A college professor came to my clinic with the complaint of Hoarseness of voice. She said she had to strain to give a lecture which use to get worse by evening time. This problem had been there since the time she started teaching in the college. She also suffered from repeated upper respiratory tract infections like cold. She felt she was allergic to the chalk she had to use. Unfortunately for her due to her profession she could not escape from this problem.
What this professor was suffering from was nothing but Chronic Laryngitis due to constant use of her voice and other occupational hazards.

WHAT IS LARYNGITIS?

If you are familiar with your anatomy then you will know that your larynx is situated at the top of your windpipe and contains your vocal chords. When these chords get inflamed or infected they swell. This swelling or inflammation is known as Laryngitis. Normally the vocal chords open and close smoothly producing sounds due to their vibration and movement. However when these chords are affected the air escapes between them. This makes your voice hoarse and you have to strain to talk.

WHAT CAUSES LARYNGITIS?

There are two types of Laryngitis, Acute and Chronic. The common causes for acute laryngitis are:

1. Infection - this could be either viral or bacterial in nature. The most common viral infections are cold or Flu. Any upper respiratory tract infection can give rise to laryngitis.

2. Irritation - any irritation to the vocal chords can cause laryngitis. The irritation could be in the form of allergies, excessive singing or talking if you are not accustomed or trained for it, breathing in irritating fumes like smoke or certain other chemicals. All these cause irritation leading to acute laryngitis.

The common causes for Chronic Laryngitis are:

1. Overuse of the vocal chords - if you are a singer or are in a profession where you need to use your vocal chords constantly then you are at risk for developing small growths known as nodules or polyps on your chords. These growths interfere with speech and the sounds produced.

2. Age - as we grow older our vocal chords loose some of the tension. Due to this loss of tension our vocal chords do not vibrate as they use to and hence there is a difference in the sounds produced.

3. Constant irritation - if you are a smoker then you are at risk of suffering from chronic laryngitis. Smoking and excessive drinking cause inflammation of the vocal chords. Smoking can also lead to the formation of polyps or growths on the vocal chords. Cancer of the larynx can be caused by smoking.
Constant irritation of the larynx can also be caused by acid reflux (that is the regurgitation of stomach juices and acid into the oesophagus and throat). That means a person suffering from acidity and heartburn is at risk of developing chronic laryngitis.

4. Nerve damage - in order for sound to be produced the muscles of the vocal chords must function. They are controlled by nerves and hence if there is any damage to the nerve supply then these muscles do not function. Damage to the nerves can be caused by some injury or blow to the area or certain neurological conditions. Even a person who has suffered a stroke might experience weakness or paralysis of the vocal chords. Sometimes even a tumor can press on the nerves and destroy them.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LARYNGITIS?

The common signs and symptoms of Laryngitis are:
1. The person feels a constant need to clear his or her throat.

2. An irritation may be felt in the throat. Sometimes the patient will complaint of a sore throat.

3. There is a hoarseness of the voice or a change in the normal tone.

4. Some people feel a tickling sensation or rawness in the throat.

5. Talking becomes an effort and the person has to strain in order to be heard. There may also be weakness of the voice.

6. The throat may feel dry and there may be a persistent dry cough.

7. In some cases the patient may even develop a fever.

8. On examination of the neck area enlarged lymph nodes may be felt.

9. In severe cases there may be difficulty in breathing due to the obstruction of the windpipe. This is especially seen in children and is very dangerous. Immediate treatment is needed before complete obstruction takes place.

HOW CAN LARYNGITIS BE PREVENTED?

There are few precautions you can take in order to prevent laryngitis from occurring however the best precaution is to see that your immunity is in good condition by leading a healthy lifestyle and correct diet.
1. If you are a smoker or are in constant contact with one then you are at risk of getting laryngitis. Smoke dries your throat and causes irritation of the vocal chords. Therefore give up smoking today.

2. Drink lots of water throughout the day. This is very important and just a simple thing as drinking water will prevent you from acquiring a number of health problems. However make sure the water you drink is PURE.

3. If you are a singer or are in the profession where you constantly need to use your voice then learn the correct way of talking or singing. There are certain exercises you can do before you sing.

4. Avoid taking excessive amounts of alcohol. This is not good for your vocal chords and other parts of your body too. Also alcohol and caffeine tend to cause dryness of the throat, which can make you more susceptible to developing laryngitis.

5. Do not keep hawking and clearing your throat. This does more harm than good since it causes abnormal vibrations of the chords and can cause inflammation.

WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR LARYNGITIS?

The treatment for laryngitis both acute and chronic would depend on the cause. However in cases of acute laryngitis the Homoeopathic medicine is prescribed more on the basis of the acute signs and symptoms where as in chronic cases a more detailed case history and the constitution of the patient becomes important. Here are a few remedies often used for both acute and chronic cases.

ARUM TRIPHYLLUM

The case of the college professor that I have written about received this remedy since all the symptoms were present. She had to constantly use her voice due to which she had hoarseness and soreness of the larynx. Arum is a very important remedy for treating people who have to exert their larynx like politicians, public speakers, lecturers and even professional singers.
There is a constant desire to clear or hawk and the voice sounds squeaky or breaks while talking. This professor also had repeated colds with sneezing and watering of the nose. The discharge was transparent but acrid and even the eyes use to water and burn.

I gave her Arum Triphyllum 200, 5 pills in repeated doses and she was fit to give a lecture the very next day.

PHOSPHORUS

Phosphorus is another very handy drug in our material medica for laryngitis. Here the person complaints of a burning sensation and dryness of the larynx and pharynx. There is hoarseness of voice, which gets worse towards evening. Another peculiar symptom felt is a violent tickling sensation in the larynx while speaking. Due to the pain experienced while talking the patient prefers to keep silent.
Phosphorus is also effective for dry tickling cough and bronchitis. This patient will feel worse in cold open air and when the weather changes.

Phosphorus 200, 5 pills 4 times a day should be prescribed in such cases.

Arnica Montana though popularly known as a drug used for injuries and bruises can also be prescribed in cases where there is hoarseness or loss of voice from just overuse. It can be given as a specific in these cases where no there cause is determined.

SPONGIA

This drug has proven effective in many cases of severe laryngits and croup where the symptoms are present. Here the larynx feels constricted and dry. Talking or singing makes the condition worse. Even touching the larynx increases the pain. There is a barking, hollow, sawing cough. A spongia patient will complain of a burning sensation in the throat and chest, which is aggravated by cold drinks, sweets and better by drinking warm water.
There may be difficulty in breathing, which is worse at night and causes anxiety.

When the symptoms are present give Spongia 200, 5 pills in repeated doses till cure takes place.

LACHESIS

I had a very interesting case of a 40 year old man suffering from Chronic Laryngitis. He complained of hoarseness of voice and sometimes even complete loss of voice. He said he felt choked and suffocated especially on lying down. He could not even button the top of his shirt or wear a tie because he felt strangulated by it.
When I tried to examine him he got pain on touching the area. On asking him the detailed case history I found out that he was very fond of drinking alcohol. Also he felt better in open air and by drinking something cold. He was aggravated by anything around his neck.

Lachesis 1M, 5 pills in constitutional doses was prescribed to him which not only cured the laryngitis but also lessened the hypersensitivity he felt around his neck.