Apple Cider Vinegar and Cayenne Pepper for Laryngitis

| Modified on May 14, 2023
One of the most successful remedies for laryngitis is a concoction of apple cider vinegar with a teaspoon of cayenne pepper in a glass of water. You should gargle with this mixture up to 3 times a day. The apple cider vinegar kills bacteria in your throat while the cayenne pepper soothes inflamed mucous membranes around the voice box. If your throat is also sore, this remedy will offer you fast relief!

Some folks see improvement immediately while others find it takes a few hours to kick in.

Continue reading below for tips from our readers on how the acv and cayenne remedy cured their laryngitis! If you try this remedy, please let us know if it worked for you!

Related Links:

10 Best Natural Remedies for Soothing a Sore Throat
Find Relief from Sinus Infections Naturally
Home Remedies for Laryngitis
Quick Sinus Relief: Natural Remedies for Congestion




17 User Reviews


Posted by Nutrition Girl (Uk) on 11/14/2018
★★★★★

ACV, cayenne, honey helps with swollen throat and lost voice

I woke in the night with a swollen throat, mucus, and had lost my voice. Today I have used 2 tbsps ACV, 3/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp manuka honey (240 MGO) and a dash of salt in a small tumbler of warm water. It's disgusting and burns my throat however I've had almost immediate relief from the pain, and swallowing is easier.

I have sipped then gargled the mixture and will do this again at bedtime.

I'm a huge fan of Earthclinic - your remedies have really helped me in the past. I'm a qualified nutritional therapist, and feel modern medicine has lost its way. I have almost no faith in GPs, it's all about prescriptions and money, pushing medicine that doesn't work in instances like these. Earthclinic is a great forum for remedy sharing.

i will continue with this particular remedy and update on its efficacy in a few days.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Hardworker (La) on 08/29/2017
★★★★★

This works! I have been suffering with PND for 3 weeks following a respiratory tract infection. I woke up this morning completely hoarse. One cup of warm water, 3-5 tablespoons of ACV, 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne, and a little honey was all it took to clear out the mucus that has been clinging to my vocal chords. I am 60-70% better. I will do the gargle concoction again tonight to eliminate it completely. Unfortunately, my son just got sick and is suffering as well. Do you think this is a safe remedy for kids?


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Serach (Jerusalem) on 05/17/2014
★★★★☆

Hi, I have laryngitis. I got bronchitis a week or so ago and almost completely lost my voice. gargled with salt water, Apple Cider Vinegar lemon honey cayenne etc and it helped. But my voice is still weak. There is no green mucus and I dont cough a lot, but when I do it is dry and somewhat hacking. I have had this for a long time. I don't have asthma thank goddess, however my breathing is shallow and constricted and the air quality in apt. is not good despite air filter. Any ideas?

I would reccomend the remedies on this site for bronchitis and laryngitis as I tried most of them and the next day I was able to talk. However it is still lingering. Any thoughts? thanks serach


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Victoria (Mosta, Malta, Eu) on 12/13/2012
★★★★★

I tried acv and cayenne in a glass of water and am already feeling tons better and my voice sounds better too... It is true it removes mucus.... I couldn't believe how effective it is!!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Ssladyss (Los Angeles, California) on 11/06/2012
★★★★★

I became very hoarse Saturday and then lost my voice Sunday. Went to the doctor on Monday and said it was Laryngitis and there was nothing she can do. It is Tuesday (election night) and I just gargled with 1 cup of hot tap water, 5 TBS of ACV, 1/2 TSP of Cayenne Pepper and 1/2 TSP of honey. It is gross- but I powered through it. Almost right away, slimy stuff started to come out with the gargle, that I did not even knew I had. Half-way through I heard my voice with very little effort. My voice is not back, but I can make noises with my laryx with little effort that I could not before. I am trying this again tomorrow morning (again, it is a gross mixture) but I think it is working.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Julie (Geelong, Victoria, Australia) on 06/11/2012
★★★★★

I used red wine vinegar 4 tbsp & tabasco sauce half tsp & 1 tbsp honey - all in 1 cup warm water as thats all I had in pantry. Gargled small amounts then spat out - kept doing til got through whole mixture. Noticed I could speak whole sentences minutes after but voice still raspy occassionally. Definite immediate improvement & feels clearer. Cant wait to see results 2moro as Im supposed to be teaching for 7 hrs! Wish me luck!!!! ;)


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Joan (Cottonwood, Arizona) on 05/08/2012
★★★★★

I have had laryngitis for over a month and have been trying a mixture from my Nathuropathic doctor. I had bronchitis last December (hadn't had that for twenty years) and pneumonia in April. I have had allergy issues most of my life. I am now infection free, but the laryngitis has been on going.

