How to Get Rid of a Raspy Voice

Characterized by a hoarse, weak, scratchy or breathy sound, a raspy voice can be both irritating and painful. A raspy voice can have many causes, including infection, voice overuse, colds, smoking, acid reflux, allergies and dry environments. Follow simple home treatments to get rid of a raspy voice, despite the cause. However, if your voice does not improve, visit a throat doctor to check for more serious problems.

Rest your voice and allow it time to heal by not talking, singing or shouting unless necessary. Also avoid whispering, which puts more strain on the vocal chords than speaking normally does, reports the National Institutes of Health 1.

Stop smoking and limit the amount of alcohol you drink, since both smoke and alcohol irritate the vocal chords and mucous membranes. Smokers who experience a prolonged hoarseness should see a doctor as throat cancer is often caused by smoking.

Avoid taking decongestants or consuming caffeine. They will dry the vocal chords and cause further irritation.

Keep your throat moist by drinking six to eight glasses of water a day, chewing on gum or sucking throat lozenges. Also, use a humidifier in your room, run a hot shower or boil a pan of water and inhale the steam.

Stop eating spicy foods, a common cause of a raspy voice is acid reflux. Spicy foods cause acid from the stomach to move to the esophagus, causing irritation and a raspy voice.

Try traditional remedies to sooth an irritated throat, such as tea with honey, eucalyptus, peppermint, ginger or lemon, recommends the University of Maryland Medical Center. Homeopathic remedies to treat laryngitis include Aconitum, Causticum, Phosphorus and Kali bichromicum.