Essential Oils for Laryngitis and Loss of Voice: What Helps

For laryngitis or a lost voice, what helps most is resting your voice, drinking plenty of fluids and keeping the air moist; for adults, eucalyptus radiata as a gentle steam inhalation and diluted ravintsara or cypress massaged onto the neck can support these steps. Laryngitis is inflammation of the voice box (larynx), usually caused by a virus during a cold. It normally clears up on its own within one to two weeks. Here is what really helps, how to use essential oils safely, and the signs that mean you should see a doctor.

Laryngitis, hoarseness, losing your voice: what is going on?

The larynx houses your vocal cords. When it becomes inflamed, they no longer vibrate properly: your voice turns husky or croaky, and sometimes disappears altogether. You often also have a scratchy throat, a dry cough and a constant urge to clear your throat.

Acute laryngitis often comes with a cold or the flu. It can also follow vocal strain (shouting at a match, talking for hours over background noise), cigarette smoke or acid reflux. As it is usually viral, antibiotics generally bring no real benefit, as a Cochrane review concludes.

What helps most (before essential oils)

• Speak as little as possible for a few days: it is the best remedy for your vocal cords.
• Do not whisper: it feels gentler, but whispering strains your voice as much as talking loudly.
• Drink plenty of fluids: water, warm herbal teas, broths.
• Keep the air moist, especially with the heating on: a bowl of water near the radiator is enough.
• A spoonful of honey in a warm drink to soothe your throat (never for babies under one).
• Gargle with warm salty water (adults only, not for young children).
• Avoid smoking, smoky or dusty places, and too much caffeine or alcohol, which dry out the throat.

The essential oils most often used for your voice

Clinical studies on essential oils for laryngitis are scarce. Use them alongside the steps above, for adults, and for a few days only.

Eucalyptus radiata, as a gentle steam inhalation

Add two drops of eucalyptus radiata essential oil to a bowl of hot (not boiling) water, cover your head with a towel and breathe calmly through your mouth and nose for five minutes, once or twice a day. Stop if it makes you cough or stings your eyes. Not recommended for children under 6 or for people with asthma.

Ravintsara, massaged onto the neck

Dilute two drops of ravintsara in a teaspoon of carrier oil (sweet almond, apricot kernel) and gently massage the front and sides of your neck two or three times a day. Never apply it neat, and do a patch test in the crook of your elbow first.

Cypress, for an irritating dry cough

Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is traditionally used in aromatherapy for the dry, tickly cough that often comes with laryngitis. Two drops in a teaspoon of carrier oil, massaged onto the upper chest, for adults only. Avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and if you have a history of hormone-sensitive cancer.

My tip: a “voice rest” evening

When your voice starts to go, I suggest planning a quiet evening: a thyme and honey tea, a bowl of water by the radiator, a neck massage with diluted ravintsara, and your phone on text-only. It is not magic, but real voice rest often makes a difference by the next day.

Essential safety precautions

Essential oils are active products. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using them if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have asthma or epilepsy, or take any medication, and always before using them on a child. Never swallow them, never put them in your nose, ears or eyes, and keep bottles out of children's reach. When doing a steam inhalation, never leave a bowl of hot water within a child's reach.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

• your voice has not improved after two weeks;
• you keep getting laryngitis or voice problems;
• it is very painful or difficult to swallow;
• you have a lasting fever or cough up blood.

Hoarseness that lasts more than four weeks needs your larynx checked by an ENT specialist, especially if you smoke. If you or your child have difficulty breathing or noisy breathing, call emergency services straight away (999 in the UK, 911 in the US).

Go further

In my ebook “Treating Flu, Cough, Bronchitis, and the Common Cold” (€14.90), I detail the plants, essential oils and good habits for your throat and airways, with their precautions.

Prefer to learn by video? Discover my online course on flu, coughs, bronchitis, sinusitis and sore throats.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get your voice back?

Acute laryngitis usually clears up on its own within one to two weeks. If your voice has not improved after two weeks, see your doctor; if hoarseness lasts more than four weeks, your larynx needs to be examined.

Which essential oil is best for laryngitis?

Eucalyptus radiata as a gentle steam inhalation and ravintsara diluted in a neck massage are the most widely used, for adults and for a few days. They support voice rest, fluids and moist air, which remain the main steps.

Should I whisper when I have laryngitis?

No. Whispering strains your vocal cords as much as talking loudly. It is better to speak as little as possible, in a soft, normal voice, or to write things down.

When should I see a doctor about laryngitis?

If your voice has not come back after two weeks, if it is very painful or hard to swallow, or if laryngitis keeps coming back. If you have difficulty breathing, call emergency services straight away.

Read next

• Dry cough or chesty cough: which essential oils help?
• Essential oils for bronchitis: what helps and what to avoid
• Are essential oils safe? The safety rules to know

This article gives general information and does not replace advice from a healthcare professional. Sources: NHS, Laryngitis; Vidal, Dysphonia: knowing when to examine the larynx (in French); Cochrane, Antibiotics for acute laryngitis in adults; Anses, Vigil'Anses no. 24, “Essential oils: use with caution!” (in French).