Homeopathy for PANDAS/PANS
PANDAS is an acronym standing for Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections. It is a relatively new, commonly misunderstood, and frequently misdiagnosed disorder affecting children.
Pandas cause
It results from a Group A Streptococcal bacterial infection commonly referred to as “strep” or “strep throat”
. The underlying cause of PANDAS is thought to be attributed to an autoimmune attack of healthy brain tissue after a strep infection. The abnormal signalling events caused by the autoantibodies provoke neurological issues such as cognitive and intellectual regression, and severe psychological abnormalities, collectively known as PANDAS.
PANS Cause
PANS is linked to other infections. These include the flu, chickenpox, mycoplasma, and Lyme disease. PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome.
They are relatively new, commonly misunderstood, and frequently misdiagnosed disorders.
There is a physiological barrier that prevents toxic material from exiting the blood and entering the brain. This barrier is known as the blood brain barrier, and it protects fragile brain tissue from circulating pathogens and other potentially toxic substances.
Specific autoantibodies in the blood are able to cross the blood-brain barrier and bind various targets on the outside and inside of neurons in the basal ganglia and cause encephalitis (brain inflammation) commonly described as a ‘flare’ which can appear suddenly of out of the blue resulting in extreme rage, vocal or motor tics, compulsions and obsessions. A flare is usually brought on when they are exposed to a pathogen that they are susceptible to or by anything that may challenge their immune system. This could range from swimming in a chlorinated pool to loosing a tooth. Not all children are eat risk of reacting to the Strep bacteria in this way, only if you have the susceptibility.
The most common symptoms associated with PANDAS/PANS include frequently exaggerated changes in mood, tics, obsessive-compulsive behaviour OCD, and the sudden onset of intense anxiety. The most common treatment for PANDAS/PANS is Antibiotics and in some cases steroids.
The symptoms can be extremely upsetting and exhausting not just for the child but for the parents and siblings too. Often the whole family can need treatment as this is such a complex issue to deal with. Also because it is a relatively new condition parents are left to deal with the symptoms themselves whilst not knowing what is the cause is or why their child has changed/regressed in such a short period of time.
Case study
I have included a recent case of a four-year-old boy I have been recently treating with PANDAS as an example of how it presents and how homeopathy can help.
Symptoms
When Luca’s parents first came to see me with their son, he was presenting with the following PANDAS symptoms:
Constant tics in up to 7 areas of his body, including shoulder, foot, and eye tics.
Severe anxiety.
Frozen in fear about doing anything that might involve the slightest risk, such as going on a swing or attempting to climb a tree.
Sensitive to noises (even a toilet flushing)
Separation anxiety and a lack of independence.
Regular Pandas flares/mood swings, where a fog would descend and he would become listless, whiney, and floppy. Or angry and aggressive, particularly towards his Mum.
He was upset by a lot of things.
He was reluctant to go off and play independently with other children and would not join in with social activities at school, particularly singing or dancing or saying his name out loud in circle time. He wouldn’t play football in a group and would only play with his dad, even though he was very good at Football.
He also vocalised that he had intrusive thoughts, often saying to his mum that he was not a good boy.
Treatment
I prescribed a main constitutional remedy plus a remedy to detox the main cause of PANDAS, the streptococcus bacteria which tests showed were very high in Luca’s blood stream. Plus, organ support remedies to help his liver and kidneys as toxins cleared through his body.
Follow up appointment
On the second consultation his mum said that they had had a remarkable month.
His confidence was up, and his ticks were down. The eye tics were gone and the ankle tics that were so debilitating were 95% gone.
He had climbed a tree for the first time, was interacting with other children. He had stopped complaining of the intrusive thoughts and was just generally a lot happier.
Following months
In the following months I would prescribe on the symptoms that were foremost at that time such as not wanting to join in group activities where the attention was on him or having a return of intrusive thoughts. After addressing these issues with the appropriate homeopathic remedy Luca would continue to improve. I was able to introduce a combination remedy for when he experienced PANDAS flares, which stopped them immediately, instead of his parents having to resort to Ibuprofen (which can have a detrimental effect on the liver, especially as parents often need to dose up to 3-4 times a day for weeks at a time). Shortly after starting the remedies the flares became less frequent until over time have almost stopped altogether.
Detoxing
Also using homeopathy, I was able to detox from his system candida, mould toxicity, heavy metals and worms which were also present and had shown up in recent functional medicine tests.
Homeopathy is all about clearing the layers of pathology. As one layer gets cleared another set of symptoms come to the fore or there is a return to old symptoms. Not usually to the extent that they first presented. It just means that a little more clearing that in that area needs to be done.
Outcome
At the time of writing this Luca is not completely out of the woods but he is a very different child to the one I first saw only 6 months ago. Because he is so young and vital and because his Mum follows up with appointments when she sees a new set of symptoms coming through rather than waiting the usual full month for the next consultation, we are able to progress quite quickly. But as a homeopath it fills me with pure joy to see how far he has come.
Some remedies for PANS/PANDAS
Stramonium
Rage. Dark fears, wide eyed look of terror, fearful of death or dying. Strong fear of the dark. Need for company. Tendency to inflammation, tics, Tourette’s. Very sensory sensitive. Childish behaviour.
Anacardium
Internally split where the child can feel like there is a devil on one side and an angel on the other telling them what to do, or a voice telling them that they are bad. They can have low self-esteem and be mean to others.
Tarentula
Speedy sensory children who love rhythmic music which can help regulate them. They can be contrary or lash out violently. They can be socially isolated and withdrawn.
Carcinosin
Low confidence, tics, sleep problems and constipation.
Lycopodium
Lack of confidence which they try to hide. Hate having an audience or having to perform in front of others. Socially shy. This remedy helps with liver stagnation, constipation, gassiness, and a big appetite.
Bartonella
Rage, flailing and hitting. Delusional fears. Dark talk of death. Skin rashes, musculoskeletal pains, abdominal pain, and prolonged fevers.
Hyoscyamus
Brain inflammation leading to rage. Controlling of their mother and very jealous of their siblings.
Cina
Hitting, striking, biting other people, and throwing things. Parasite infection. Outwardly aggressive because inwardly their GI system is being attacked. Frequent tantrums and rage. Prescribed when there is an indication of worms.
If you have a child who is presenting with PANS or PANDAS and would like to discuss how I or homeopathy may be able to help them on a healing journey, then please book in for a free 15 minute chat via the website https://melissaforeman.co.uk/book-now
