Voice maintenance/remedies?

Alexis Adair · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007, 19:56 (GMT) Post subject: Voice maintenance/remedies?

I did just find this thread: http://voiceoversavvy.com/ftopic1594-0-asc-0.html , and there are a lot of good things in there. Does anyone have anything to add? Anything that helps reduce or eliminate mouth sounds, unwanted mouth noise, etc. September mentioned somewhere that she drinks apple juice to reduce mouth sounds. I've seen others mention sucking on apple slices.

I know Maxine mentioned in some post somewhere a product called "Entertainers' Secret". I found their website, does anyone know whether there are any brick-and-mortar stores that carry it?

I often use an OTC saline nasal spray for sinus maintenance, and it helps, but lately I'm finding myself oddly congested. There isn't really anything in my nose (i.e. blowing my nose doesn't do anything), but I'm getting some very "piggy" sounding noises when I record, similar to making a "snorting" sound with your soft palate. There seems to be stuff sitting there that won't go away. Sudafed (the controlled substance pseudoephedrine, not the new substitute phenylephrine) + guaifenesin (Mucinex, a mucus thinner) helps, but I don't want to take that stuff all day every day just to be able to record whenever something comes in. Anyone have experience with this kind of problem?

I've used hot water with fresh ginger root, fresh lemon, and honey (tastes yummy, like hot lemonade!) for a sore throat, though I've heard the ginger (and the lemon, for that matter) can aggravate acid reflux for those with that problem.

So anyway, so far the list includes (most of these are copied from linked thread above) [Edited 8/9 to include info from additional responses][edit 8/10 same reason]

Sinuses:
Saline nasal spray/wash (Simply Saline, NeilMed and others)
Sudafed (pseudoephedrine)
guaifenesin (Mucinex, also seen in combination with other ingredients in some cold/sinus meds)
Peppermint Altoids

Mouth noises:
Apple juice
sucking on apple slices
Peppermint Altoids
Regular hydration

Sore Throat/Dry Throat:
Tea with honey
Tea with honey and lemon
Tea with honey, lemon, margarine, brown skin of onion
hot water with fresh ginger root, fresh lemon, and honey
Throat Coat Tea
Entertainers' Secret
gargle with salt water (kosher salt)
cough drops with menthol and eucalyptus (esp. sugar free)
Hot water bottle on throat at bedtime
glass of red wine, slightly warmed, with a dash of snaps (at bedtime)
gargle with salt water with honey and a mashed-up aspirin
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray as a mouth spray/throat coat
Cepacol
Regular hydration
Don't Whisper!
glycerin

For the items where Tea is used, what kind of tea do people use? I find the caffeine in black tea can be drying, but if using an herbal, which do you use (other than Throat Coat, which is already mentioned...)? Chamomile, decaf black tea, other?

Thanks for any additions to this... And thanks to those who posted in the other thread whose solutions I copied over to here.

Alexis
(Please include in your posts any keywords/phrases that someone might search for this kind of topic that I might have missed, or any links to other threads I may have missed).

Amy Snively · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007, 21:03 (GMT) Post subject:

You can buy dry mouth sprays at any drug store near the toothpaste.

Staying well-hydrated at all times is the best advice of all. On your way to a session is too late to start drinking water, you should make hydration a part of your lifestyle.

My personal "secrets" are hydration, hydration, and brushing my teeth before every session.

Very Happy

Dina Monaco-Boland · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007, 00:45 (GMT) Post subject:

Thanks Alexis for that informative post. I think that's something I'll print and hang on the bulletin board for reference. It's nice and concise! Thanks for the posting!

Robert Jadah

Dina Monaco-Boland

Robert Jadah · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007, 01:00 (GMT) Post subject:

Tequiza, Dina, is to beer as Baghdad is to tourism.

But if you want to drink something that actually boasts about adding Blue Agave Nectar and lime, well....

(Sounds more like a detergent to me, though.)

Vice On!

Maggie's Voice

Barry Trussell · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007, 00:18 (GMT) Post subject:

I have found a little something in the last 6 months that has worked wonders for me. I too found myself in a similar situation, congested sounding (but not really) and a little froggy.

