Susan_Hirasuna's Blog

Hi Susan, I hope you are feeling better this morning. I find that drinking lots of tea or hot water helped to sooth my throat. As for the voice, start with a wisper and raise the volumn of your voice gradually. Once you have reached a point of cracking you have gone too far. Staying within that lower range will allow your vocal cords to heal without being stressed.

Hi Susan,

I hope you are feeling much better today...I am also a broadcaster (radio to be exact), so I know what concerns you have with your voice. If I feel a cold coming on, I usually go to General Nutrition Centers, and buy their echinacea liquid. Now I don't use the capsules because it will end up costing more, but that is my own choice. What I do is mix the echinacea with something that I will drink, such as fruit juice or soda. There is a dropper supplied with the bottle, so you can get a specific dosage. You will want to refrigerate the echinacea once you open the bottle, so it won't go bad in the future. I suggest using either fruit juice or soda, otherwise it's not easy to mask the taste. Just use your favorite type of juice...it will make it much easier to take the echinacea.

Another good drink of choice is Japanese green tea...NOT the "Americanized" version of green tea. I'm sure you know where you can shop for the green teas...it's a great excuse to head out to J-town, isn't it? I just won't mix echinacea with it.

By the way, if you get an opportunity to get a press pass to the NAMM show at Anaheim Convention Center this January, I'd say go for it! There are vendors who introduce products for vocalists, and some of those products will help protect your vocal chords as a newscaster.
If you aren't able to go, but someone else on staff goes (such as Hal Eisner or Al Naipo), you might want to ask whoever is going to check out some booths which have herbal voice products out. I've seen some great products exhibited at the NAMM show including prod

no medical therapy exists for sore throats caused by viral infections. most sore throats go away on their own in about a week.

antibiotics aren't effective against viruses, the cause of most illnesses that result in a sore throat. viruses — the same germs that cause colds and flu.

viruses and bacteria both enter your body through your mouth or nose — either because you breathe in particles that are released into the air when someone coughs or sneezes, or because you have hand-to-hand contact with an infected person or use shared objects such as utensils, towels, toys, doorknobs or a telephone. Touch your eyes or nose after such contact and you're likely to become sick yourself. bacterial infections that cause sore throats are sometimes treated with antibiotics.

Yeah Susan get well soon, from me too!

American Author, Poet, Songwriter and Filmwriter
"Mark Paul" Sebar
The Power To Write The Best!

Hi Susan,

If you still have a cold and sore throat, and no voice, there is only one sure fire remedy. A good bowl of matzoh ball soup. I know your studio is near Junior's Deli. Stop by sometime and indulge. It works every time. Better yet, let me know when you're going to be there so I can treat you to a bowl.

Gary

Hey everybody! Thanks for all of the good information and suggestions. I've been back on the air but even as late as a week after I first lost my voice, there were times in the night when I would just start coughing and lose my voice again briefly.

Hello Hirasuna-san!

I read your response to everyone who responded to Amy's dog blog...and I know about "Japanese Modesty"... denying all credit (I'm a Sansei too). So my good big sister, you did the right thing. Yes, I believe everything you said, and you did the right thing! Here's to Japanese modesty!

From another Sansei:

Edward Endo aka "Mr.E" from Orange County.

P.S. I have more posted on Amy's dog blog.