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How to Help Heal Vocal Damage

Healing vocal damage requires rest and a careful evaluation by a doctor to ensure that nothing has been torn that would require surgery. Once severe injuries have been eliminated as a possibility, you can use standard, and sensible, vocal rest techniques to recover and heal your vocal cords. Avoiding damage in the first place by warming up properly, eating healthy and avoiding alcohol and caffeine must always be the first defense. Once injury has occurred, it can be difficult to treat and improper treatment can lead to permanent damage.

Things You'll Need

  • Dry erase board
  • Dry erase markers
  • Humidifier
  • Cough drops
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Instructions

    • 1

      Avoid speaking and talking for the duration of treatment. Secure a dry erase board and write out your conversations. Vocal silence must be observed to heal damaged vocal cords. One week of vocal rest should be enough for most singers.

    • 2

      Drink tea with honey several times a day. The honey helps to lubricate and heal your vocal cords while the tea will soothe your damaged voice. Use an herbal tea without caffeine since caffeine dries out the vocal cords.

    • 3

      Avoid smoking and keep out of polluted areas to allow your vocal cords time to heal. Using a humidifier will help to restore moisture to the air and your vocal cords.

    • 4

      Suck on cough drops without menthol in them. The menthol dries your throat and can increase recovery time.

    • 5

      Avoid clearing your throat and blow your nose only as necessary. If you need to clear your throat, drink water instead.

Music Basics

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