VO-BB - 19 YEARS OLD!

[Moosevoice]

So I've had a hell of a holiday season over this last week.
Got a stomach bug on Christmas Eve and am JUST now getting over a sinus infection.
The stomach thing affected my voice ('porcelain praying') and this sinus infection definitely makes my voice virtually unusable.
My question to you fellers and ladies is:
How do you take care of your voice when you're sick?
What precautionary measure do you take in the cold/flu season to help prevent getting sick?
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www.moosevoice.com

[Philip Banks]

Hydration, lubrication (throat), fruit, veg, fresh air, exercise and rest. Your body knows best so when possible steer clear of chemical cures.

[ricevoice]

I'm a big fan of Throat Coat tea.
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Chris Rice - Noisemaker
www.ricevoice.com

[Kim Fuller]

I'll second the Throat Coat tea suggestion - works really well.

[melissa eX]

I love Throat Coat tea. Just make sure you do the tea and not the lozenges. The lozenges have menthol in them which is not good for the vocal cords / vocal folds. Thayers Slippery Elm is good. Otherwise, I do what my ENT tells me to do, which is basically what Philip says. Here are his top 10 tips. Simple but most things usually are until we over-complicate them.

http://oupacademic.tumblr.com/post/58735041336/dr-jahns-ten-tips-for-a-healthy-voice

He uses holistic and traditional Chinese medicine as well as traditional Western medicine. His latest book "The Singers Guide to Complete Health" focuses on singers (he's the medical director for the Metropolitan Opera) but so much of what is good practice for singers applies to all of us who work with our voices. He also writes a Q&A medical column for singers - there's a wealth of information on vocal care there. I'll dig up the link and post it in Research.

[Mike Harrison]

What Philip said and, for prevention:

http://mike-harrison.com/tips-to-avoid-catching-colds/

The last time a cold snagged me (over a year ago), I realized I had – for whatever reason – stopped being as mindful as I previously had been.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[Drew]

Lots of warm liquids, with a shot of Whiskey (if you're so inclined). And stay quiet.
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www.voiceoverdrew.com
Skype: andrew.hadwal1
Although I have a full head of hair, I'm quite ribald.

[Kristin Lennox]

I walk around like a surgeon.

Seriously. Arms up, pushing through doors with my elbows, using my coat sleeve to pull open doors...

I may look stupid, but illness = lost income. But hopefully I don't come off as crazy as this chick:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er59Pqynx_c
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Always look on the bright side of life.

Dee doo. Dee doot doot doo dee doo.

my website

[Jason Huggins]

I'm not quiet that bad, but I definitely am pretty careful about that kind of stuff too. No touching doors with my hands, no touching sinks with my skin, no being in the room with anyone who is sick, etc.

It's totally true. If we get sick we can't work, so the best way to do that is to have a healthy and strong immune system, hydrate well, and make absolutely sure that you aren't exposed unnecessarily to sickness.

Sometimes it is unavoidable though...my whole family got the flu this season. Luckily my turn was on a Saturday and Sunday, and Monday I was OK to get back to work.

[Mike Harrison]

We can touch anything. The problem arises out of later touching our eyes, nose and/or mouth. We do that without even thinking. So if we can just train ourselves to keep our hands away from our faces until we have a chance to wash them correctly, we'll enjoy longer periods without being sick.

Yes, we also pick up some germs by inhaling them, but the majority come from our hands. I studied it in depth and it's documented in my blog entry, linked in my first post to this thread.
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Mike
Male Voice Over Talent
I have taken leave of my sensors.

[Foog]