Natural treatments for whooping cough

Whooping cough is caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis. Humans are the only known reservoir of these bacteria.

It is spread by contact with droplets coughed out by someone with the disease or by contact with recently contaminated hard surfaces upon which the droplets landed. The bacteria thrive in the respiratory passages, where they produce toxins that damage the tiny hairs (cilia) that are needed to remove particulate matter and cellular debris that are normally introduced into the airways with each breath. This results in an increased inflammation of the respiratory passages and the typical dry cough that is the bacteria and up to three weeks after the onset of coughing spasms. The most contagious time is during the first stage of the illness…

Whooping cough is highly contagious between 75% and 100% of unimmunized household contacts of a person with pertussis will develop the disease. Even among fully immunized and naturally immunized people living in the same household, there have been reports of undetectable infection following extreme exposure.

Whether or not you choose to vaccinate, you may find yourself in need of natural remedies for whooping cough for you or your child. Whooping cough infection is a possibility. Antibiotics are prescribed to prevent the spread of whooping cough and lessen its duration, but they have little if any effect on symptoms.

Be prepared. Own your remedies in advance. Frequently, it’s not until the first member of a family gets a severe cough that the disease is acknowledged to be whooping cough. For the one with the cough, as well as the rest of the family, neighbors and friends, having well-chosen homeopathic remedies in the medicine cabinet has a history of being able to shelter a family in the safe harbor of self-reliance.

How to Treat Whooping Cough Naturally

There are several natural remedies that can effectively calm whooping cough symptoms:

Garlic: Drink raw garlic juice or make a tea of garlic sweetened with honey. Caution: Those who suffer from hypotension (low blood pressure) should not use garlic. See  more: Health Benefits of Garlic.

Chrysanthemum: Make a decoction of the whole plant.

Eucalyptus: Make an infusion of the leaves. Dose: 30 grams to 1 liter of water, 4-5 cups a day.

Sunflower: Prepare the flowers and the dried or fresh leaves as a tea.

Thyme: Make an infusion of the whole plant, using 10 gram for 1 liter of water. Take between 2 and 3 cups a day.

Chinese Herbs - Very effective herbal remedies may be used at each whooping cough stage to expel pathogenic factors, restore balance, and promote healing. Chinese herbal formulas for pertussis can be custom-made for the individual child’s constitution, symptoms, and stage of illness, so parents should seek out professional care with an experienced practitioner. My favorite formula is called Lung Qi Junior by Blue Poppy - available from TCM practitioners only, and able to calm the fiercest coughs.

Nutritional Supplements: Vitamin C in a high oral dose, therapeutic doses of vitamin D, unprocessed cod liver oil and probiotics can help strengthen the immune system. Children should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, and avoid dairy products which can exacerbate symptoms.