One of the most troubling ailments to affect your little one is whooping cough. It is highly contagious. When left improperly treated or not treated on time it can lead to “coughing spells”. This results in a high pitched whoop at the end when your baby tries to inhale. He or she can also suffer from vomiting.

Who are more prone to whooping cough?

Children below 6 months of age are the most vulnerable to whooping cough bacteria. It can be very dangerous for children below 6 months. If your baby is under 6 months and diagnosed with whooping cough get him or her treated immediately. Do not delay proper medical attention in any case.

11 Home Remedies for Treating Whooping Cough in Children

If your child is showing symptoms of whooping cough you can try any of the below natural remedies to treat him or her. The ingredients are easily found at home or at the market. For mothers wanting a herbal and natural alternative to treat whooping cough symptoms in their kids here are 11 home remedies.

Ginger

Ginger is an excellent expectorant. It can be effectively used in treating symptoms of whooping cough in your child. Ginger has powerful antibacterial properties that help in eliminating the whooping cough bacteria. It also has great immune-boosting properties that helps promote healing in your little one.

How to use:

• Take one tablespoon each of ginger juice and honey and mix together. Let your child have this mixture twice everyday for a few days
• Another method of using ginger can be taking equal amounts of ginger juice, lemon juice, and onion juice. Make your child have 1 tablespoon of this mixture 2 – 3 times a day.
• Alternately you can mix 2 teaspoons of Fenugreek seeds in boiling water. Keep boiling and reduce the water to half of its original quantity. Add to this 1 teaspoon of ginger juice and some honey. Let your child consume this mixture once everyday for a few days.

Turmeric 

Turmeric is well known for its antibacterial and antiviral properties. It is an extremely valuable home remedy ingredient in treating whooping cough in children. It is also beneficial in bringing out the therapeutic effect for coughing, especially dry cough. Moreover, turmeric’s immunity boosting properties helps your kid’s body fight against infections.

How to use:

• Mix a quarter or half teaspoon of turmeric powder with a tablespoon of honey. Have your baby consume this mixture twice everyday to see results.
• Alternately you can try adding half a teaspoon of turmeric powder to your baby’s glass of warm milk. Make sure your baby drinks this turmeric milk twice everyday for best results.

Garlic

It is an excellent natural antibiotic. It is definitely one ingredient that you can safely use for treating your kid’s whooping cough symptoms at home. Its antiviral and antibacterial properties make it extremely beneficial in eliminating pertussis infection.

How to use:

• Let your child have 1 teaspoon of garlic juice 2 – 3 times in a week
• Alternately your child can take 1 teaspoon of garlic syrup everyday. To make the garlic syrup at home mince or grate a pound of garlic. Add to this apple cider vinegar and distilled water. Put the mixture in a container and let it rest for about 4 hours. Strain through cheesecloth and add 1 – 1 1/2 cups of honey.

Honey

We are all aware of the great health benefits of honey. We have already seen it being used in almost all of the above home remedies as a core ingredients. Honey has been used since the ancient times for its powerful healing properties.

Honey is effective in destroying the infection causing bacteria and also easing the symptoms of whooping cough. It is well known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. It is also delicious to have and can be used as a healthy alternative for sugar in your kid’s drinks and desserts.

How to use:

• Add a tablespoon of honey into a glass of warm water. Make your child drink this slowly couple of times in a day.
• Before nap time let your child have 1 teaspoon of honey mixed with 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon powder
• Alternately you can make a blend of radish juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Add some rock salt for taste and have your child consume this 3 times per day

Lemon

Citric acid present in lemon makes it an important home remedy ingredient for treating whooping cough in your kids. It can help thin out the mucus in your baby. It also has strong antiviral and antibacterial properties. Lemon has been used since long ago to fight against the infection.

Moreover, the vitamin c present in lemons helps boost your baby’s immunity and helps him or her fight the bacteria.

How to Use:

• Take a tablespoon of lemon juice extract and add to warm water. Add a bit of honey. Have your child drink this couple of times everyday for several days
• Take half a lemon and sprinkle some salt and pepper. Have your child slowly suck this. It will help ease the irritation caused in the throat due to the persistent cough.

Almond

It is one of the best home remedy ingredients for treating whooping cough in children. Almond essential oil is extremely effective in treating whooping cough. It is rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants. This helps in effectively treating the symptoms of whooping cough in kids.

How to use:

• Make a mixture of 5 drops of essential oil of almond, 10 drops of onion juice, and 10 drops of ginger juice. Have your child consume this mixture thrice per day for several weeks
• Soak 5 – 7 almonds overnight. Remove the skin and grind into a fine paste. Mix with a teaspoon of butter. Let your child consume this 3 times per day.
• You can also mix 1 tablespoon of almond oil with 4 – 5 drops of camphor, rosemary or eucalyptus essential oil. Gently massage your child’s chest with this blend for few minutes for relief when needed.

Chamomile

This exotic herb is an excellent home remedy for whooping cough. Chamomile is simple to use but very effective in boosting your kid’s immunity. It can also help alleviate the symptoms of whooping cough with the help of the anti-inflammatory properties. It also helps the healing of your child’s body by boosting the immune system.

How to use:

• Steep 1 – 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile into some hot water for 5 minutes.
• Strain and add some lemon juice and honey as per taste
• Let your child have this herbal tea 3 – 4 times per day for a couple of days

Saffron

It is a highly recommended herb for treating whooping cough in children. Granted it is expensive to buy pure saffron, but its effectiveness makes it worth the money spent. The antibacterial properties of this herb makes it excellent in combating the bacteria that cause whooping cough.

Additionally, saffron is also considered to be an expectorant. This property helps it to clear the phlegm present in your baby. This helps him or her breathe easier.

How to use:

• Steep 6 saffron stigmas in hot water for about 5 minutes
• Let your child have this tea a couple of times every day for a week to see results

Carrot Juice

Carrot juice is yet another highly effective home remedy in treating whooping cough in your child. It is also known to be one of the most powerful remedies in treating cough.

How to Use:

• Take a tablespoon of freshly extracted carrot juice
• Add it to a little bit of honey and warm water to create a syrup
• Let your child have a tablespoon of this homemade syrup couple of times per day for few days

Onion

It is another widely used kitchen item that can be used to effectively treat whooping cough in your kids. It can be turned into a syrup which your child can have for relief from the symptoms.

How to Use:

• Take some freshly extracted onion juice and honey and mix together
• Leave this mixture aside for about 4 hours
• Have your child consume 1 teaspoon of this syrup everyday for effective treatment of whooping cough symptoms

Radish

Just like carrots and onions, you can use this everyday kitchen ingredient to make a syrup for your kids. This can be used as a top effective home remedy for treating whooping cough in children.

How to Use:

• Take a teaspoon of extracted juice from radish
• Mix with an equal quantity of honey (1 teaspoon)
• Add salt as per taste
• Let your little one consume this syrup 3 times everyday

Conclusion:

Apart from the above home remedies you can also help provide relief to your child by increasing the fluid intake and adding plenty of vitamin c to the diet. You need to be careful that your child is not dehydrated during whooping cough. It is a helpful assistant to the condition. Look out for symptoms of dehydration such as dry and chapped lips and infrequent urination. Keep your kid hydrated to help reduce the discomfort of whooping cough.

Make sure your baby consumes plenty of Vitamin C. Or have him or her take supplements in tablet or chew-able forms. Avoid dry, flaky foods for a child suffering from whooping cough as this might lead to increased coughing fits.

In case your infant shows signs of troubled breathing or is vomiting excessively, seek immediate medical attention.