Whooping Cough
Natural Remedies

Whooping Cough - Editor's Choice

| Modified on Dec 29, 2024
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Pertussis, more commonly known as “whooping cough,” is caused by the Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It is a respiratory illness which is reputed with a dreadful cough. The cough lasts so long that sometimes pertussis is called “the hundred day cough.” Natural remedies like vitamin C, the herb mullein and dietary modifications can go a long way to reduce the intensity of the coughing and bring much comfort until the illness has passed.

Three Stages of Pertussis

Catarrhal

Initially, pertussis symptoms mimic that of the common cold. These symptoms usually begin 5-10 days after exposure to the bacteria, though it can take 3 weeks for the symptoms to develop. This stage typically lasts from 1-3 weeks.1

Paroxysmal

The paroxysmal stage lasts from 1-10 weeks. This is the most severe stage of pertussis with multiple coughing fits every 24 hours. As the body tried to eliminate the mucous from the lungs through vigorous coughing, the coughing fit often ends with a “whoop” sound as air returns to the lungs. Vomiting with the coughing is not uncommon.

Convalescent

During the third stage the coughing becomes less severe as the body recovers from the illness. This stage lasts from 1-3 weeks.

Transmission of Pertussis

Whooping cough is typically transmitted through bodily fluids that enter the air or onto surfaces from coughing.

How Long is Whooping Cough Contagious?

A person is contagious with pertussis before he exhibits the symptoms of pertussis and contagion can last up to 3 weeks after the paroxysmal stage begins.

What About Antibiotics for Pertussis?

Antibiotics are sometimes used to treat pertussis; unfortunately, it is usually not clear that it is pertussis until a point at which antibiotics are not helpful.

Why is Whooping Cough So Serious?

The pertussis bacteria releases a toxin that damages the tiny hairs in the airway. Those tiny hairs help move mucous out of the lungs. Without them it is much harder to expel mucous. This makes the coughing much more dramatic. The mucous that pools in the lungs is also more likely to become infected. Pneumonia is a secondary complication of whooping cough.

While a pertussis vaccine is usually given to babies, immunity can wear off over time and the vaccine is not a 100% guarantee of immunity. Unvaccinated and vaccinated individuals are both at risk for pertussis if the disease is circulating a community, though those who have had a vaccine may have a less severe case.2

Coping with a serious infection like whooping cough requires diligence and patience.

Essential Elements for Healing Pertussis

1. Immune System Support

Herbs and vitamin supplements to help the immune system will help the body to fight the disease.

2. Hydration

Because the thick mucous makes it so difficult to clear the lungs, keeping the mucous as thin as possible will make the cough more productive and less stressful. Most dairy products make mucous production worse and should be avoided, especially ice cream.

3. Mucous Thinning Remedies

Hydration will help to keep mucous thin. Additionally, herbs can be used to keep mucous thin and easy to eliminate.

4. Nourishing Foods

Quality foods help the body to fight infection and repair damage. Fruits, vegetables, broths, and quality grains and proteins are ideal.

 5. Rest

The body heals when it is at rest. Rest is important at all stages of the disease.

Natural Remedies for Whooping Cough

Each of the following remedies can be used to encourage one of the above 5 keys.

Apple Cider Vinegar

A standby for many illnesses, apple cider vinegar helps to alkalize the body. Vinegar tea is the best way to take apple cider vinegar for pertussis. A hot drink soothes coughing. Tea is hydrating. And apple cider vinegar has helpful vitamins and minerals as well.

Vinegar Tea

6 ounces hot water

  • 1 Tablespoon raw and organic apple cider vinegar
  • 1 Tablespoon raw honey (except for children under one year)
  • Mix together in a mug and drink as desired.

Mullein

Mullein leaf is a “go to” herb to sooth a cough and thin mucous. A strong mullein infusion can be consumed liberally all through the day. To make a quart of mullein infusion (strong tea) add ¼ cup loosely packed dried mullein leaves to a quart jar. Pour hot water over the mullein leaves. Allow to steep at least 15 minutes up to several hours. Strain with a coffee filter. (Mullein must be strained well due to the irritating hairs!) Sweeten with honey (except for children under a year old.) Honey has antibacterial and healing properties.

Vitamin C

As many as 80 years ago vitamin C was observed to be useful in reducing the paroxysm of whooping cough!3

Currently Dr. Suzanne Humphries is a leader in promoting the vitamin C protocol for whooping cough. Anyone dealing with whooping cough would do very well to study her protocol.

Dr. Humphries protocol4 uses high doses of vitamin C in the sodium ascorbate form to help neutralize the toxins released by the pertussis bacteria. She also observes that it helps to keep the mucous thin and easier to cough up.

