As a voice teacher and musical theater enthusiast, vocal health has always been very important to me. As the topic has recently been at the front of my mind due to an upcoming audition, I thought I would take some time to write on it!

Let’s start with the basics: as with any other area of your body, the most important thing you can do to support your vocal cords is to follow a healthy diet and stay hydrated! All acidic, mucus-forming foods such as refined flour products, sugar, and especially dairy are extremely inflammatory. Simply cutting these and other processed foods from your diet and eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds instead will have a huge impact on your voice! Warm vegetable soup or potassium broth is very soothing and nourishing to the throat and voice, and gives you an extra boost of nutrition. This is my go-to meal whenever I have a performance coming up, or if I will have to be doing a lot of talking! Hydration is absolutely essential to a healthy voice! Consider keeping a water bottle next to you to sip on throughout the day. Alcohol and caffeine should also be avoided- consider replacing your morning coffee with a delicious matcha latte (unsweetened and made with a plant-based milk such as oat milk, of course). Warm liquids help to relax the vocal cords and larynx. Red raspberry tea is very nutritious and strengthening, green teas are anti-inflammatory, and licorice, marshmallow, and slippery elm are all very soothing to an overworked voice.

Many can relate to the frustrating experience of waking up the morning of an important event, perhaps an audition, a lecture, or recital, and finding that you can’t speak above a whisper! Laryngitis is the swelling of the larynx, typically caused by an infection or overuse, and tends to come up at most inconvenient times! One of the best natural aids for laryngitis is gargling with sage tea. Sage is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory, and is the first thing I reach for when dealing with any throat or voice trouble. If possible, do this every hour until symptoms desist. If sage is not available, gargling with warm salt water is an acceptable alternative. Other valuable aids include the highly anti-inflammatory turmeric tea, and apple cider vinegar in warm water with a little honey. 

Sometimes, a mild cold seems to affect the voice for weeks after all other symptoms are gone. The lingering scratchy throat or sinus congestion is incredibly frustrating! Along with the previously mentioned aids for the throat and voice, I find that diffusing a blend of 3 parts eucalyptus oil with 1 part lavender oil makes a world of difference, especially if it can be diffused next to your bed overnight. Eucalyptus works as a decongestant and nasal antiseptic, while lavender is also antiseptic and soothing. These essential oils are also beneficial for the lungs, which of course are very important to singing!

And finally, for some of us perhaps the most daunting of all challenges singers and public speakers face: nerves! How many find they can sing like a Broadway star when alone, but the second you try to perform for someone else everything is a mess? Unfortunately, there isn’t an herb or a tea you can take to banish all nervousness and fill you with confidence- trust me, I wish there was! However, there are things you can do to get started in the right direction. As already mentioned, lavender oil is soothing and relaxing. Try carrying a small bottle with you, and taking in a few breaths of it before you begin. Take a few moments for deep breathing to reset yourself. Finally, so much of singing is in the mind. You can, to a certain extent, convince your brain that you are a good or a bad singer; that you will succeed or fail. Make a practice of positive thinking! Don’t dwell on previous failures: learn from them, but focus on previous successes! Envision everything going perfectly, and then practice to make that a reality. And lastly, learn to laugh at yourself! Everyone makes mistakes, but it is important to be able to brush them off and move on- and that applies to every area of life!

Laura Tsao is a graduate of the School of Natural Healing. She is passionate about natural medicine and healthy lifestyle, and especially loves creating healthy meals and desserts. She is located in Wisconsin, where she also enjoys teaching piano and voice to students of all ages. You can connect with Laura by emailing laura.rixine@gmail.com.