07/04/25 - Nebuliser vs Steaming
- Katja Macabre
- Apr 7, 2025
- 4 min read
As most of my students know, I've been struggling with ongoing vocal health issues due to living with chronic tonsillitis.
I was recently told by an ENT that my tonsils haven't worked for several years and it's time to have them out.
So immediately, I started doing research into what could be done to help myself out. I looked up home remedies and found much of the usual suspects - gargling with salt water (I use Maldron sea salt, recommended to me by my cranial osteopath), drinking warm or cold fluids, eating dairy-free ice cream, hot lemon and honey with a bit of turmeric to help the inflammation, plenty of rest, and using over-the-counter pain relievers. But then I thought "what about steaming? I was always taught to do that by my vocal tutors. Where's all the posts about that?" And then I looked deeper to find...Steaming might not be the best corse of action. Heat often equates to inflammation. Think about your hands and feet on a hot day, they usually swell up a bit from the heat. Well, if your tonsils are already inflamed (like mine are) then adding heat to something that's already in that state of flair, is only going to irritate it more. Research from 2016 shows that inhaling steam for sinusitis proved to be an ineffective method of clearing them out, and that the use of sterile saline sinus drains showed more effective results.
When beginning my research into nebulising I found many Tik-Toks and Instagram Reels from different vocalists, using them as a way to keep their voices hydrated, as well as my friend Beccy from the band Tribe of Ghosts using hers to help her recover from nasal surgery. This is what prompted me to get my ass in gear and get one!
How do they work?
Nebulisers come in all shapes and sizes. The model I use is the Beurer IH49 portable inhalation device with KNOXZY Isotonic Saline Solution 0.9% - Sodium Chloride NaCl, and all my notes are based off the use of these products.
Nebulisers work by using cool vapours (rather than hot), which are produced by the machine converting saline into a mist that can be inhaled, using either compressed air or ultrasonic vibrations. This sends fine particles of saline solution or medication to the lungs, via the vocal tract.
I have been using mine as a way to not only open up my closed nasal passages but also aiding to reduce inflammation in my larynx, tonsils and decrease a buildup of mucous from vocal folds.
Personal thoughts and feelings. (Aka, is it any good)
An honest review!
To start very bluntly, the first one they sent me straight up didn't work.
At all!
I charged it for hours and the bloody thing would not turn on or retain any charge...so I got another! I don't know if that was a manufacturing issue or something to blame on Mr. Bazos...but I digress.
The 2nd time seems to have been more effective and, at time of writing, I've had it for just over 2 weeks.
The function is over-all pretty simple and once fully charged, you can have a few goes before it runs out.
This is actual instructional advice I gave my mother, who also bought one of these by my recommendation:
Mist should be OBVIOUS
If not mist
Send back
Is broken
Don't believe me? Here's proof.
Generally speaking, I actually prefer to use the nebuliser without any additional accessories, as I've found that the mouth piece fills with condensation at the output and decreases the function of the device. And while great for use on the sinuses, the face mask is not comfortable for prolonged use and makes the face very wet and causes the lips to become dry, cracked and very sore after regular use.
It works perfectly well, and in my opinion, more efficiently - without the faff of other pieces. Simply breathe in through the mouth and out through the nose, with your mouth placed gently over the output of the device and let the mist do it's job.
I've noticed a difference in the way my voice feels after use. It feels less rough, more hydrated, I'm not having to clear my throat out every few seconds, and there's no risk of burning myself if I twitch or am careless, like with steaming.
I would still recommend steaming as an affordable alternative if you don't want to have to deal with the added costs of buying saline regularly and the £30ish price range of the device (you can buy cheaper ones, but I wanted to go with a named brand to ensure quality), but only for after singing - e.g. before bed. Whereas before, like my coaches before me, I would have suggested steaming both before and after a set.
Alternatives.
I'm still going to harp on about Vocal Zones and vocal health teas, but that's because I'm a herbal remedy first kind of person.
Is it worth the cost?
In my opinion, absolutely.
You only get one voice, and with regular use, I've noticed a difference in mine.
Although not fully healed, and they won't without the tonsillectomy, the use of the nebuliser has reduced some of the discomfort I feel and will hopefully help me to heal post op., which I will be sure to write another blog post about this when the time comes.
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