To follow the protocol, the following amounts of vitamin C are suggested:

Weight in Pounds   Amount of Vitamin C Per Day   

20 pounds                 1,700 - 3,400 mg                                

30 pounds                 2,500 - 5,000 mg

60 pounds                 5,00 10,000 mg

75 pounds                 6,500 13,000 mg

100 pounds               8,500 17,000 mg

125 pounds               10,000 - 20,000 mg

Ideally the dose is divided up and given as many as 10-12 times a day

Vitamin D

If daily sunshine is possible it is a good way to get some vitamin D. A vitamin D supplement is also helpful to ensure that this needed vitamin is in the body. Pertussis is less common and less severe in the warmer, sunnier months, quite possibly due to better reserves of vitamin D in the body during these seasons.

Zinc

Zinc is needed for the immune system to work optimally.

Humidify

Dry air makes a cough more uncomfortable. A humidifier or vaporizer can be used to keep the air comfortable.

Healing Baths

A warm bath with baking soda can be a comforting and healing distraction for a child with whooping cough. Simply add 1 cup baking soda to a warm bath of water. For an extra steamy and humid bath, fill the tub with hot water from the shower (it will cool some as it has lengthy contact with air on its way to the tub.)

Do you have a remedy for whooping cough? Please send us some feedback!

Sources:

1.  https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/clinical/features.html

2. https://www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/causes-transmission.html

3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1562195/

4. http://drsuzanne.net/2017/10/sodium-ascorbate-vitamin-c-treatment-of-whooping-cough-suzanne-humphries-md/


The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.

Liposomal Vitamin C

Posted by Mama To Many (Tn) on 12/23/2017
★★★★☆

Editor's Choice

Well, we got to experience whooping cough. I wouldn't have chosen it and am grateful to be over the worst of it. I am happy to now have natural immunity to it and have some remedies to help others with it down the road.

In early November a cough began in my family. Within a couple of weeks 9 out of 10 in my household were coughing. By Thanksgiving the cough was actually noticeably worse instead of better. A few days after Thanksgiving I realized that I and my 6 year old were whooping after we had a coughing fit. I was 99% sure we had whooping cough by this point. I did go in to get a test for it, which was positive. This positive test was useful for a few reasons, one of which was that my son in college was able to get a prescription for antibiotics from his doctor, based on my diagnosis, so wouldn't have to worry about being contagious at school. Interestingly, the antibiotic did not seem to help his symptoms. (My understanding is that, taken in the first two weeks it can reduce symptoms, but of course, it is hard to diagnose whooping cough in the first two weeks.)

I had helped a friend make liposomal vitamin C for whooping cough a few years ago so I had the stuff to make it and did so. I still make a batch every day to use for my family. At first I was using sodium ascorbate which was labor intensive for treating 9 people. I was constantly evaluating symptoms, trying to notice if it was causing bowel intolerance and giving it every 1/5 - 2 hours. The liposomal was easier to dose - I gave it to most people 3 times a day and it seemed to work as well if not better.

Liposomal C is supposed to be given on an empty stomach but I couldn't always dose it that way. I did always give some juice as a chaser. It tastes pretty terrible.

I also bought some lypospheric vitamin C online but it was a dollar a dose. I did give that to my son to take when away from home during the day.

We avoided dairy and sugar quite strictly during the worst of it and ate a lot of bone broth based soups.

Flax seed tea was useful though not enjoyed by many. Otherwise I gave out a lot of hot tea (any kind just to help with hydration.) I sweetened it with honey. Staying well hydrated is critical to keep mucous thin and easier to get up.

Not everyone in my family had the characteristic "whoop." My 15 year old never seemed very sick though one day missed all of her vitamin C doses and they next day did feel poorly. Even my 6 year old who coughed and vomited from coughing didn't seem very sick between coughing fits. Several in my house did have many lethargic days. There was occasional fever in one of my children.

Vitamin C therapy won't get rid of whooping cough but greatly helps with symptoms.

My 21 year old son who lives at home (though works a lot and isn't home much) did not get whooping cough, at least yet. I gave him turmeric (4 capsules twice daily) for weeks in hopes that it would work as a natural antibiotic. After 2-3 weeks I ran out of that and gave him 2 oregano oil capsules twice daily which I am still doing. He did seem to have very mild cold symptoms for a while but doesn't now.

No, my children were not vaccinated against pertussis/whooping cough. My oldest had 2 DPT shots 24 years ago. After the second one he had a very bad reaction and we felt the risk of the disease was not as great as the risk from the vaccine for our family.

My husband and I had been vaccinated as children (though surely haven't had boosters in many years.) One son did get a Tdap shot before college in August and still got it.

It has been a long six weeks but people are feeling much better. I will probably keep up the vitamin C for a few more weeks.

I did read the Suzanne Humphries Protocol through several times and it was helpful.

I hope you never have to deal with whooping cough, but if you do, diy liposomal Vitamin C helps a lot! It isn't a cure but has been great blessing to us.

~Mama to Many~



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