Relaxed Soft Palate and Uvula

I have been having problems talking and swallowing for about a year and a half. My doctor doesn't know what else to do with me. I have a motionless soft palate and uvula. This has changed the quality of my voice. My mom is from Jamaica and says they used to use black pepper and vinegar to gargle with to help tighten the muscle and restore the movement. Do you know of any other remedies I can try to reverse this problem, as it is greatly affecting my life. I am unable to work because of my poor voice.

Maude Grieve, in her book "A Modern Herbal" (available online at www.botanical.com/) lists black pepper, cayenne pepper, sage, oak bark and others, taken as gargles for relaxed uvula and throat.
You want an astringent and a stimulant to heal and awaken the muscles of your uvula and soft palate. Your mother's remedy uses vinegar as the astringent to tighten the muscle tissue and black pepper as the stimulant. Alternatives are cayenne pepper as a strong stimulant and oak bark as a strong astringent.