Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsResting Your VoiceDrinking WaterUsing a HumidifierInhaling Eucalyptus OilUsing LozengesDrinking Herbal TeasSalt Water GargleWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Resting Your Voice
Drinking Water
Using a Humidifier
Inhaling Eucalyptus Oil
Using Lozenges
Drinking Herbal Teas
Salt Water Gargle
When to See a Provider
Betsie Van Der Meer / Taxi / Getty Images
Herbal Products and SupplementsIn the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Herbal Products and Supplements
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements the way it regulates prescription drugs. That means some supplement products may not contain what the label says. Whenchoosing a supplement, look for independently tested products and consult a healthcare provider, registered dietitian nutritionist (RD or RDN), or pharmacist.
Natural Remedies
Natural home remedies can relieve symptoms but they can’t treat an underlying cause oflaryngitis. In some cases, you may want to add over-the-counter medications that can help with symptoms, such asMucinex(guaifenesin) to help thin mucus.
Your healthcare provider can discuss your options with you, but here are a few natural remedies for laryngitis that you can try.
1. Resting Your Voice
Teachers, people who work in sales, and singers are among those likely to experience vocal fatigue, with symptoms of hoarseness and a sore throat due to overuse.
Numerous studies find that vocal rest, including not talking or clearing the throat, is among the most important interventions to relieve laryngitis and other conditions. However, many people aren’t fully compliant (even after surgery) with vocal rest.Ask your healthcare provider about the best approach.
2. Drinking Water
Avoiding dehydration is important in helping your vocal cords to recover. Duke University experts recommend 64 ounces ofwater per day, but you should talk to your healthcare provider if you have a health condition (like kidney disease or lung problems) that could mean intake restrictions.
Try water with flavoring, and foods like cucumbers that have high water content. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, though, because they tend to dry out the vocal cords.
Turmeric Milk and LaryngitisSome healthcare providers recommend turmeric milk to soothe laryngitis symptoms. Drinking warm milk with a pinch of turmeric is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Turmeric Milk and Laryngitis
Some healthcare providers recommend turmeric milk to soothe laryngitis symptoms. Drinking warm milk with a pinch of turmeric is thought to have anti-inflammatory effects.
3. Using a Humidifier
Ahumidifierthat keeps the room between 30% and 50% humidity also can help. But be sure to keep the unit clean, and avoid humidifier use altogether if you have mold or mildew allergies.
4. Inhaling Eucalyptus Oil
Dry air can lead to laryngitis symptoms.If you’re trying at-home steam inhalation, add eucalyptus oil. It may help ease laryngitis, as well as cold and flu symptoms, sinusitis, and throat infections.
5. Using Lozenges
Throat lozenges that work best include slippery elm, or those containing pectins andglycerins.
An herb believed to soothe the respiratory tract,mullein(Verbascum thapsus) is available in both tea and lozenge form.Certain compounds in mullein’s leaves and flowers are thought to act as demulcents that quiet inflammation in the skin and throat.
6. Drinking Herbal Teas
Sipping herbal teas may relieve the symptoms of laryngitis. Options include:
Always talk to your healthcare provider about herbal products or supplements. In some people, theglycyrrhizicacid in licorice has been shown to cause high blood pressure, so it’s important to use products that aredeglycyrrhizinatedlicorice (or DGL) extract.
Does Honey Help With Laryngitis?Some studies suggest a benefit in using honey to relieve symptoms of hoarseness and sore throat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests using honey to help with a cough but it should not be given to babies younger than 1 year old.Research results are mixed in treating children, though, and more study is needed.
Does Honey Help With Laryngitis?
Some studies suggest a benefit in using honey to relieve symptoms of hoarseness and sore throat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests using honey to help with a cough but it should not be given to babies younger than 1 year old.Research results are mixed in treating children, though, and more study is needed.
7. Salt Water Gargle
Gargling with salt water may help relieve symptoms of a sore throat, reduce the level ofbacteriaandvirusesin your mouth, and promote healing.
To make a salt water solution, mix 1/2 teaspoon of salt in 1 cup of warm water.
Perform the following steps for a salt water gargle:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Laryngitis symptoms, including vocal changes, can be expected to last from seven to 10 days.
Contact your healthcare provider if you have:
You may need a diagnosis for allergies, GERD, or an infection that’s causing your laryngitis. Guidelines for diagnosing hoarseness, for example, recommend alaryngoscopy(visualizing the vocal cords) if symptoms persist for more than four weeks.
