Natural Solutions to Whooping Cough with Chinese Medicine

Whooping cough is on the rise. This is the case even among children inoculated against it and in adult populations. Pertussis, aka whooping cough, is a bog that invades the respiratory system, often causing a wailing crane-like sound in children and spasmotic cough in kids and adults.

Within the system of Chinese medical herbalism is a category of herbs with the particular function of killing bugs: viral, fungal, and bacterial in nature. Among them are the more than 20 herbs used to treat bugs in the respiratory system. These are combined and cooked into a broth of sorts, consumed usually 3 times a day.

Common concerns about the side-effects of prolonged antibiotic use, as well as their efficacy make Chinese medical herbalism a sensible option. Each person who is affected by a given pathogen will respond uniquely depending upon the body's pre-existing status. For example, it is not hard to imagine that a person prone to respiratory infections and with a history of antibiotic use faces a very real prospect of deteriorating into pneumonia. Such an individual would require a different approach from someone whose lung system is generally strong. Chinese herbal medicine affords flexibility in dosing and herb selection to address the complete circumstances at hand.

Herbal broths are the most effective way to address lung complaints, short of a nebulizer, mist, or steam. It is actually not a bad idea to breathe in some of the steam from the formula, so as to line the nostrils and sinuses with the herbs. Naturally, be careful not to burn yourself with the steam. The best way to do this is to do this is by placing a towel about one's hand suspending it about a foot and a half or two from the pot, which should be placed upon the floor while you're seated in a chair.

Benefits should be noticed almost immediately and definitely within 24 hrs. Contact your Chinese medicine herbalist if nothing has changed or worsened.

A recent case serves to illustrate something about the flexibility of Chinese medical herbalism in action. A patient had just returned from a trip to Ohio and had caught a "cold." It appeared to be in its final stages but for a lingering cough, which he attributed to having something stuck. A week and three bags later, he reported feeling feeling about 50% better. He no longer needed to suck on throat lozenges but he would still break into very powerful spasmodic coughts, some so severe he fainted on two occasions. I devised a new formula after consulting one of the formulary classics written nearly 2000 years ago, the Golden Cabinet. After 3 additional bags he reported that his condition was 95% improved.

The difference between formula one and formula two lies in emphasis: the former focused on clearing something perceived to be phlegm-like in the throat, whereas in the latter pertusis was identified as the cause. The original formula of 6 herbs had only one herb specializing in killing bugs, where as the latter of 10 still only had two. Clearly, there is something more a play in these herbal combinations beyond their individual attributes.

In conclusion, Chinese medical herbalism offers a sensible and natural solution to respiratory disorders like pertussis. It has the flexibility to address your pre-existing status. Relief will be noticed almost immediately.