Got any laryngitis cures?

[eleny]

I've had a cold for a few days and all of a sudden tonight - I turned into old squeaky. I figure warm drinks that include bourbon, lemon and honey are a good start.

Any other ideas?

[lakemonster11]

1. How about rakimelo?

It's a Greek drink involving the Cretan liquor raki being heated and mixed with thick Greek honey. You drink it out of a shotglass after having lit it on fire (and blown it out).

Any other ridiculously strong clear liquor would probably do.

[eleny]

10. holy mackerel!!!

[Tab]

2. Anything to soothe the throat

and as much as I like the idea, bourbon, and other liquors, won't help - they're dessicants and will dry the throat.

Chicken noodle soup, sherbet, and just not talking will help.

[eleny]

3. You've got that right!

Luckily I've got some chicken soup I made the other day. And more homemade stock in the freezer. It's nice to be able to 'talk" via the keyboard!

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Poor you!

Awwww ... hope you're feeling better soon!

And yup, that chicken noodle soup really does work.

[eleny]

7. thanks husb!

i'm taking it slow. this deal was nibbling at my edges for 2 weeks. then it finally reared its ugly head. time for general precautions including vitamin c and chicken soup all around. if i had to pick a new nickname it would be "squeaky".

[Tab]

6. I never really thought about it until now

but it's probably the fat content of the chicken soup that coats and soothes. Unlike, say, tomato soup, chicken soup has animal fat that, when melted (as in soup form) would probably form a nice coat for a hurting throat.

I always just automatically accepted chicken soup without trying to think it through, but now that I've started, I think that's what's going on.

Therefore, by that same logic, anything with a decent fat content will help, although if it is a dairy product, that's counter-productive, because it increases congestion, which rules out ice cream (sugar is not good for the immune system either).

Some nice jello will go a long way too.

Hope you feel better!

[eleny]

8. me neither....

i figured that if i added a bit of the bourbon to hot tea it might evaporate off a bit.

last night i got a half teaspoon of peanut butter and let small amounts melt in my mouth. it did a great soothing job on the throat. there's more than one way to get the better of this.

and thanks for the jello idea. we have a big assortment in the cupboard. i'm making some for tonight. :hi:

[politicat]

5. Lots of general hydration.

Remember, nothing you swallow will hit your larynx (because otherwise, you'd be drowning) so the soothing beverage is pretty much for hydration purposes and comfort. If your throat is itchy and scratchy, cold liquids and ice are good; if painful and sore, warm (not hot) neutral liquids are good. Avoid anything that "burns" - acids,tannins, extreme heat, alcohols - and anything "thick" like whole milk. And as much as peppers are touted as a counter-irritant... if it has a Scoville number associated with it, it's probably not your friend right now.

Talk as little as possible and get lots of rest. Sorry you're feeling poorly, eleny!!

[eleny]

9. thanks, hon!

i'm keeping water with me all the time. reading some of the tips, i'm steering away from the cranberry juice and watering down the orange juice. standing in a hot shower did wonders today, too. thanks for the good wishes. they sure help a lot!

[grasswire]

11. not a laryngitis cure....

...but I hope everyone here knows about Airborne, the fizzy tablet to drop in water and drink at the first sign of a cold or flu. It's got all the goodies in it -- zinc, C, etc. It was developed by an elementary school teacher in California. I think it works. Just don't accidentally get the kids version, 'cause it's grape flavored.

[eleny]

12. But I like grape!

[peacefreak]

13. I just tried Airborne last week.

It was amazing. Knocked the cold right out of me. Gotta catch it right away, though.

[Shakespeare]

14. I used to be a DJ, and this is what I do....

Tea with honey and lemon (more honey, just a touch of lemon). Warm, not hot. Green tea or a medium-bodied darjeeling or oolong.

Barring that, honey by the teaspoon full is a wonderful soother for the throat.

[eleny]

15. That's a delicious solution

This damned cold was a real long haul. Took two weeks for it to finally lose the battle. The laryngitis left after several days. Soothing stuff like mama would give works very well to make us feel better while feeling rotten! I'm very fond of buckwheat honey myself. Thanks!

[wryter2000]

16. That's my solution, too

Plus, I find if I stay warm I feel better.

[jmm]

18. I've had laryngitis a few times and nurses recommended this to me

each time. Even though I didn't have a cold or many other symptoms they all said the warmth of the tea and the honey would help me recover faster.

[housewolf]

17. I have this bellief...

that Good Earth's cinnamon/spice tea will heal anything...

It's warming and soothing (especially if you add some honey), and the spices help clear things out... good stuff!

So sorry to hear that you've been out of sorts lately. Do plenty of this:
:beer:

[eleny]

21. thanks, hw!

i'm due for a trip to my local health food store. the tea sounds really nice to have around for a winter treat any time.

during this mess, i completely forgot about making homemade ginger tea. that heats up the system and is a good all around remedy. in fact, i used to work with a woman who made her own winter regimen. she's get empty capsules and fill them with ground ginger or cayenne pepper and she'd take both kinds of capsules throughout the cold and flu season. she never got sick. i'm not brave enough to put such strong stuff in my stomach. but i think she was on to something with keeping her body temp inhospitable to the nasties.

[calico1]

19. Aside from all the cures mentioned already

try to just talk as little as possible. Easier said than done I know, but I once had laryngitis that went on for a good month and it would not go away until I minimized my talking. Hope you are better by now since this thread was started a while back.

[eleny]

20. thanks, yes, things are much better

i think your advice is very good. i just buttoned it up and drank warm liquids and plenty of juices, too. from listening to talk radio, looks like some of my favorite talkers have been bit, too.