I started buying the peppermint altoids in a tin. Something about the peppermint helps to get a much clearer sound, eliminates my mouth sounds, and even helps with breath (not smell, but volume control, making the reads more relaxed. Somehow it seems to help as an expectorant, the peppermint opening up the bronchial tubes. Goood stuff for me. in 3 pieces there are only 2 sugars, which is pretty a pretty tiny amount.

Barry

Kim White · Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007, 17:55 (GMT) Post subject:

Alexis,

I've had a sinus infection/sore throat this week. So, I tried several of the things listed. While many of the tea remedies were very soothing, the one thing that allowed my throat to stop hurting enough to go record was Cepacol. There's a numbing agent in it, and I certainly wouldn't use it all day, but to get through a 'must do' read, I thought it was effective. The cherry flavor also helped create enough saliva in my mouth to help avoid mouth noises.

For sinuses, my best treatment/defense after sinus surgery has been Simply Saline. My husband is a pilot and uses this to clear things out before he flies.

Sadly, for the infection, I think it may be time to 'bite the bullet' and get some antibiotics.

Great thread! Thank you!

Alexis Adair · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007, 08:10 (GMT) Post subject: Thanks for the additions

Thanks everybody for the additions, I'm going to edit the original to add them in.

Barry, I'll have to try the peppermint Altoids. Though I'm slightly wary of things containing peppermint. More than once in my life I've seriously choked on peppermint things (although usually chocolate-covered). But those were gummy, semi-liquid things that stuck in my throat in a way something solid can't. I hope. Wink

And Kim, I use Simply Saline. I find it to be the easiest delivery system, but there are many different kinds of saline washes. I think the brand someone mentioned in the other thread was NeilMed (?). The basic concept is the same, though the concentrations of salt differ. I like the 3% Simply Saline, rather than the .67%

And of course, Amy, constant hydration is a great reminder, and you're absolutely right about not just doing it before recording. Smile

Water, the wonder drug Wink

Thanks all,

Alexis

Mirren Lee · Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007, 14:50 (GMT) Post subject:

I'd like to add glycerin, also spelled glycerine. It's used as fake tears, but it is also an old singer's secret, which is how I learned about it for my voice coaching. It's especially useful on set when actors' voices are getting very tired, especially while trying to speak outside their normal accent/dialect. I carry a small bottle and a spoon and just give them little tiny sips that coat the throat to help them keep going. Not much at all is needed.

Also, Throat Coat is a marvel, and we can't get it in Australia, although I did get some in New Zealand when I was doing a job there (it had been imported from the U.S.). It's the licorice that causes the soothing anaesthetic effect in the tea, so anything with licorice works well (I hate the taste, but it sure helps). The secret is to let it stew for at least a whole 5 minutes to make it strong enough.

And everyone knows to never whisper, right? That's sheer vocal abuse, so if you have a sore throat or vocal weakness, speak in a low volume, don't whisper. If you can only whisper, then don't speak at all!

Great useful thread. Thanks for starting it, Alexis.

Very Happy

Michael Strah · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 16:59 (GMT) Post subject: Hydration

There is a lot to be said for pre-hydration (consuming sufficient liquids prior to your session). Factor in the summer heat and humidity on your way to the studio, waiting time in a dry air conditioned environment (even your car or public transit) etc.... and you might end up being on empty before you even start.
Now for what could be deemed somewhat disgusting but bears repeating, if your urine is not clear you are not properly hydrated.
If you are passing a few little drops and a cloud of steam, your reading won't be on par.

David Oxford

Alexis Adair · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 22:16 (GMT) Post subject: Tequiza's not a typo

I do believe it's a beer, with a bit of tequila in it Wink

Well, okay, I just checked their website and it's "beer with blue agave nectar, and the natural flavor of lime"

Bound to be good for the voice, right? Wink

Lynne Alston · Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007, 22:59 (GMT) Post subject:

Alexis

Just to add, I am plagued with mouth noises, and having tried all the other remedies what I found to be most helpful of recent is...

Mouthwash before a session, and wax coated on the gums and teeth, the kind that you use if you wear braces.