Whooping cough, also known as pertussis or the 100-day cough, is highly contagious and caused by an infection with a bacterium known as Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria attach to the lining of the airways in the upper respiratory system and release toxins that lead to inflammation and swelling. It afflicts children and adults, whether vaccinated or not, and although it used to be assigned to early spring and summer, recently it is appearing at nearly anytime of the year.
Whooping cough is contracted through air-borne particles, commonly from sneezing and coughing but also from surface contact. Symptoms start like the common cold, with congestion, runny nose, sneezing, mild fever or light cough, but turn into severe coughing after a week or so and persist with rapid, uncontrolled, spasmodic coughing with “whooping” sounds indicating difficulty breathing. It can develop into bronchitis or pneumonia and quickly exhausts and dehydrates the sufferer without proper care and treatment.
Natural remedies to prevent and treat whooping cough
Preventative measures include vaccination, ensuring vitamin D and vitamin C levels are adequate and hygiene practices such as frequent hand washing and not touching the mouth and nose.
Effective home treatment for whooping cough includes bed rest (but avoid lying flat, which can aggravate whooping cough spasms), keeping warm and avoiding chills and drafts, drinking plenty of clear, sugar-free fluids including water and fruit juice, avoiding milk and milk-based foods like yogurt, eliminating sugar and eating small meals every couple of hours to keep up energy and replenish nutrients.
Apple cider vinegar, echinacea root and flower, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, honey, lemon and lime juice and turmeric are all useful remedies for whooping cough. The medicinal apple cider tonic is especially useful for both prevention and treatment of whooping cough. Always make sure to dilute any remedies well for children and give one quarter of the dosage for adults.
Pine needle tea: collect some fresh pine needles and/or bark. Take two large handfuls and add to a stainless cooking pot. Add 4 oz (125 g) of dried monarda (bee balm) flowers and leaves if available. Cover with water and simmer until reduced to a thick liquid. Strain and mix with equal parts honey. Store in the refrigerator and use as needed, by the teaspoon. Take as a cough syrup or dilute and drink as tea.
Use an aromatic oil vaporiser with eucalyptus oils to help with breathing difficulties but do not use if asthma is also present.
Bordetella pertussis bacteria (pertussis, whooping cough)
Natural antibiotic remedies for the Bordetella pertussis bacteria that causes whopping cough
- Apple cider vinegar (Malus domestica)
- Echinacea (Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea purpurea)
- Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum)
- Garlic (Allium sativa)
- Ginger (Gingiber officinalis, Zingiber officinale)
- Lemon juice (Citrus limonum)
- Lime juice (Citrus aurantifolia),
- Turmeric
For more remedies for all lung disorders see>> Respiratory disorders
Related subjects
- A-Z of ailments
- Bacterial infections
- Pneumonia and pleurisy
- Virus infections