Whooping Cough

Overview

Whooping cough is an acute bacterial disease characterized by a spasmodic cough that ends in a specific long, high-pitched sound and a whooping sound made during inhalation. It is highly contagious and most common in children.

Symptoms

Symptoms may take one to three weeks to appear following infection, and can affect the entire respiratory tract, lasting for an additional six weeks to three months. Symptoms include catarrh (mucus), fatigue, sneezing, fitful coughing, tearing of the eyes, and poor appetite. As symptoms progress, spasmodic coughing becomes more rapid, followed by a “characteristic whooping” sound during the last several inhalations that produces large amounts of mucus. Gagging and vomiting can also occur.

There are three stages of the disease recognized in the medical literature:

The first is the Catarrhal Phase. It starts like a common cold and can be with or without a slight fever. A dry hacking cough then develops, which becomes more frequently during the night.

The second stage is called the Paroxysmal Phase. It consists of frequent, repetitive coughing fits, which are intense and sudden. Occasionally, vomiting of mucus may occur.

The last stage is called the Recovery Phase. The illness is no longer contagious and although there is still a chronic cough, it is less severe and gradually fades away.

Caution: Whooping cough is very serious condition for infants, especially newborns, who often need to be hospitalized to facilitate breathing and to avoid choking. The elderly are another group who may also require special care.

Causes

Whooping cough is caused by a type of bacteria called Bordetella pertussis. The bacteria infects the lining of the airways and then multiples, causing a build-up of thick mucus. As the body tries to expel the mucus, intense coughing occurs.

The bacteria also creates a swelling in the airways, causing them to become narrow and hence making breathing more difficult. The ‘whoop’ sound is formed as a person gasps for breath after an intense bout of coughing.

Whooping cough can also be aggravated by bronchitis, pneumonia, flu, smoking, and inhalant allergies.

Do

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Diet

Drink plenty of healthy liquids. Especially effective is a combination of one to two tablespoons honey, one tablespoon apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon fresh lemon juice, one teaspoon each of horehound and licorice extracts, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and vitamin C powder, added to warm, pure, filtered water. Sip throughout the day.

Avoid all dairy products, milk, refined and processed foods, sugar, soda, and alcohol.

Eat lightly, and focus on an organic, whole foods diet, with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, brown rice, clear vegetable soups, potatoes, and whole grain toast. Garlic and onions are also recommended.

According to leading naturopathic physician and researcher Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D., a vegan diet can significantly improve symptoms of most respiratory conditions. Dr. Pizzorno reports that over 90 percent of all people who follow a vegan diet for at least one year experience notable improvements in their health.

It is important to not add further toxicity to your system when your body is trying to heal so also try to adhere to the following:

Do not consume any artificial sweeteners, such as Splenda, NutraSweet or Aspartame

Do not consume high fructose corn syrup or mono-sodium glutamate.

Do not drink any carbonated beverages.

Avoid all fast food restaurants.

Avoid all canned food.

Avoid conventional beef. The best beef is organic grass fed beef.

www.grasslandbeef.com The second best is organic meat; this includes beef, veal, lamb, chicken and turkey.

Supplements:

Take Vitamin D3 50,000-100,000 International Units a day for periods of 4 weeks at a time.
Wholefood supplements are the best way of ensuring your nutritional needs are met. The best we know on the market is Kevin Trudeau’s “KT Daily” product. You can find more details here.
Take an Omega 3 supplement:

Krill oil –

Fish oil

Cod liver oil

Vegetarian –

Take Allicin C (garlic capsules which have super powerful antibacterial properties) 4 capsules three times a day. 1 capsule is the equivalent to 40 cloves of garlic (without the breath to go with it!!).

Take Echinacea – fights bacteria and stimulates the immune system.

Take Vitamin E – it is a powerful antioxidant and immune booster. (Unique E) www.acgrace.com

Other recommended nutrients include vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin B complex, vitamin C, zinc, acidophilus, and lung glandulars.

Prescription and non-prescription medication:

What non-prescription and prescription drugs are you taking? Your non-prescription and prescription are partially the reason that you have this illness or disease – you need to get off these medications but do so only under the guidance of a licensed health care practitioner.

Mind

We know that when the body is out of balance, energy doesn’t flow, leading blockages and eventually disease. Here are some things you can do to combat stress and restore balance:

Go to a Dr Morter BEST (Bio-Energetic Synchronisation Technique) Practitioner.

Stephen Lewis, founder of the Aim Program. Find out more by clicking here.

. Find out more by clicking here

Consider using Mary Millers Iching System Products – ichingsystemsinstruments.com

Reiki healing is very powerful in releasing stress and emotional baggage. Find a local practitioner here
Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) has had remarkable results in dissolving stress. Find a local practitioner here or go to www.thetappingsolution.com or www.tftrx.com

Try Hypnotherapy to relax the mind. Find a local practitioner here

Meditation has been scientifically shown to relieve stress, as well as to improve overall health and immune function, and to reduce the pain and suffering caused by chronic disease. In fact, in 1984, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommended meditation as the more appropriate and effective choice for treating mild cases of high blood pressure, instead of commonly prescribed blood pressure medications. Meditation can offer new insights and improved coping strategies, better enabling you to meet the challenges of the day. Some types of meditation, such as Transcendental Meditation (TM), have even been shown to produce deeper states of physical relaxation than ordinary sleep.Although there are many types of meditation practices to choose from, all of them have one thing in common: focused attention on the breath. If you are new to meditation, you can begin by sitting up straight yet comfortably and closing your eyes. Place your attention on your breathing as you inhale and exhale. Each time you find your attention starting to wander, simply refocus on your breath. Though doing so may seem difficult initially, with practice it will become easier and easier, and you will easily spend 20 to 30 minutes meditating in this manner. The key is to be gentle with yourself and not force. At first, you may find yourself unable to sit still for more than a few minutes. If that is the case, don’t continue. Instead, each day seek to add to the length of your meditation practice until you reach your goal of 20 to 30 minutes per session.