Exploring Homeopathy for PANS/PANDAS

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Understanding the condition

When hearing the word “PANDAS”, many people visualize adorable black and white Teddy Bears from China romping around at play; however, in the world of Pediatric Autoimmune Disease, PANS/PANDAS, refers to a fairly sinister process in the human body. In this article, we will unpack the medical conditions known as PANS/PANDAS, review the Traditional Medical approaches to treatment, and consider how Homeopathy can help to eliminate symptoms and restore the child who suffers from these conditions back to his/her optimal health.

PANDAS stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections. It is an autoimmune disorder triggered by a strep infection, which causes the immune system to mistakenly attack the nervous system, leading to inflammation in the brain. This inflammation can result in emotional instability, anxiety, OCD, tics, sensory issues, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms. These symptoms appear suddenly and can be highly debilitating to a child's life.

Diagnostic Criteria for PANDAS include:

• Onset before puberty

• Abrupt onset of symptoms or a relapsing-remitting course of severity

• Significant obsessions, compulsions, and/or tics

• Association with a streptococcal infection

• Other associated neuropsychiatric symptoms

PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome. Similar to PANDAS, PANS is an autoimmune condition that attacks the nervous system. However, PANS can be triggered by a range of factors, including non-strep infections, environmental toxins (such as mold), or even psychological stress or trauma.

Diagnostic Criteria for PANS include:

• Abrupt onset of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) or severely restricted food intake

• Additional acute onset and severe neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as:

  • Anxiety, emotional lability, and/or depression

  • Irritability, aggression, and/or severely oppositional behaviors

  • Developmental regression

  • Deterioration in school performance (e.g., regression in handwriting or math skills)

  • Sensory or motor abnormalities

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Bedwetting or urinary frequency

• Symptoms are not better explained by a known neurological or medical disorder.

Traditional medicine does not have a cure for PANS/PANDAS. The conditions are clinical diagnoses based on the child’s current symptoms and medical history. While lab testing can help support or differentiate the diagnosis, normal lab results do not rule out PANS or PANDAS. Testing can be useful in identifying the underlying cause of the disorder, assessing overall inflammation or immune imbalances, and ruling out other conditions. In some cases, homeopathy may be used alongside conventional treatments to enhance recovery and help manage symptoms more effectively. What follows is a comparison of the two approaches to treatment.

Traditional Western Medicine Approach to PANS/PANDAS

Conventional treatment for PANS/PANDAS focuses on managing the underlying infection and the neuropsychiatric symptoms. When streptococcal infections are identified as the cause of the disease process, for example, antibiotics are generally prescribed. In more severe cases, treatments like intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), plasmapheresis, or corticosteroids might be used to reduce inflammation and modulate the immune response. Psychiatric medications, such as SSRIs or antipsychotics, are commonly prescribed to manage symptoms like OCD, anxiety, or tics. The pediatrician’s practical goal is to control acute symptoms and prevent further neuropsychiatric deterioration. However, because such treatments focus on symptom management rather than addressing the root cause of the condition, many families seek complementary therapies like homeopathy to support their child's recovery, with the goal of enhancing and fortifying their child’s own body’s infectious disease fighting systems.

How Homeopathy Can Help

Homeopathy provides a gentle, natural way to support children with PANS/PANDAS by stimulating the body’s vital force to restore balance and promote healing. Homeopathic remedies for PANS/PANDAS are not, however, a “One Size Fits All”.  Just as each child is a unique and nuanced individual, so are the remedies selected for the child experiencing PANS/PANDAS.  A careful analysis is conducted by the Homeopathic Practitioner so as to evaluate the child’s presenting physical, emotional, and mental symptoms; following evaluation, the Homeopath will research the appropriate herbal selections to match the child’s presentation and makeup. The Homeopathic objective is to alleviate both mental and physical symptoms with the herbal infusions, but also, to help strengthen the immune system. This personalized treatment can bring about lasting improvements, rather than just short-term relief.

The Cost-Effectiveness of Homeopathy in Treating PANS/PANDAS

A major benefit of homeopathy is its cost-effectiveness—something many families dealing with PANS/PANDAS find especially appealing. In contrast to conventional treatments like antibiotics, IVIG, plasmapheresis, and psychiatric medications which can be costly and often not fully covered by insurance, homeopathic remedies are typically affordable and easily obtained.

The ultimate goal, however, is to reduce the necessity for treatment as much as possible; because homeopathy works by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes, it can reduce the need for frequent doctor visits or long-term prescriptions. Once a child’s constitutional remedy is found and consistently administered for the prescribed period, it often leads to lasting improvements, which can lessen the need for ongoing treatments. For families looking for a sustainable and budget-friendly way to manage PANS/PANDAS, homeopathy can be an invaluable part of the treatment plan.

A votre Sante!

Disclaimer: The articles on this website are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to your health or treatment plan.