I'm SICK...Can I Sing?

Everybody gets sick occasionally.  It's just a fact of life.  However, when you have an audition, a performance, or a special lesson to sing in, it is VERY inconvenient!  What can you do?  I wish I could promise you all you need is for me to twitch my nose and Voila!, you will be cured BUT it doesn't work that way.  Here are a few quick easy tips to help stave off the "Boogie Man" (did you hear what I did there?  "Boogie" Man...sorry).

1. Build your own Immune System up, so that it's more difficult for you to "catch" whatever's being thrown around out in the world.  How?  LOTS of sleep; LOTS of water (okay, those two are really just common sense for everyday of a singer's life BUT they are especially important to strengthen your body as much as possible.  Next, take a GOOD multi-vitamin.  This doesn't mean just picking up a generic chewable.  Spend a little effort comparing ingredients, additives, prices, and then be consistent taking them.  REMEMBER, you are investing in your singing!  Depending on your overall health, it may be helpful to consider adding some more "pro-active" holistic aids as well.  Consider Colloidal Silver, grapefruit seed, Black Elderberry syrup, or Wellness Formula (this is available in capsule, tablet, or liquid formulation).  I do warn you that the Wellness Formula liquid tastes a bit like drinking freshly mowed grass but it works great!
2. More preventive, pro-active helps include: a.  wearing a scarf around your throat (treat it like the treasure it is), b.  gargling with a product called Alkalol (http://www.alkalolcompany.com/), c.  Throat Coat Tea, which is frequently available simply at your local grocery store in the tea aisle (http://www.traditionalmedicinals.com/products/throat-coat/), or d.  make my magic, instant soother tea.  Soother Tea requires:  a tea ball or small strainer; a mug of warm water (not too hot, depending on what you're used to); chopped fresh ginger, as much as you can tolerate to fill your strained; and powdered Cayenne Pepper (the AMOUNT of Cayenne is definitely to taste).  If you are accustomed to spicy, hot foods, be generous with the Cayenne Pepper.  If, however, you are like me and were raised where salt is the spiciest thing you ever tasted, I highly recommend beginning with one quick shake, so you can build from there.  You can always add more but you can't remove it if you've been too generous from the start.  This tea is delicious, good for you and your immune system, and it warms you; you can feel its heat as you swallow it.  When you aren't feeling well, it is a wonderfully warming sensation.  e.  The last product I would like to endorse is NeilMed Sinus Wash (http://www.neilmed.com/usa/index.php).  If the idea of purposely putting water up your nose is thoroughly repugnant to you, wait a second.  You do have to invest a very small amount of capital/cash into purchasing the kit but most come with, at least, 100 packets of the mild salt mixture, which is mixed with warm water to wash your sinuses.  Many think of the messiness and mild discomfort of the Neti Pot but this works even better and it's extremely easy to use, while really not being uncomfortable at all.  Washing out the sinuses gives them a "fresh start".  A human sinus is quite literally the PERFECT environment for growing bacteria...dark, moist, and filled with lots of little passages and tiny caves.  The wash allows you to get ahead of an infection or wash out pollens and allergens that may have accumulated after a day outside.  f.  Good ole natural honey.  This is God's perfect humidifier and soother, and you might even get a little boost of energy to boot.  g.  Vicks Salve (http://vicks.com/en-us/shop-products/vaporub/vaporub-topical-ointment).  Okay, I know this is usually something we use for children but aren't we all just grown up kiddos?  A little dab under the nostrils can do wonders for a stuffy nose and/or cough.  You can even use it alone or in combination with an old product called Musterole to spread over your chest and cover with an old, clean tshirt for inducing sweating, reducing a fever, and comforting a cough.  It's messy and it's "old" but sometimes the old ways can be the best.  h.  Steam!  This can be as easy as putting a towel over your head while leaning over the bathroom sink as it spews steaming, hot water.  There are, of course, also commercial steamers, such as these products available for more frequent use.  Check out 10 different steamers at this site:  https://flipboard.com/@momsmags/top-10-best-women-facial-steamers-for-sinus-allergies-2016-bmrhssrcz  Always be careful around steam as it can severely burn skin.  Therefore, avoid standing over a tea kettle or other boiling liquids.  i.  Finally, Jewish Penicillin or Chicken Soup.  I can't really tell you why but I can totally testify to the effectiveness of a good Chicken Soup.  In fact, I have a killer recipe, so if you're interested, message me and I'll send you my personal favorite recipe.
3. WHAT TO AVOID!!!  As a child, my family didn't have a lot of money but I got sick a LOT.  Therefore, my cough syrup was peppermint crushed up in whiskey and administered by the teaspoon.  It helped my cough AND helped me sleep, and NO, I don't drink today, so no bad side effects.  My point is that you don't always need an expensive prescription or over-the-counter medicine to help with illness.  Hopefully OBVIOUSLY, if you have ANY question, go to your Primary Care Physician but if your discomfort is manageable, consider some of these alternatives.  So, back to BAD things:  Chloroseptic anything!  These products numb the throat, which can allow you to damage your vocal folds or strain things without your knowledge.  As unpleasant as a sore throat, cough, or cold is, you WANT to feel what is going on; that is your body's way of communicating with you.  Try using honey or sugar-free lozenges as an alternative.  AVOID clearing your throat multiple times.  This can cause damage to the vocal tract and vocal folds, and at best, only temporarily aids the situation.  Ultimately, this will almost certainly cause a person to "lose the voice" from hoarseness, which may prolong recovery, as well as making it easier to do more damage.  AVOID cold drinks.  Think of it this way, if your legs are hurting, would it help to throw ice-cold liquid on them.  If you throw ice-cold liquid on a person or, in this case, muscles, that person or muscle immediately contracts.  This means less blood flow to that area.  For healing, you want MORE blood flow; in with the good and out with the bad, so to speak.

Here are LOTS of good ideas for care during an illness.  Remember, when in doubt, call your doctor.  One of the greatest tools a singer needs is to understand when it is best/safe/healthy to sing AND when it is not.  Sing it Forward!  I look forward to reading all your comments and blogging again soon.