Natural remedies for Whooping Cough

Whooping cough or Pertussis is a contagious disease characterized by continuous coughing with a croaking sound. It causes serious trouble in the lungs and can spread from one child to other.

Symptoms of Whooping Cough

• The cough is ordinary with catarrh in the first week.
• At the end of a week it becomes spasmodic and comes in bouts.
• The child coughs continuously, face becomes red, eyes water and tongue protrudes.
• At the end of the bout the child takes a deep breath and there is a prolonged croaking sound.
• A sticky secretion comes out from the nose and mouth and the child vomits.
• At the end of the bout the child lies exhausted.

Causes of Whooping Cough

• Whooping Cough is caused by micro-bacterial organisms.
• Adino-viruses, respiratory viruses and Para-influenza are conditions that can also affect whooping cough.
• Wrong feeding habits with refined and de-mineralized foods and absence of fresh fruits and vegetables is however the actual cause.
• As a result large quantities of catarrh and mucous accumulates in the system initiating whooping cough.

Home remedies for Whooping Cough

• Orange juice diluted with warm water should be given for few days. Administer warm water enema.
• A mild laxative like castor oil should be used to relieve constipation. It also relieves pain in the abdominal muscles during coughing.
• The patient should then adopt and exclusive fruit diet for few days. Gradually take a well-balanced diet.
• The child should then be encouraged to spend time outdoors.
• Garlic has proved an excellent home remedy for treatment of whooping cough. 5 drops of garlic juice should be given 2-3 times a day. Give it more often if the bouts are frequent and violent.
• Almond oil is valuable for whooping cough. It should be mixed with 10 drops each of onion juice and ginger juice and taken thrice daily for a fortnight.
• Ginger has excellent expectorant properties. A teaspoon of fresh ginger juice and honey should be taken with a cup of fenugreek decoction.
• Radish is an excellent home remedy for whooping cough. A teaspoon of fresh radish and equal quantities of honey and rock salt should be taken thrice daily.
• Epsom salt baths and cold packs over the throat and chest are soothing and relieve pain.