Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Treatments & Support
- Alex Kelly
- Oct 10, 2024
- 5 min read
LINKED PRODUCTS:
common thyme:
wild cherry bark
mullein:
Mullein blend tincture: Herb pharm
homeopathic:
pertussinum 30C (1x/week) combined with drosera 6C (3x/day)
florastor:
Florastor baby (1 packet split 2x a day)
Florastor kids (1 packet split 2x a day)
Florastor adults (capsules)
IMPORTANT NOTE: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.
The following are herbal and homeopathic remedies that can help bring relief from the symptoms of pertussis (whooping cough), but should not be the only action taken if you suspect whooping cough.
While many cases are mild, severe cases require ICU care (oxygen, IV fluids, suctioning of secretions), and should not be taken lightly.
If you suspect your child has whooping cough, always consult with your trusted provider.
pertussis stats
There is typically a rise and fall pattern of Pertussis every 5 years. In 2015 we saw 20,762 cases. The number slowly decreased to 2,116 in 2021 (although a huge reason for this drastic decrease was COVID), and then slowly increased to 3,044 in 2022 (CDC).
2023 Provisional Stats
as of March, 2024
Under 6mo: 376 cases
6-11mo: 353 cases
1-6yr: 1,762 cases
7-10yr: 636 cases
11-19yr: 1,014
20+yr:1,468
Reported deaths:
<1yr: 2
>1yr: 1
Vaccination Status:
6-11mo: 102 vaccinated, 46 partially vaccinated,13 unvaccinated,192 unknown
1-4yr: 484 vaccinated, 114 partially vaccinated, 41 unvaccinated, 625 unknown
5-6yr: 288 vaccinated, 32 partially vaccinated, 20 unvaccinated, 159 unknown
high dose sodium ascorbate
There is evidence showing sodium ascorbate as an effective treatment against pertussis. Ascorbate is the antioxidant portion of whole Vitamin C. It is an electron donor and neutralizes toxins in the blood. It works by mobilizing the immune cells that process the infection (neutrophil and phagocytes). The bacterial toxin of pertussis forms a barrier to the immune system. Ascorbate clears this barrier, which allows the immune system to deal with it properly.
The typical starting dose for children is 200-375 mg per kg over 24 hours (1kg = 2.2 lb)
(Weight in pounds / 2.2) x 375 = the 24 hour dose
Example for a child weighing 20 pounds: (20 / 2.2) x 375 - 3,409 mg ascorbate acid given in many small doses over the course of 24 hours
There is MUCH much much more information that should be understood before starting this protocol. Please visit tinyurl.com/PertussisVitaminC to read all the pertinent information.
*Sodium ascorbate does not prevent or stop pertussis. It helps ease symptoms by clearing away toxins, making the coughing milder, increases the ability of the body to clear out the bacteria, and helps develop natural immunity.
Source: 1,2
vitamin C toxicity?
Vitamin C is not poisonous to the body. In fact, it is imperative for many functions of the body. If you take too much you may have episodes of diarrhea as the excess is removed (this is how to know if you’ve had more than enough). Typically during times of sickness you can give higher than normal doses because the infection pulls the vitamins from the body, and you are simply replacing what is being removed (similar to measles and Vitamin A).
However, the above recommended dose is extremely HIGH. If you have any pause - I always recommend finding a doctor who understands the science behind natural medicine, and who can help you walk through such treatments (this is a good practice in general, as they are typically more privy to easily misunderstood contexts).
Some important notes: make sure you stay well hydrated, and do not take if you have kidney, heart, or liver insufficiencies, primary oxalosis, a history of kidney stones or kidney failure, Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDD).
other pertussis treatments & support
Common Thyme: Research has shown that thyme helps with lung spasms and may decrease damage from pertussis toxins (3,4). You can administer thyme as a tincture, tea, glycerite, or capsule. In the case of whooping cough a tea, tincture, or glycerite is probably going to be the best route.
Wild Cherry Bark: Wild cherry bark helps open up the lower respiratory system, and move mucus up while drying it out. It has calming and nervine properties, which can help ease coughing spells, especially at night. It is also cooling to sore and inflamed tissues in the sinuses and throat. You can take this as a tea, tincture, or make your own cherry bark syrup.
Mullein & Homeopathic Remedies:
Mullein leaf tea or syrup can help relieve inflammation and coughing spells by helping move stuck congestion. This is a great herb for lung issues, specifically.
Mullein blend tincture: Herb pharm
One study showed pertussinum 30C (1x/week) combined with drosera 6C (3x/day) effective against the intensity and duration of whooping cough.
antibiotics for pertussis
There are 3 stages of whooping cough: early symptoms (1-2 weeks)., late symptoms (6-10 weeks), and recovery (weeks-months). Antibiotics are the most helpful during the early symptoms stage. If given during this stage they can help shorten the length of the disease and prevent transmission. However, whooping cough is rarely caught during the early stages because it presents more like the common cold.
Once the characteristic “whoop” begins and the disease enters the late stage, antibiotics aren’t as helpful for reducing symptoms or duration, but they can still help reduce transmission.
Whooping cough is extremely contagious, and people can spread it fairly easily the first 3+ weeks of their cough. If given antibiotics, that time period decreases to 5 days. Antibiotics can provide family protection, and allow families to resume normal life more quickly.
Antibiotics do come with the cost of gut microbiome disruption, but for many families the benefits outweigh the risk.
If antibiotics are administered, you will want to begin a probiotic as well, if not already part of your daily regimen.
Florastor is a great option specifically for antibiotic use as it has been proven resistant to most common antibiotics.
Florastor baby (1 packet split 2x a day)
Florastor kids (1 packet split 2x a day)
Florastor adults (capsules)
Sources: 6,7
Click HERE to purchase my FULL ongoing holistic medicine cabinet
Sources:
1 Bozonet et.al 2015, Enhanced Human Neutrophil Vitamin C Status, Chemotaxis and Oxidant Generation Following Dietary Supplementation with Vitamin C-Rich SunGold Kiwifruit, Nutrients, PMID:25912037
2 Schorah 1996 Total vitamin C, ascorbic acid, and dehydroascorbic acid concentrations in plasma of critically ill patients.PMID:8615361
3 Engelbertz, J., Lechtenberg, M., Studt, L., Hensel, A., & Verspohl, E. J. (2012). Bioassay-guided fractionation of a thymol-deprived hydrophilic thyme extract and its antispasmodic effect. Journal of ethnopharmacology, 141(3), 848–853
4 Wan, L., Meng, D., Wang, H., Wan, S., Jiang, S., Huang, S., Wei, L., & Yu, P. (2018). Preventive and Therapeutic Effects of Thymol in a Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury Mice Model. Inflammation, 41(1), 183–192.
5 Chung Y. (2018). Whooping Cough Alleviated by Homeopathic Medicines: A Case Report. Alternative therapies in health and medicine, 24(2), 58–61.
6 Nieves, D. J., & Heininger, U. (2016). Bordetella pertussis. Microbiology spectrum, 4(3), 10.1128/microbiolspec.EI10-0008-2015
7 Kilgore, P. E., Salim, A. M., Zervos, M. J., & Schmitt, H. J. (2016). Pertussis: Microbiology, Disease, Treatment, and Prevention. Clinical microbiology reviews, 29(3), 449–486.
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