Your throat (or pharynx and hypopharynx) and larynx with the vocal apparatus are two separate areas. Nothing you put into your throat is supposed to touch your vocal folds because your epiglottis is there to prevent it. Occasionally we aspirate liquid and cough or choke because the larynx goes into spasm.
Even if you did use a topical anesthetic, e.g., benzocaine, in your throat and accidentally inhaled some into your larynx and made your folds numb, as long as you did not take advantage of the opportunity of reduced sensation to scream or otherwise abuse your voice you will not be harmed. Benzocaine wears off in about an hour.
If you have a sore throat due to infection, suck on any soothing cough drop or sore throat remedy you like. Different people have different opinions on menthol and oil of eucalyptus. Used in commercially available preparations (Hall's, Vicks, etc.) they are safe although some people find even more mucus on their vocal folds in response to the menthol. Making your own menthol preparations can be dangerous as it is toxic in high doses.
Tylenol (acetaminophen or paracetamol in Europe) at doses of 1000 mg every six hours helps. I believe short term use of ibuprofen is safe for singers. Because it is anti-inflammatory, it may work better as a pain reliever. 400-800 mg every 6-8 hours for most adults over 150 lbs (70 kg) is reasonable for a few days unless you have a history of aspirin allergy or history of GI ulcer or kidney failure.
Please avoid silver compounds (Argyrol for one) as they are not effective in reducing the infection or the pain and in chronic use can lead to grey skin discoloration.
John
John Messmer, M.D. Assistant Professor, Family and Community Medicine Penn State Hershey Medical Center
> -----Original Message----- & > Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2003 1:37 PM > To: vocalist-temporary@yahoogroups.com > Subject: [vocalist] Natural sore throat suggestions? > > > Hi group, > > I wanted to see what different people suggest > to take for a sore throat? I was strongly told > to never take anything that numbs the throat, > because it that does damage to the cords. Please post > any natural suggestions that you may have. > >
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