 | Throat sprays |
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Hi, Does any one recommend a good throat spray? Which is the most effective out of Entertainer's Secret, Clear Voice, of Vocal Eze? I get bothered by the smoke in the shop where I work and I thought one of these would help. Vickie |
| Re: Throat sprays |
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Hi Vickie The answer is 'none of the above'. Throat sprays can be very bad for your vocal folds. I have no idea what is in any of these, but active ingredients can include alcohol and painkillers of various types. Don't ever use them unless you are advised to by a medically trained person who knows about voices. The best thing is to get out of the smoke. The second best is to use steam. Hot (not boiling) water in a bowl, and a towel to hide you and the bowl under. Don't put anything in the water - not even aromatherapy agents. The steam will hydrate your folds and go below into the airways to help clean and refresh them. Best wishes Frith |
| Re: Throat sprays |
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The products I asked about are natural and alcohol free. They contain marjoram, osha and aloe vera in glyceryn. I wouldn't use painkillers anyway, you could just keep singing and not be aware of the damage your doing. I have used steam in the past, I used it with euchalyptus oil when I had bronchitus. I have a very good record or avoiding laryngitus, or sore throats of any kind. (I don't even feel sore when I get PMVS) There are times tho, when I get a bit dry and just drinking water doesn't seem to hydrate my cords. If you're singing out at choir etc. you can't just get a bowl of steam to inhale. So would this justify using a throat spray if it was natural and non alchoholic? Vickie |
| Re: Throat sprays |
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Hi Vickie Personally, I would never, ever use any throat spray, or suggest the use of one to a student, unless it was prescribed by a voice professional. Eucalyptus oil doesn't actually do anything for bronchitis or laryngitis. It may make you feel you are doing something positive, but it actually aggravates the mucus membranes. Even natural products may have active ingredients which can cause aggravation which you can neither see nor feel. The vocal fold mucus is part of the structure of the vocal fold, and is of a specialised kind, being a delicate balance of gel and solids. Spraying your throat with anything foreign would probably upset that balance if it was to touch the vocal folds. Most of the spray is probably swallowed unless you actively inhale it into your airway. I wouldn't use a spray at all. If your throat is dry at choir, it may be as a result of the way you are using your voice. Water will take approx 20 minutes from drinking to hydrating, and will only hydrate the folds after the vital organs are hydrated. If your mouth feels dry, just thinking of sucking a lemon can help start saliva flowing. Best wishes Frith |