- A number of throat sprays are available to soothe your throat when you need to sing. Most brands are a combination of various herbs in a soothing base, while some of them have a glycerin base; others are based on alcohol. Even though the alcohol can help to numb your throat, it also dries it out, which can end up making the problem worse. Some throat sprays are also designed to help with re-hydration.
- Singers also use other throat-soothing products, including lozenges and herbal teas. The common ingredient in this type of product is slippery elm, an herbal medicine that coats the throat and makes it easier to sing. A slippery elm-based product is sometimes preferred to a menthol-based throat lozenge because menthol can negatively affect the singer's vocal control. As with any other herbal medicine, slippery elm lozenges and teas are not tested by the Food and Drug Administration for their effectiveness or safety.
- According to Aaron Lim at Your Personal Singing Guide, eating some foods makes it harder to sing, either by drying out your throat or by stimulating mucus production. Coffee, tea, soda and alcohol all dry out the throat and should be avoided if you are planning to sing. Dairy products such as cheese and milk can stimulate mucus and make it more difficult to sing. Foods that are spicy or salty also dry out the throat, and any food that tends to cause heartburn or acid reflux can irritate your vocal cords.
- One of the most common causes of sore throat for singers is dehydration, so singers should always drink plenty of water. Singers who keep a glass of water on hand during a performance usually prefer lukewarm water, as the warmth is often more soothing than cold water. Honey can also soothe the throat. A healthy diet that includes whole grains and vegetables will help keep your throat in good singing condition by giving your body all of the vitamins and nutrients it needs to keep in good working order.
previous post
next post