hot tea with honey vs. _____________ ?

Bettye Zoller

Everyone: Be very very careful about "giving advice when someone has a medical condition, vocal folds, larynx, even nerve disorders, so many things first are symptoms in the vocal organs that later materialize in other ways. Even acid reflux takes its toll on the vocal folds. Sinus problems, allergies, and serious illness that requires brain scans or biopsies, or CAT Scans and more...the voice performance field is totally loaded with "home remedies" and "mom's lemon tea" advice. Be carful. At the first sign of a voice dysfunction (don't wait till you do more damage!) consult an ENT physician (Ear, Nose Throat). And while a general practitioner is ok for perhaps a common cold situation, I am a firm believer in the specialist...the ENT physician! Every vocal performer of serious intent should have an ENT doctor of his or her own to call upon quickly and rely upon. I am sending this post out as a person who not only is a longtime voice coach but who has the training at the doctoral level in this field and if you could only see and hear what I've seen and heard in doctoral courses at the university and hospitals, you would be "cautioned" into heeding this advice! The case histories abound. A "raspy" voice is a warning. So is repeated hoarseness. A "double voice" is a sign of more trouble. Losing high or low pitches is a sign of problems. Excess nasality is a sign. And on and on. The vocal apparatus is quite complex as is the brain, those areas controlling its performance! Consult an ENT physician and then, if hot tea helps...so be it.
Bettye Zoller
Member Natl. Asso Teachers of Singing
Voice and Speech Trainers Association
Voice Coach
voiceover Pro/Actor
www.voicesvoices.com