You also may need allergy testing and treatment, prescription medication for infection, or in some cases, surgery to remove nodules or polyps if other therapies don’t help.Keep in mind that symptoms like hoarseness can be a sign of a serious condition, includinglaryngealcancer.
If home remedies don’t relieve your symptoms, you may need additional treatment. You may be referred to anotolaryngologistwho specializes in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders.
Summary
Laryngitis can occur due to overuse of the voice, an acute infection, or a more chronic cause. Home remedies can help to relieve a sore throat and hoarse voice, but it’s important to talk with your healthcare provider about herbal products or supplements.
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Jette M.Toward an understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic laryngitis.Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups. 2016;1(3):14–25. doi:10.1044/persp1.sig3.14Duke University Medical Center.Duke Voice Care Center voice health information.Li M, Zeng J, Liang B.Advances in application research on assessment methods of vocal fatigue.Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2023;37(11):934-938. Chinese. doi:10.13201/j.issn.2096-7993.2023.11.015King RE, Dailey SH, Thibeault SL.Role of voice therapy in adherence to voice rest after office-based vocal fold procedures.Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2021;30(6):2542-2553. doi:10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00082St. Luke’s Health.Laryngitis: causes, symptoms, and treatment.Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252Blanco-Salas J, Hortigón-Vinagre MP, Morales-Jadán D, Ruiz-Téllez T.Searching for scientific explanations for the uses of Spanish folk medicine: a review on the case of mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae).Biology (Basel). 2021;10(7):618. doi:10.3390/biology10070618Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Laryngitis.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.Kuitunen I, Renko M.Honey for acute cough in children - a systematic review.Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Sep;182(9):3949-3956. doi:10.1007/s00431-023-05066-1Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLoS One.2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843MedlinePlus.Pharyngitis - sore throat.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Laryngitis.Stachler RJ, Francis DO, Schwartz SR, et al.Clinical practice guideline: Hoarseness (dysphonia) (Update).Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 2018. 158(1_suppl):S1-S42. doi:10.1177/0194599817751030Vasconcelos D, Gomes AOC, Araújo CMT.Vocal fold polyps: Literature review.Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;23(1):116–124. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1675391
Jette M.Toward an understanding of the pathophysiology of chronic laryngitis.Perspect ASHA Spec Interest Groups. 2016;1(3):14–25. doi:10.1044/persp1.sig3.14
Duke University Medical Center.Duke Voice Care Center voice health information.
Li M, Zeng J, Liang B.Advances in application research on assessment methods of vocal fatigue.Lin Chuang Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi. 2023;37(11):934-938. Chinese. doi:10.13201/j.issn.2096-7993.2023.11.015
King RE, Dailey SH, Thibeault SL.Role of voice therapy in adherence to voice rest after office-based vocal fold procedures.Am J Speech Lang Pathol. 2021;30(6):2542-2553. doi:10.1044/2021_AJSLP-21-00082
St. Luke’s Health.Laryngitis: causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Horváth G, Ács K.Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review.Flavour Fragr J. 2015;30(5):331-341. doi:10.1002/ffj.3252
Blanco-Salas J, Hortigón-Vinagre MP, Morales-Jadán D, Ruiz-Téllez T.Searching for scientific explanations for the uses of Spanish folk medicine: a review on the case of mullein (Verbascum, Scrophulariaceae).Biology (Basel). 2021;10(7):618. doi:10.3390/biology10070618
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.Laryngitis.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Manage common cold.
Kuitunen I, Renko M.Honey for acute cough in children - a systematic review.Eur J Pediatr. 2023 Sep;182(9):3949-3956. doi:10.1007/s00431-023-05066-1
Huynh NC, Everts V, Leethanakul C, Pavasant P, Ampornaramveth RS.Rinsing with saline promotes human gingival fibroblast wound healing in vitro.PLoS One.2016;11(7):e0159843. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0159843
MedlinePlus.Pharyngitis - sore throat.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Laryngitis.
Stachler RJ, Francis DO, Schwartz SR, et al.Clinical practice guideline: Hoarseness (dysphonia) (Update).Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. 2018. 158(1_suppl):S1-S42. doi:10.1177/0194599817751030
Vasconcelos D, Gomes AOC, Araújo CMT.Vocal fold polyps: Literature review.Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;23(1):116–124. doi:10.1055/s-0038-1675391
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
