Laryngitis

Laryngitis

It was my 32nd wedding anniversary, and my bluegrass band, Durham Station, was getting together for a cookout dinner and evening picking party. I had promised to tape a couple of herbal songs for radio people who needed something unique to use as background music. (The songs I've written about herbs most definitely qualify as unique.)

At noon I called our banjo picker, who is also our high tenor singer, to remind him to bring his recording equipment. "Don't expect me to sing," he whispered. He'd sung his heart out the night before and awakened that morning with chest congestion and laryngitis.

Talk about dire emergencies! I fixed him my best herbal remedy, something I call Cineolade, a pineapple-ginger juice in which I steep herbs high in the chemical cineole, which is reportedly useful in relieving laryngitis. As I recall, I used rosemary, spearmint, cardamom and lavender and sweetened the drink with licorice.

Well, the banjo picker drank the brew, and he sang reasonably well. No one who heard him talk before he drank the tea could quite believe how good he sounded when he got around to singing. Our recordings turned out okay, too.

Green Pharmacy for Laryngitis

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the vocal cords that causes hoarseness or voice loss and usually a dry, sore throat. More and more these days at pharmacies and health food stores, you can find herbal lozenges for sore throat and laryngitis. They taste pretty good. If you have chronic laryngitis, though, see your doctor: It may be a symptom of a serious condition. But for an occasional bout of laryngitis, you can turn to the Green Pharmacy for help. Here are several good herbs to try.

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) and other herbs containing cineole. The cineole contained in the Cineolade I gave to my banjo-picking buddy is an expectorant that can help bring relief.

Here are several herbs with high cineole content, in descending order of potency: cardamom, eucalyptus, spearmint, rosemary, sweet Annie, ginger, nutmeg, lavender, bee balm, peppermint and tansy. I suggest making a tea using a selection of these herbs, and go heavy on the ginger. Add some pineapple juice before drinking.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale). After reading New England herbalist Paul Schulick's nice book, Ginger: Common Spice and Wonder Drug, I feel pretty confident in recommending this herb. I'm more a tea man than a candy man, but if I had laryngitis, I might try candied ginger.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare). This herb has been used for centuries to treat coughs and other respiratory problems like laryngitis. Commission E, the body of experts that advises the German government about herbs, endorses horehound for bronchial problems, including laryngitis. The suggested dosage is a tea made with one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water.

Horehound Horehound tea, made from dried leaves and flower tops, is a popular folk remedy for coughs and colds.

But wouldn't you know that the Food and Drug Administration declared horehound ineffective in treating sore throat and laryngitis? The problem is not with horehound but rather with the agency charged with protecting and promoting the public health. Horehound is one of the first herbs I suggest for throat problems. I'd
recommend a strong horehound tea with lemon, licorice and stevia, which is available in many health food stores. You can open a tea bag and add a pinch of herb in place of artificial sweetener.

Mallows (Althaea, various species). The mallows, including marsh mallow, the herbal forerunner of our pillowy candy treat, have been used for thousands of years as throat soothers. They are useful in treating laryngitis, colds, coughs, sore throat and bronchitis.

Mallows contain a special gelatinous fiber, mucilage, that soothes mucous membranes and helps protect them from bacteria and inflammation. Commission E approves mallows for throat pain, inflammation and irritation. Sounds like a laryngitis treatment to me.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Like mallow, mullein flowers have consitutents that can help relieve laryngitis symptoms. Make a tea with one to two teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water and steep for ten minutes.

Couchgrass (Agropyron repens or Elymus repens). Because of its other name, quackgrass, this is my favorite-named herbal medicine. It is approved by Commission E for respiratory problems such as laryngitis and cough.

Echinacea (Echinacea, various species). Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is useful for relieving or treating laryngitis, according to Commission E. Echinacea also enhances immune function, which should help the body fight any virus that's causing the laryngitis. (While it may make your tongue tingle or go numb temporarily, this effect is harmless.)

Elecampane (Inula helenium). Elecampane is an antiseptic expectorant that is useful in treating laryngitis. This herb's benefits have been confirmed clinically and experimentally to my satisfaction.

Noted British herbalist David Hoffmann, author of The Herbal Handbook, whom I respect, suggests a three-herb combo tea made with equal parts of elecampane, horehound and mullein. You might try one teaspoon of each per cup of boiling water and steep for ten minutes. Other elecampane fans suggest pouring one cup of cold water over one teaspoon of shredded elecampane and steeping it for ten hours. You can drink the tea three times daily.

Ivy (Hedera helix). Ivy is an old folk remedy for whooping cough. Commission E suggests taking a pinch of dried ivy (0.3 gram) to relieve inflammatory conditions of the respiratory tract, including laryngitis. Ivy has expectorant action, and it helps minimize bronchial secretions that can cause cough and throat irritation.

Knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare). Commission E approves making a tea with two to three teaspoons of dried knotgrass per cup of boiling water to treat sore throat and laryngitis.

Plantain (Plantago, various species). Herbalists have used plantain for centuries to treat sore throat, laryngitis, cough and bronchitis. Commission E concurs, noting that English plantain (P. lanceolata) in particular is a safe, effective antibacterial, astringent throat soother. The suggested dosage is one teaspoon per cup of boiling water. Steep until cool.

Primrose (Primula veris). Commission E suggests using one to two teaspoons of dried primrose flowers or one teaspoon of the plant's dried root as a respiratory remedy for laryngitis, bronchitis, colds and coughs. (Note that this recommendation is for primrose, not evening primrose.)

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). Chemicals (saponins) in soapwort reportedly have pain-relieving, anti-inflammatory activity that may help laryngitis. Commission E recommends making a tea with one teaspoon of dried herb per cup of boiling water for treating respiratory complaints, including laryngitis.

stinging nettle (Urtica dioica). In recent years, stinging nettle leaves and root juice have received considerable attention because of studies suggesting their usefulness in treating asthma, bronchitis and hay fever. I'd also try stinging nettle tea for laryngitis.

Sundew (Drosera, various species). If your laryngitis is due to a hacking cough, sundew is worth trying. It contains a cough suppressant compound (carboxy-oxy-napthoquinone), which is comparable to codeine, and other constituents that calm the muscle spasms that can trigger coughing. German studies of sundew as a treatment for laryngitis, sore throat and bronchitis show good results in more than 90 percent of users, with no significant side effects.

One of the compounds in sundew, plumbagin, inhibits several types of bacteria that cause laryngitis.

Hot, spicy foods. If you look at the ethnobotanical literature from around the world, you'll find that spicy foods have been used traditionally to treat laryngitis and other respiratory conditions. It makes sense to me. Garlic, ginger, horseradish and mustard all seem useful for relieving laryngitis, especially when it is associated with thick secretions in the airways.