I had been gargling with hot salt water daily with a little success. I went hunting today and found this suggestion, so made myself a gargle with 3 tbsp. Of ACV, 1/4 tsp. Cayenne, 1 tbsp. Honey in a cup of hot water. I am finally having some voice, so will continue to use this remedy. I am off from work for two days, so am feeling this will be the cure I need.... that and not having to talk for two days! Thanks so much.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Cali (Columbia, Maryland) on 04/07/2012
★★★★★

Oh my gosh. It's 3am and I was desperate for relief from sore throat, coughing, laryngitis. Found this page. Thought what the heck I'll try anything at this point. Did not have cayenne pepper so used chipotle peppers. 1/2 c. Acv, 1/2 tbsp honey, less than 1/8 tsp chipotle pepper, 1/2 c. Hot tap water. Mixed thoroughly and gargled it all. Effect was immediate. Actually didn't taste that bad either although with this full blown sinus infection I can't taste much. Mouth was burning a little but I didn't care and it didn't last.

Whoever thought this up is both insane and a genius. How often do I do it though? Thank you!!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Ryan (Modesto, Ca) on 02/16/2012
★★★★★

I just tried the apple cider vinegar and cayenne pepper sauce concoction and it seems to be breaking up the mucus or whatever causes the lump in the throat. I think this will help with continued use..... It kind of opens up the sinuses too. I've been using a nasal irrigator as well and that may be helping too.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Umme Maryam (Islamabad, Pakistan) on 01/16/2012
★★★★★

I had bronchitis last week. Doctor prescribed an inhaler and amoxil (antibiotic), which made my stomach terribly upset. So I discontinued the amoxil.

This week my voice was gone Sat morning.. I was gargling with salt water.. But I tried I cup warm boiled water with 5-6 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar, a pinch of cayenne and a tsp of honey and yeah I got 60% of my voice back! Go for this remedy!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Dan (Kansas City, Mo) on 12/27/2011
★★★★★

WOW! I am naturally skeptical, but desperate. This is unbelievable. I am in public service and have to be able to communicate. I was with no voice tonight, trying just a fraction of the recommended mixtures, and I am now able to speak. I will still save my voice, speaking only when I have to, but this is great. I can feel all of the mucous breaking up in my throat. My lips burn a little, but it is worth it. Thank you!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Jafrtr (Salem, Wv) on 05/03/2011
★★★★★

Had laryngitis.... Did not have cayenne pepper but gargled with red wine vinegar mixed with 3/4 tsp. of ground red pepper. After one time my voice was half back. May sound crazy, but it does help.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Ginny (Pensacola, Fl/usa) on 11/03/2010
★★★★★

Worked when nothing else did! I have had terrible allergies for years and frequently lose my voice completely. I have tried gargling with salt water, cough drops, peppermint, etc. All work-but only temporarily. I just completed gargling with one cup of warm ACV combined with 1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper and 1/2 tsp. Of honey (organic) and within 5 minutes I had my voice back! Almost instantly, this breaks up that "stuff" that sticks to your vocal cords. Thanks for this site!


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Patricia (Wilson, Wy) on 04/07/2010
★★★★★

I found this forum when dealing with laryngitis. On vacation to Ireland, and have not been able to speak for several days! I bought some cayenne pepper and some honey.

Mixed about a tablespoon of honey with about one teaspoon of cayenne. Added a few drops of water to thin it just slightly. Ate the mixture off the spoon, letting it set on the back of my throat and hang there a bit. It only burned slightly for about one minute, then my throat felt better than it had for days!

Within twenty minutes, my clogged sinuses were dripping clear liquid instead of heavy mucus (the source of the laryngitis, I am sure) and I can speak! Still a little hoarse, but I don't have that feeling a a big lump in my throat!

I looked at my throat in a mirror before and after taking the mixture. BIG difference. And I am not having to clear my throat or coughing like I had been. That made it worse.

This is AMAZING.


Apple Cider Vinegar, Cayenne
Posted by Zora (Chicago, Il) on 11/05/2009
★★★★★

I had a severe cold over the weekend, and, when it disappeared, it settled into my throat this past Tuesday. All day Tuesday, I was becoming increasingly hoarse. I gargled with salt water, and only continued to get worse. I had full-blown laryngitis by Tuesday evening. I could not speak at all. Even whispering caused sharp pains in my throat.

After reading the recommended notes on Earth Clinic (EXCELLENT site, by the way!) on laryngitis, I poured 2 Tb of apple cider vinegar into a glass, added 8 oz of hot tap water, along with 1/2 tsp of cayenne. I gargled with this before bed, and again, the same in the morning.

I was teaching Wednesday morning for 4 hours, and had to be able to speak. I was desperate, and was encouraged by the stringy stuff that I was able to spit out while gargling. Yes, my chapped lips burned a bit and my nose ran, but nothing too terrible to handle.

The next morning I again used the same solution, and was encouraged that I could occasionally speak over a whisper. I was able to get through my teaching with the aid of a microphone, half whispering and half croaking out the notes.

I gargled 2 more times on Wednesday. After the overuse during the morning, I was back to whispering Wednesday night, but a bit louder. This morning (Thursday) I was able to speak for another 4 hours, with a croaky voice, but did not need the microphone. I've gargled again since coming home, and right now just have a husky voice (a la Kathleen Turner). I plan on gargling again tonight and the next day or two until my voice is well recovered.

Thank you, thank you, Earth Clinic and contributors! I CAN'T thank you all enough! This was a VERY important seminar that I taught this week, and the ACV and cayenne mixture revived my voice, and saved my seminar!



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