Homeopathic treatment
Before delving into homeopathic treatment let us first discuss what conventional
or allopathic treatment has to offer.
Vocal cord polyp / nodule / cyst may be treated medically, surgically and behaviourally.
Surgical intervention involves removing the polyp / nodule / cyst from the vocal
cord only when the size is very large or has existed for a long time. Two types
of surgeries may be done:
Phonosurgery: With careful incision vocal polyp / nodule / cyst is removed from
the vocal cord.
Microlaryngoscopy: Laryngoscope is used and a tool is inserted via mouth without
making any skin incision.
Common side effects of surgery are scarring and recurrence.
Underlying medical problems which may be the cause of vocal cord polyp may be treated
to reduce their impact on the vocal cords which include treatment for GERD with
antacids, allergies with anti allergics and so on.
Behavioural intervention: Some patients require behavioural intervention or voice
therapy.
Antibiotics and painkillers are given in conventional or allopathic treatment but
with only temporary relief which offers no long term betterment in condition.
How does homeopathy helps
Homeopathic treatment for those who suffers from vocal cord polyp / nodule / cyst
can be a big sigh of relief. The remedies are effective especially when the size
is small. In case of big one’s size can be reduced with the help of the remedies.
Timely administration of the remedies helps to avoid worsening of the symptoms and
spare you from the surgery. Moreover, it is very common for the condition to recur
even after surgery.
The treatment in homeopathy is targeted towards the root cause of the problem. Homeopathy
is a holistic system of medicine. This means that it treats the body as a whole.
Detailed history of the patient is taken into consideration including the cause
of the disease while prescribing the appropriate remedies. This form of treatment
is known as constitutional treatment. As every patient presents different picture
of the same problem so every patient gets a different remedy also. This is the beauty
of the homeopathic system of medicine.
Usually, when a person feels a scratch or pain in throat, he or she opts for throat
syrups or medicated candies which consist of anaesthetics or demulcents, giving
a temporary relief from the symptoms. But the main cause is left undealt with. This
is where the problem starts taking an ugly turn. This is where one should immediately
seek proper homeopathic treatment to avoid further consequences in the form of vocal
cord polyp / nodule / cyst.
The underlying causes of vocal cord polyp like GERD, allergies, sinusitis and tonsillitis
can also be effectively treated with homeopathy.
Gradually with homeopathic remedies, the suffering patient will get betterment in
hoarseness of voice, pain in throat, pain when speaking, tickling rawness in the
throat, constant need to clear the throat and so on. Symptoms of illness varies from
patient to patient depending on the cause of the problem.
Homeopathic treatment along with voice therapy is a good combination to progress
rapidly towards recovery.
Also homeopathy is recommended for people who have had surgery done to remove vocal
polyps / nodules / cysts. This would have a preventive effect by minimizing the
chance of recurrence. Moreover remedies help in post-operative healing of the wound
with minimum scarring.
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What is vocal cord polyp / nodule / cyst
The vocal folds are also known as vocal cords, and are located within the larynx
also known as voice box at the top of the trachea.
The vocal cords / vocal reeds are composed of twin infolding of mucous membranes
which form ‘V’ shaped structure. They are open during inhalation and comes together
to close during swallowing and phonation. When closed, the vocal folds may vibrate
and modulate the expelled airflow from the lungs to produce speech and singing.
The size of vocal fold is different for both males and females. The male vocal folds
are generally longer and thicker due to which male voices are lower pitched while
female vocal folds are smaller and thinner due to which female voices are higher
pitched.
Vocal polyp can take a number of forms. They are sometimes caused by vocal abuse.
Polyps appear on either one or both sides of the vocal cords. They appear as a swelling
or bump, a stalk like growth, or a blister like lesion. Most polyps are larger than
nodules and may be called by other names, such as polypoid degeneration, reinke’s
edema.
Vocal polyps are seen mainly in the singers, teachers, public speakers and in the
people who use their voices roughly to a great extent. Sometimes, regular smokers
also develop the risk of getting prone to this condition.
Vocal cord nodules (singer’s nodes, screamer’s nodes) are benign growths on both
vocal cords that are caused by vocal abuse. Over time, repeated abuse of the vocal
cords result in soft, swollen spots on each vocal cord. These spots develop into
harder, callous like growths called nodules.
Vocal cord cyst is a firm mass of tissue contained within a membrane (sac). The
cyst can be located near the surface of the vocal cord or deeper, near the ligament
of the vocal cord.
Causes
Vocal cord polyp may be caused by long-term vocal abuse but sometime it may develop
suddenly due to trauma to the cords; for example yelling at a concert, screaming
while watching cricket match or rash singing. Longterm cigarette smoking, hypothyroidism
and GERD may also cause polyp formation.
The main cause behind nodule formation is vocal abuse or misuse in the form of:
- Smoking
- Chronic or untreated allergies
- Recurrent laryngitis
- Sinusitis
- Tonsillitis
- Postnasal drips
- Muscle tension dysphonia
- GERD
- Chronic throat clearing
- Chronic coughing
- Whispering
- Talking loudly
- Cheerleading
- Frequent alcohol intake (dries out the throat and vocal cords)
- Frequent caffeine intake
- Longterm chewing of peppermint
- Regular use of nasal decongestants
- Inhaling mosquito repellants
Signs & symptoms
- Hoarseness
- Fluttering speech
- Voice quality worsening with use but recovers with rest dramatically
- Decreased pitch range
- Pain in the throat with inflammation
- Tickling sensation in the throat
- Voice stuck in throat
- Lump in a throat sensation
- Shooting pain from ear to ear
- Unable to sing quietly
- Tightness, throat discomfort
- Unable to hold a steady pitch
- Vocal fatigue
- Neck pain
- Rough, scratchy voice
- Painful speech production
How to diagnose
If you have experienced a hoarse voice for more than 2 to 3 weeks then you are advised
for voice evaluation which includes:
- A physician’s examination especially ENT, who specializes in throat diseases
- A voice evaluation by a speech-language pathologist (SLP)
- A neurological examination
Examination will evaluate vocal quality, pitch, loudness, ability to sustain voicing
and other voice characteristics.
Laryngoscopy: This involves inserting an endoscope into the mouth or nose to look
at the larynx in general and vocal cords in particular for polyp / nodule / cyst.
A stroboscope (flashing light) may also be used to watch the vocal cords as they
move.
Self-help and home remedies
- Keep a fervid check on your throat and voice changes
- Drink loads of water in a day but avoid drinking immediately after intake of meals
- Let your water linger around the throat for some time to moisten the throat area
making it plump and soft
- Steaming your throat thrice in a day also serves well
- Gargle using warm water with a pinch of salt added to it, thrice in day to increase
the moisture in the throat.
- Maintain a pitch norm
- Eat healthy and fresh fruits daily such as melons, cantaloupe, honey dew, strawberries
and watermelons
- Avoid drinking icy cold water or hot boiling fluids to remove strain from the throat
muscles.
- Avoid eating fried foods and acidic stuff to avoid reflux and to keep a check on
GERD
- Avoid excessive intake of alcohol, caffeine and stop smoking right away
- Use proper warm ups before singing and do not forget to take breaks in between the
performances
- Avoid shouting unnecessarily
- Rest your voice
- Reduce tension in the throat
- Go for natural substances to relax your throat like herbal teas
- Keep away from allergies and treat using homeopathic remedies
- Maintain good oral hygiene