Spasmodic dysphonia is a neurological condition in which the muscles of the voice box go into spasms, and the vibration of vocal folds gets hindered. The vibration of vocal folds produces voice. When the vocal cords do not vibrate, the speech gets affected. Spasmodic dysphonia can be treated effectively with homeopathic medicines that work to treat the root cause of the problem.
The top homeopathic medicines used to treat spasmodic dysphonia include Stannum Met, Causticum, and Merc Sol.
Homeopathic Treatment of Spasmodic Dysphonia
Homeopathic remedies are selected as per the symptom presentation as well as the changing voice patterns in every individual case. Symptoms like hoarseness of voice, difficult speech, weak voice, shaky voice, brief vocal loss, interrupted voice, strained voice, etc., are treated very well with homeopathy.
Homeopathic Medicines for Spasmodic Dysphonia
Stannum Met – Natural Medicine for Weak Voice in Spasmodic Dysphonia
Stannum Met is an effective homeopathic medicine used to treat spasmodic dysphonia. It works well in cases where a person’s voice becomes weak, and the speech gets difficult. It is also used to treat hoarseness of voice. In some cases, Stannum Met is indicated where there are frequent episodes of loss of voice.
Causticum – Natural Remedy for Hoarse voice in Spasmodic Dysphonia
Causticum is an effective homeopathic medicine used to treat hoarseness of voice in cases of spasmodic dysphonia. The people needing Causticum mostly experience hoarseness that is prominent in the morning. Causticum is also helpful in cases where people find it hard to speak due to over-use of voice (like public speakers). It also indicated in people who experience brief periods of loss of voice due to muscle spasms.
Merc sol – Effective Homeopathic Medicine for Spasmodic Dysphonia with a Shaky Voice
Merc Sol is a natural treatment for spasmodic dysphonia where the person develops a shaky voice. Speech in such cases is tremulous, difficult and impeded. Merc Sol is also indicated for broken or interrupted voice and momentary loss of voice as a result of over-straining.
Phosphorus – Homeopathic Medicine For Weak Voice in Spasmodic Dysphonia
Phosphorus works as a good treatment for spasmodic dysphonia in cases where a person has a weak voice. The person needing Phosphorus usually has a weak voice and speaks with difficulty. Other features that indicate the need for phosphorus include a hoarse voice as well as loss of voice due to prolonged speaking.
Stramonium – Natural Homeopathic Medicine for Spasmodic Dysphonia with Strained Voice
Stramonium is a homeopathic remedy used to treat spasmodic dysphonia where a person has a strained voice. The straining in the voice occurs due to the exertion or strain a person puts to speak a single word. Sometimes the spasm can get so intense that the person is unable to speak at all. Stramonium is also indicated in cases where a person has an interrupted or unconnected voice.
Argentum Met – Effective Homeopathic Remedy for Spasmodic Dysphonia in cases with History of Overuse of Voice
Argentum Met is a natural medicine for spasmodic dysphonia where the person has a history of overuse of voice as in public speakers, professional singers, etc. The symptoms that indicate the use of Argentum Met in such cases is hoarseness of voice and aphonia (inability to produce voice sound). These symptoms worsen for speaking for long hours.
Types of Spasmodic Dysphonia
There are three types of spasmodic dysphonia:
Adductor spasmodic dysphonia – The muscle spasm causes the vocal cords to close and stiffen. It results in a tight/ strained / strangled voice full of effort or difficulty to start a sentence.
Abductor spasmodic dysphonia – The muscle spasm causes vocal cords to stay open, and they cannot vibrate because they are too far. In such cases, the voice sounds weak.
Mixed spasmodic dysphonia – Both the muscles that open and close the vocal folds fail to work properly. In such cases, symptoms of both adductor and abductor spasmodic dysphonia appear.
Symptoms of Spasmodic Dysphonia
The symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia mainly are reflected in the form of changed voice quality and difficulty with speech. Symptoms of spasmodic dysphonia may include a hoarse voice, strained/ strangled voice, weak voice, interruptions or breaks in voice and in some cases, brief loss of voice. Some people with spasmodic dysphonia may also have a vocal tremor that causes the voice to shake.
These symptoms may vary from mild to severe. Tiredness and stress tend to worsen the symptoms. The voice changes are present only when a person is speaking in a normal tone and not while laughing, crying, screaming, shouting or singing.
Causes of Spasmodic Dysphonia
The reason behind spasmodic dysphonia is not clearly understood. However, it is believed that abnormal functioning of a part of the nervous system (known as basal ganglia) is responsible for coordinating muscle movements is involved. Women are more affected by spasmodic dysphonia than men.
Some associated risk factors include overuse of the voice, injury to the voice box (larynx), URTI (upper respiratory tract infections), autoimmune disorders and emotional stress.
