You don’t have to be a singer to suffer a sore throat from over use…too much talking, singing, laughing, smoking, drinking, yelling, partying – ok too much of everything on a fun night out. The next day your throat hurts, it’s hard to swallow, it’s on fire, your vocal cords are scratchy, you can’t actually speak and everyone hounds you to talk to them – we’ve all been there, trying to figure out how to soothe the savage sore throat, arrh!
As a singer our voice is our livelihood, we can’t work without it and having a sore throat while singing is distracting, stressful and real hard work, especially if you have a heavy work load. While you focus on your best technique, you don’t actually know how your voice will perform; wondering if it’s going to give out before the end of the gig (been there) and basically just wanting the gig to be over before it starts. The good news is there is always something you can do to ease the pain and help the healing process especially when you can’t stop. With many remedies out there here are our tried and true proven winners.
Ginger Drinks – Absolute No.1 winner is Rochester Green Ginger Drink! (the lighter one). Love, love, love this drink, it never fails but is possibly a little pricey all the time.
A solid substitute is Ginger Beer which is available in pubs & clubs (ask for it early they may need to get some out from the cellar) or buy your own & take it with you. Kirks cans (cheapest option) Bundaberg & Saxbys are all good – any non-alcoholic ginger beer. It has a little bite to it; caution…be careful not to inhale before drinking, especially between songs as it can make you gasp which is fun going for an opening big note, lol. Only drawback is the carbonation which makes you burb while singing ( and you need to sing through it).
Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory which soothes & reduces any inflammation of the vocal cords and throat. Yep, real ginger drinks have ‘bite’ when you drink them, & while it seems strange to drink something that isn’t smooth or immediately soothing the effectiveness is real and your throat feels much better straight after drinking it and the following day. Drink anytime you are singing or talking a great deal; rehearsals, gigs, vocal practise, teaching, meetings or simply talking all day at work etc.
Salt Water Gargle – Clearly only before or after performing; soothing to the throat. Another great application is clearing the nasal passages; snort (yep that’s right) snort salt water into one nostril at a time. The water washes through the nostril clearing it out, then drains through the back of the throat and exits out the mouth. Definitely one to do alone, but great results make this worthwhile when you’re blocked up and have to sing.
Warm Honey / Lemon Tea – Very soothing while you sing, nice at rehearsals not so practical for gigs unless you have a super thermos. Good after a gig.
Throat lozenges – Clearly only before or after performing, not possible during, but they really only offer temporary benefit, probably more of a mental relief you are doing something but they can be enough to help you get to sleep. Not the numbing type especially prior to singing of course! Good for travel time.
The water debate – drinking water when you sing…hmmm. Our suggestion is this; yes drink water prior to performing to hydrate your body (not too much as you can bloat or want to pee loads) and yes drink water after performing to keep up hydration & promote good sleep but don’t drink water (warm or cold) during a gig. Water does not stimulate the saliva glands and you need to be producing saliva when you sing to stop dry mouth and keep the throat / vocal cords moist. That’s all we have to say about that.
Obviously don’t drink alcohol, smoke, do drugs & do get loads of sleep, eat well, minimise talking and try our remedies. If you constantly suffer a sore throat or have vocal problems, make sure you get lessons from an experienced ‘real world’ singing teacher.
Good luck!
Caz Coates
