A Holistic Guide to Navigating Whooping Cough

Whooping cough is a contagious respiratory tract infection caused by the bacteria, Bordetella pertussis. It's also known as the 100-day cough because the symptoms can last as long as 100 days. It's spread through coughing and sneezing and symptoms will generally start within 7 days after being exposed.

The term "whooping cough" comes from the classic "whoop" sound some children make when gasping for breath after a long coughing fit...though not all children will make this sound. These fits can be especially hard on infants who have difficulty forcing the thick mucus up out of the airways.

One of the trickiest things about whooping cough is how sneaky it can be to recognize at the beginning. When my son first started coughing, I thought he had a simple cold. He was still playing, eating, and didn’t seem too uncomfortable. But within a few days, the cough became deeper and more intense especially at night, while eating, and when talking.

That’s the thing. Whooping cough often starts off so mildly that it’s easy to miss.

Some early signs you want to watch for are cold-like symptoms such as runny nose, low grade fever, fatigue, and mild cough. If the cough continues to build in intensity over several days and starts to become more like coughing fits that are spasmodic in nature, it’s time to pay closer attention.

Full blown whooping cough will cause coughing fits that last several seconds or more. Their face may become red during the heavy coughing. They might gag or vomit from the cough. And the "whoop" sound may or may not be present. As in my son's situation, the cough can be triggered by talking and eating.

From a holistic standpoint, the goal isn’t to panic or rush to suppress the cough, but rather to ask: What does my child’s body need right now? How can I support their lungs, soothe their nervous system, and give their immune system a boost?

We’ll dive into all of that next. But remember, early recognition gives you a head start on helping your child through the roughest stages with confidence and calm.

From a holistic standpoint, there’s actually a lot you can do for your child to provide comfort and support as their body moves through the healing process. Here are some of the approaches I used with my own son and that I often recommend to the families I work with.

As a chiropractor, one of the main modalities our family always relies on in time of illness is chiropractic care.

When my son had whooping cough, daily adjustments helped support his nervous system which plays a central role in immune function and respiratory health. When the spine is properly aligned, the body is better able to regulate inflammation, move lymphatic fluid, and maintain balance between the sympathetic ("fight or flight") and parasympathetic ("rest and heal") nervous systems.

For kids dealing with intense coughing spells, chiropractic adjustments can also help reduce tension in the chest and upper back, improve lung expansion, and promote more restful sleep.

Be sure you have a family chiropractor on your team who can check and adjust your little one even during illnesses. If you don't have one, check out the ICPA for a list of pediatric chiropractors in your area.

Vitamin C is one of my go-to nutrients during any respiratory illness, and it plays an important role in managing whooping cough. The main job of vitamin C is to help mobilize the immune cells to deal with the infection. It also helps to thin out mucus making it easier to expel when coughing.

Nutritionally, vitamin C can be increased through eating whole foods like citrus, berries, and bell peppers, or through supplementation such as sodium ascorbate or rose hips. I personally like to follow Dr. Suzanne Humphries recommendations of using vitamin C to bowel tolerance when a child has whooping cough. It makes such a huge difference in a very short amount of time.

You can find Dr. Humphries recommended products on My Favorite Things page.

My son's whooping cough episode occurred just when I was beginning to dive deeper into homeopathy. So at that point I didn't have a ton of knowledge in order to help him homeopathically.

That being said, I do remember giving him some remedies that are known to help coughs. While I can't remember exactly what I used, I know for a fact that we DID NOT have some of the key remedies used by most homeopaths: Drosera rotundifolia and Pertussinum.

Not too long after, I was learning much more about the Banerji Protocols. They like to use Ipecac 30c alternated every three hours with Cuprum metallicum 6c or 200c. And they also suggest using Kali carbonicum 200c twice a day because it's such a good lung remedy.

If my son's illness were to happen today, I'd likely just jump right to the Banerji protocol first as they have so much experience and success with their methods. This is also the recommendation that I make to my clients. However, I do now have the other remedies on hand myself and always encourage parents to have them available as well. It's better to be prepared and not need them than to not have them and need them.

If you just concentrate on numbers 1-3 above, you're going to be able to have a good handle on helping your child with whooping cough. But there are always more options available to you that you should know about and be prepared to use.

You might consider using a humidifier. Running a humidifier at night can provide moist air to help soothe irritated airways, loosen thick mucus, and reduce the intensity of coughing fits.

Be sure to keep your child hydrated. Herbal teas, bone broth, and plenty of water can help thin mucus and make the airways less reactive.

Avoid mucus producing foods such as dairy, refined sugar, and overly processed foods. These can make your child's cough more intense and slow down their body’s efforts to clear the lungs. Stick to simple, whole foods to help keep mucus levels manageable.

And don't forget to let them rest. Rest is one of the most important healing tools, as the body does much of its repair work during sleep. Make your child’s sleep environment as calm and comfortable as possible. You may even want to have them sleep in your room so that you can attend to them during those nighttime coughing fits. And it can put them at ease knowing that mom and/or dad are right by their side when they need you.

As a holistic provider and a parent who’s walked through whooping cough naturally, I fully believe in the body’s ability to heal when properly supported. But I also believe that it's the parent's responsibility to determine when it’s time to reach out for additional help.

You should contact your pediatrician or head to urgent care if you notice any of the following:

• Signs of breathing distress: rapid, shallow breathing, blue lips or fingertips, or long pauses between breaths (especially in infants)

• Persistent vomiting that prevents your child from keeping down fluids

• Signs of dehydration: dry lips and mouth, dark urine, or decreased urination

• Coughing fits so intense that your child cannot catch their breath or becomes extremely fatigued

• Lethargy, confusion, or difficulty waking

Babies under 6 months of age are at higher risk of complications, so any concerning symptoms in this age group warrant immediate medical attention.

As a parent, trust your instincts. If something feels off, don’t hesitate to get support.

Holistic care of whooping cough isn’t passive. It’s responsive, intentional, and deeply supportive. These methods don’t just make your child more comfortable in the moment, they support the body in doing what it was designed to do: heal.

You now have tools at your fingertips. And the more you trust your instincts and work with the body rather than trying to shut it down, the more empowered and connected you’ll feel throughout your child’s recovery.

Trust me when I say that the empowerment you will feel after successfully helping your child through this illness will carry over to other illnesses your child will experience in the future and will make such a huge impact on their overall health and wellness for years to come.

Please share this important information with friends and family members so that they too can be prepared and empowered.