Small inflammatory or growth of fibers that develop on the throat of people causing much discomfort are known as vocal cord nodules. These develop on one of the two vocal cords that are connected to the larynx and vibrate to produce sounds. People in the singing profession, as well as those who have to talk a lot, such as teachers, readers at the university, members of the clergy, auctioneers and even customer care executives often suffer from vocal cord nodules. This happens because of excessive use of the voice which leads to a strain on the vocal cords. People suffering from vocal cord nodules complain of a slight pain in the throat as well as a hoarseness of the voice which becomes harsh and raspy. Vocal cord nodules can be easily and successfully treated at home by the right practices to relieve the throat when it is strained. As far as possible you should avoid straining your vocal cords by using them too much and too long without adequate rest. You should learn to modulate your voice to reach a wider audience with minimum stress to your vocal cords and avoid talking loudly or screaming. It is equally important to not to whisper too much since any pitch other than the normal range strains the vocal cords, leading to nodules. If you do have to use your vocal cords continuously you should take care to stop intermittently and take a sip of water to soothe your throat. You should also exercise the muscles in your neck by bending your head forward and then slowly to the left and the right and rotating it gently clockwise and anti-clockwise. Apart from this, drinking a glass of warm water first thing in the morning and before sleeping will help to soothe the throat.
There are several yoga exercises that help in treating vocal nodules. In Bhastrika or the bellow pose, you have to inhale slowly through your nose, filling your lungs with air, hold it for a few moments and then slowly exhale. This should be done over a period of 5 minutes ensuring that you are inhaling only through your nose and not through the mouth which leads to air filling in the stomach and not the lungs. Another good breathing exercise to strengthen the vocal cords is Anulom Vilom or alternate nostril breathing. In this you should first close your left nostril with the thumb of your left hand, inhaling slowly through the right nostril. Now close the right nostril with two fingers and release the left nostril and exhale slowly. Repeat this for your right nostril. You can practice this for up to an hour daily before meal times and before going to bed. You will notice excellent results within a few days. Pranayam - breathing techniques works wonders for throat problems and as well as the general health and it is a good idea to practice it daily to cure all problems of the throat.
answered by M W