What can I drink or use for my throat/voice before I sing?

Question

I am a singer but I sometimes get all flemmy or feel my throat blocked up before I sing. Someone said I should drink a port right before I sing and that I should stop eating cheese. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Cristina Aguillera all claime to use "Tea mixed with Honey" prior to their performances on tour. However, there are several folk rememdies:

Aloe vera juice Gargle with aloe vera juice two times daily.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) According to Dr. Jarvis in his classic Folk Medicine, the remedy to use to get rid of a sore throat is to gargle with ACV. The acidity should kill the bacteria on contact. Mix one teaspoon to 2 tablespoons in a glass of water. You can mix it as strong as you can stand it. Gargle one mouthful every hour, swallowing afterward. Repeat twice each time. This treatment can cure a streptococcic sore throat in 24 hours. The acid in the ACV is very helpful in soothing and minimizing the sore throat, and, if you swallow it, the extra potassium is also beneficial. Note: After using this remedy be sure to rinse your mouth with water to prevent the acid from eroding the enamel on your teeth.

• Combine one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, one teaspoon of cayenne pepper and three tablespoons of clover honey in a glass of warm water. Gargle as often as necessary.

Betony is a useful astringent which reduces inflammation. Make a tea and use as a gargle.

Cayenne pepper Add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; stir well and gargle while mixture is very warm. This brings more circulation to the area and helps draw away the infection. To this formula you can add 4 parts echinacea, 1 part garlic bulb, and 2 parts peppermint leaves to 1 part cayenne.

• Or another remedy is to add 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to 1 cup of boiling water; stir well and sip slowly.

Chamomile tea Make a tea adding 1 or 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile blossoms to a pint of boiling water; steep and drink a cup every few hours.

Chlorophyll Use ½ teaspoon to ½ cup of water and gargle three times a day. See our Product.

Echinacea/goldenseal Add 30 drops of echinacea/goldenseal combination to one cup of warm water; drink every two hours.

Ginger Peel the skin from a small ginger root. Slice the root into thin coins and place the pieces into a small pot of water. Boil the pieces to make tea. The tea should turn a yellowish (straw) or tan color. Add three tablespoons of your favorite honey to sweeten the tea. Sip the hot tea slowly. The tea gives a sharp tingle to the throat after swallowing it. After you sip it, gently clear your throat.This tea also works for trying to get your voice back after a cold. This remedy compliments of Cathy Ekaitis.

Goldenseal Boil a pint of water and add ½ teaspoon of powdered goldenseal root. Drink hot. Goldenseal is well known for its antibiotic properties.

Grapefruit seed extract This extract is a powerful all-around antimicrobial product and is an excellent disinfectant and antiseptic. Add five drops to a glass of water for a soothing gargle. See our Product.

Honey/apple cider vinegar Mix ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and ¼ cup of honey. Take one tablespoon every four hours or as needed for pain relief.

Honey/lemon juice Take several tablespoons of this mixture several times a day. Let it sit in your throat a little while. This remedy will also help alleviate that irritating throat "tickle."

Hyssop Steep two teaspoons of dried hyssop in one cup of boiling water, covered for ten minutes; strain and drink cool for an expectorant or hot to relieve coughs, congestion, and sore throat. The oils in hyssop are good for mild respiratory problems. Hyssop contains marrubiin, the same compound that makes horehound an excellent expectorant.



Lemon Add the juice of one lemon and one teaspoon of salt to one cup of warm water. Gargle three times a day for one minute.



Licorice Either suck licorice candy or drink licorice tea made by steeping one teaspoon of licorice root in a cup of hot water for three minutes. Drinking the tea will help clear mucus.

Marshmallow root bark Make a tea by putting one or two teaspoons in a cup of hot water. Drink several cups a day or as needed. This tea will coat the throat and relieve soreness and coughs.

Mustard Grind one tablespoon of mustard seed and combine with the juice of half a lemon, one tablespoon of salt, one tablespoon of clear honey, and 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Leave this mixture, covered, for 15 minutes and use as a gargle.

Myrrh It can be made into a tea. To make the tea add 2 sprigs of coarsely chopped parsley, 3 whole spice cloves, 1 teaspoon of powdered myrrh, and 1/4 teaspoon powdered goldenseal to 1 pint of boiling water. Steep. Stir occasionally while cooling, then strain and use as a gargle or mouthwash.

Pomegranate Boil some pomegranate rinds and drink as a tea. The pomegranate contains astringents

Slippery elm bark Make a tea by putting one or two teaspoons in a cup of hot water. Drink several cups a day or as needed. This tea will coat the throat and relieve soreness and coughs. Slippery elm lozenges may also be used and are much more convenient if you are going to be away from home.

Thyme Make a tea by lightly crushing five fresh or dried leaves; place in a cup and fill with water cooled to just below boiling; cover and leave to infuse for five minutes; remove leaves and drink. May also be used as a gargle. Thyme has antiseptic properties.

Water/salt Mix a teaspoon of salt in eight ounces of quite warm water. Gargle the whole mixture several times a day. This will increase the blood supply to the area by washing away mucus and dilating capillaries, thereby enabling better circulation of infection-fighting antibodies.

Answer 2

Well with being a singer myself, I don't think port would help. I would think it would dry out the vocal cords. Some say Olive Oil, others honey and it just depends on the person.

I'm not to sure if the cheese would affect your vocal quality in any ways. But just to make sure:

1. Drink enough water daily (i think that's like eight cups or something)
2. Warm up properly.

Not that you already don't know that but ya know, the basics.

PS- Cough drops work as well.

Answer 3

All the previous answers have great tips to keep your voice in shape. I'd recommend the warm drink spiked with honey, maybe lemon. When I performed I carried with me a pocket full of butterscotch hard candies. When my voice started to deteriorate I'd pop a butterscotch and play several instrumentals instead.

So warm drinks with no caffeine having a touch of honey and hard candies to melt in your mouth are the best suggestions I have to offer.

Answer 4

Yeah, dairy isn't good causes flim. Try drinking warm/hot water with lemon and honey. Avoid caffiene (drys out vocal cords). I am an actor and have the same concerns before I go on stage.

Answer 5

I have heard lemons are good for a throat that feels "phlemmy", in that they break up congestion and clear the nasal/throat passageways......something good to try would be putting a lemon slice in your water or drinking organic tea w/ a slice of lemon.....if your brave just go ahead and eat one raw!!!

Answer 6

Carry A Bottle Of Water around and drink constantly. Even if you aren't thirsty, it helps your throat to not dry out.

Answer 7

they are right you should not it any dariy products within that time because it can clogg up your throat. Drink some tea or water with lemon in it, if u like lemon then u can just suck on a lemon i am a singer to and my teacher told me that works.

Answer 8

4gms of Ammonium chloride, a pinch of lemon salt with a glass of warm water half an hour before singing..It will clear your throat and you`ll sing better .Port sherry and wine also work ..

Answer 9

I knew several singers who would drink hot water w/ lemon in it before the performance, and then hot water, lemon & honey afterwards.

Answer 10

It is better to have warm milk added with dryginger &peppereveryday ,&after practise have a saline water gargle .Before practise have small amt of butter.

Answer 11

Warm not hot tea with honey and of course water in between cups of tea.