Boston Singers' Resource News Bulletin, September 13, 2006
 

By Susan Larson

Is there anybody in the New England singer pool who isn’t a martyr to sinus congestion these days? Anybody who is safe from reflux? Who does not live in fear of the dread six-week cold/flu? The debilitating effects of a too-frantic schedule? I thought not.

Medical science has provided us with all sorts of nifty recourses when our health situations get out of hand– antibiotics, systemic and topical steroids, decongestants, bronchodilators antihistamines, therapies, surgeries. All of these fabulous items have their side effects of course, and many of them can’t be used long-term. On the other other hand,for maintaining one’s health and guarding against illness there are several humble remedies that every singer should keep in his/her medicine cabinet.

Saline Nasal Lavage. Irrigating your nose with a strong salt water solution buffered with some baking soda will sweep allergens and caked mucus out of your nasal passages and encourage proper draining of your sinuses. You can administer this with a nasal syringe (60cc, looks big enough to impregnate a herd of Holsteins) or a Neti Pot. This procedure can help alleviate chronic sinus congestion in my experience.

Hot Pepper Juice. I am not kidding. This product, sold under the name Sinus Buster, was recommended to me by a medical doctor, with the caveat that it might be bogus. It worked for me and for several singers to whom I have given the tip. SinusBuster is a nasal spray of about 5% capsaicin, the stuff that makes jalapeno peppers hot. It’s a natural decongestant with none of the horrific side effects of Afrin or Neo-Synephrine, and has been used by migraine and cluster-headache suffers as well as people with allergies and sinus issues. The spray still packs a tingle, sort of like inhaling Ginger Ale. You can buy it online from SiCap Company.

Zinc. For Colds. Brand names Cold Eeze or ZiCam, Active ingredient zinc gluconate, or ‘zincum gluconicum’ (the homeopathic handle). Comes in the form pills, nose gel, mouth spray, swabs, etc. The stuff will not stop or cure, but will weaken your cold and shorten its duration. The stuff works!

Water. Hydration is key, both in your body and in the air. In the winter months, maintain your indoor humidity at 40-45 percent, and your interior humidity such that you pee pale. Prevents colds, dry chapped lips and dry chapped vocal folds, and keeps every other system in your body in working order.

Biting your tongue. Onstage you can gently but firmly bit your tongue if your mouth has gone dry. In a few seconds you will salivate like mad. Do not bear down hard, please.

Air. A HEPA or Ionic breeze filter in your bedroom will clean out the dust, pollen, animal danders and other irritants/allergens. But not the dust mites. To keep them from taking over your boudoir (I’m not kidding– an old un-washed pillow can contain 10% of its weight in dust mites. Eww.) Putting mite-proof covers on your bed and pillows and washing your bedding in very hot water once a week will keep the mite population in check.

Antacids. If you’re singing with flow phonation your abs are busy, and you’re going to pump up stomach acid and get reflux. A voice therapist told me it would be a good idea habitually to pop an antacid right before practice or performance– should help minimize the reflux.

Sleep. Really truly the most restorative thing a singer can do. A good’ night’s sleep, a nap on performance days keeps the bloom on the mechanism.

Silence. Inhibit talking on planes trains and in noisy restaurants. You’re yelling over big noise without realizing it. Get off the phone and send an AIM or email. Shut up after a strenuous performance, go home and get some nice sleep.

This Just In. If you have asthma and must use a bronchodilator, inhale it through a SPACE, available at your doctor’s. This prevents the Albuterol or whatever you are inhaling from binding to your mouth and giving you a bad case of the shakes. You will not tremble if you use the spacer. Thanks to Lynne B. Markinak, N.P., Harvard Vanguard Medical Assoiates.

Need I say don’t do Drugs? Alcohol in excess? Surely you aren’t smoking! Anyway, good health and good singing to all.
 

Susan Larson, soprano, is also a former music critic for the Boston Globe and a voice teacher in the Boston area.
For more information about Susan and to contact her, please visit her website at: http://www.susanlarson.net/