How to Manage Allergies and Colds and Find The Best Remedies for Singers

Allergy Season is frustrating for singers who are trying hard to maintain optimal vocal health. The mucous membrane that surrounds the vocal cords can get irritated by numerous environmental factors.  It’s also nerve-wracking to wake up with symptoms, runny eyes, itchy or sore throat, nasal congestion, and postnasal drip because we now need to rule out Covid first and make sure these symptoms are all indicators of allergies. Once we’ve ruled out the “Rona” we now can focus on how to manage the allergies and alleviate the symptoms which are occurring along the vocal tract making it hard to sing with freedom and ease. Allergens can irritate the vocal cords, which can cause hoarseness, and the congestion from a stuffed nose or postnasal drip can make it difficult to breathe easily.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR SINGING VOICE 

Begin with making a long-term plan. It is helpful to assess and identify what you’re allergic to. Is it garden weeds, or outdoor mold? Is it spring pollen or new grass? At this time of year in Canada, as the winter turns into spring there is a great deal of mold in the environment. Is this a seasonal allergy? Tree pollen allergies are especially miserable this time of year. We can blame some climate change on our worsening allergies because as the seasons get hotter, there is more pollen and longer more intense pollination seasons. The three basic pollen seasons are spring (end of winter mold, tree pollen, and new grass) summer (grass and weed pollen), and fall (weed pollen, ragweed, and mold). These allergens might only require a low-level medical intervention such as over-the-counter allergy pills. If it’s dust mites, you might need to be changing and washing your sheets and bedding much more frequently. Take a serious look and figure out what is causing the issues.

SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE FROM YOUR DOCTOR.

You might need more than the over-the-counter allergy medication. If you’re experiencing nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and sinus pressure, Doctors may have you on a low-level topical steroid spray such as Flonase or Nasacort. These nasal sprays are non-sedating but the medicines are very drying. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids when taking medication such as antihistamines. Antihistamines fall into two groups; First Generation such as Benadryl which causes drowsiness and slow reaction times and Second Generation medicines like Claritin and Allegra which are non-sedating and preferred for the basic symptoms.  Some Doctors will opt to treat with Decongestants (pseudoephedrine) as your daily antihistamine. These aren’t recommended if you have hypertension or heart problems and can cause serious side effects, like high blood pressure and heart palpitations. If none of these work it’s probably time to look into Allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots) which works to desensitize a patient from the allergen.  Seek proper advice from your doctor and from your pharmacist.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS 

For those of you looking to treat your allergies in alternate ways try some of these remedies.

NETI POTS Neti pots and nasal rinse bottles can bring relief. This involves flushing out the nasal cavity with water.  Be sure to use distilled water to avoid infection.

HOT WATER  Hot water itself helps to open sinuses. Adding beneficial herbs and spices to the water can ease your symptoms if you’re suffering from allergies and colds. Try adding Honey, Garlic, Lemon, Ginger, and a pinch of Cayenne pepper which is a natural decongestant.

PINEAPPLE JUICE Pineapple juice is acidic. It cuts phlegm and reduces swelling in vocal folds. Pineapple is an incredible source of Vitamin C, which is an immune booster that can fight off colds. Pineapple also contains a substance called bromelain, an anti-inflammatory great at fighting infections and getting rid of bacteria. Not only should you eat the delicious fruit, but you can also boil the skins and keep the liquid pineapple soup. The skin of the pineapple is packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, and other helpful compounds that can help fight inflammation, and consuming pineapple water is an easy way to reap pineapple peel benefits.

APPLE CIDER VINEGAR Apple cider vinegar is acidic which helps to cut phlegm and can aid in killing bacteria. Dilute it with warm water and gargle with it. You can also make tea with it by adding 2 tablespoons to warm water with a little honey and lemon. Make sure the apple cider vinegar you get is organic and raw. 

TUMERIC Turmeric or Curcuma Longa is a spice popular in Indian cuisine, but the root holds more than just culinary benefits. Turmeric has amazing anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which makes it great for the voice if your vocal cords are tired or you are feeling inflammation in your throat or nasal passages. Besides putting it in your favourite curry recipes, you can also make turmeric tea. To make the tea, mix ½ teaspoon of turmeric powder and ½ teaspoon of honey into a glass of hot water. 

STEAM  Inhaling hot steam is a great way to get rid of congestion. To make the hot steam even more effective, add a drop of Eucalyptus oil to the water in the steamer. This boosts the steam’s ability to decongest. 

GARGLE WITH SALT WATER A super remedy for colds and allergies is gargling with warm saltwater. Just mix a ½ teaspoon of salt into a mug (8oz) of water and use the solution to gargle for several seconds. This can soothe an irritated throat. 

HERBS Lots of allergy sufferers have great results with herbal remedies like Echinacea, Fenugreek, Thyme, and Stinging Nettle which can help heal mucus membranes and decrease histamine release. Be cautious with your herbs, as people who are allergic to ragweed can have a reaction to Echinacea. This herb comes from the purple coneflower which is a close relative of ragweed. Seek advice from a Naturopathic Doctor.

WARM-UP Take some extra time to properly warm up. We need to stretch and relax the muscles before we sing, just as we would warm up before a workout or a jog. The vocal folds are made of soft tissue and the larynx muscles are delicate and need TLC. A good warm-up can also serve as vocal training, and technical reminders of good breath, larynx, and vowel performance. 

TO REST OR NOT TO REST. The decision for a singer is always whether to sing or not.  A well-trained singer should be able to sing through almost any cold, but if the cold or allergy is in your throat, you need to be more careful and be aware of the level of irritation on your vocal folds. If you need a vocal rest day, there are other things you can do such as listening to excellent singers, memorizing your lyrics, and studying the songs in your binder.

PERSONAL HELP Knowing how to minimize the effects of colds, allergies and other thrashings on the vocal folds and larynx is a must for every singer. For personal help creating an individualized vocal warm-up for days your voice is tired and suffering, please CONTACT ME. I’d love to work with you one on one.