Abstract
Whooping cough (pertussis) is on the rise in the United States, with the number of reported cases topping 25,000 in 2004. Presently, however, there are no effective treatments for the symptoms of pertussis. Antibiotics are prescribed to limit the spread of the disease but the evidence supporting this approach is very weak.
This article reviews botanical treatments that were used by physicians to treat pertussis before the advent of vaccines and antibiotics and that may have efficacy today. Many of these treatments have been approved by the German Commission E and should be studied in clinical trials to determine if these treatments provide effective symptom relief and possibly limit the spread of the virus as well.
Herbs of interest include thyme (Thymus vulgaris), sundew(Drosera rotundifolia), English ivy (Hedera helix), chamomile(Matricaria recutita), lobelia (Lobelia inflata), red clover (Trifolium praetense), passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), and eucalyptus(Eucalyptus spp.).
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