find the dried leaves to use with a tea strainer as well.
Extra Tip: In addition to numbing your throat, licorice root tea also improves digestion. 2 in one!
Slippery Elm
Slippery elm is a preventative measure commonly used by opera singers. It comes from the inner bark of the tree. Any hot tea with slippery elm will soothe the throat while preventing the dryness other types of tea can cause.
Extra Tip: If you can't find this one, licorice and fennel have similar effects. However, if you find slippery elm, get a hold of as much as you possibly can!
Chamomile Tea with Honey
My personal favorite! Chamomile tea is great for everything vocal related. If you're very tired after a long and stressing recording day, or if you are just getting started to record and somehow feel your throat acting up and being grumpy. It's also super affordable and you can find a great variety of blends! The chamomile calms nerves and reduces inflammation on top of being delicious!
Extra Tip: Add a few pieces of ginger (or as I do, add ginger until your throat feels you've eaten jalapeños) as an antiseptic and antibacterial agent.
Hope this helped! However, remember that while these remedies will in all likelihood keep you working when you're under pressure to deliver, nothing beats maintaining good posture and breathing, staying suitably hydrated, and getting plenty of rest!
Do you have any personal favorites or other miracle beverages we didn't mention? Let us know in the comments!
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Even in summer, I always take my cup of hot water with a sachet of "Tila" (I don' know its equivalent in english - It's a relaxing herbal infusion, not tea) and another sachet of "Menta-Poleo" (I think is peppermint mint tea) with some honey from flowers (or bee honey).
I drink it hot (not too much, but not cold or iced).
It's MAGIC!!!
Thanks, Xavi!
That sounds great! 'Tila' can be translated as Linden flower :) I haven't tried it but I will sure do! 'Menta-poleo' is more like Propolis and mint tea. I've had that one and I sure know it's super duper good for your throat! I drink it every time I'm sick or my throat gets super sore!
You have to mix them. One sachet of it with honey. You'll be surprised!!!