A PANDAS Healing Journey with Homeopathy

Here we have a child diagnosed with PANDAS. I began seeing him at age 9. He is now 11 years old, and in our most recent appointment his mother shared something powerful:

“In so many ways he doesn’t have PANDAS anymore!”

This case offers a window into how homeopathy can serve as a tool in the treatment of PANDAS, providing guidance and hope for families navigating similar struggles.

Case History

• Age 4 – Began hitting

• Age 6 – First PANS flare

• COVID infection – Triggered aggressive “out-of-body” behaviors

• Behaviors & symptoms:

  • Self-injurious behavior

  • Irritability and tantrums

  • Punching legs, punching the car if upset (e.g., when mom got a haircut, or if he lost a game)

  • Throwing things

  • Severe fears and anxieties (social anxiety, selective mutism)

  • Severe separation anxiety from mother

  • Selective Mutism

  • OCD behaviors (contamination fears, need for strict order around eating and clothing)

  • Dictatorial behavior toward mother (e.g., upset when she changed appearance, jealous if she held a baby)

Triggers: often responded to change or unpredictability with rage or fear; some symptoms temporarily improved with ibuprofen.

OCD examples:

• Underwear meltdowns if fabric became “too loose” after an hour; mother was forced to change and wash them daily.

• Food could not touch; everything required separate plates and forks.

Previous Treatments

The child had undergone functional medicine interventions and repeated steroid bursts with antibiotics. While these approaches brought temporary relief, symptoms inevitably returned once treatment stopped. Many families will find this story familiar. Even with supplements and herbs, there was improvement, but nothing ever fully resolved the severe behavioral and OCD symptoms.

Homeopathic Case Management

This case relied heavily on the strep nosode, which was vital in addressing the root of the autoimmune encephalitis driving the PANDAS presentation. By directly working with the underlying infectious trigger, the nosode provided a foundation for long-term improvement.

However, the behavioral and neurological expressions of the inflammation required additional support. Remedies such as Stramonium and Lithium sulphuricum were crucial in calming the severe behavioral symptoms: including aggression, rage, and obsessive-compulsive patterns. Other remedies, such as Cuprum, Tuberculinum, and specific sarcodes, helped further strengthen the system and support recovery.

When treatment began, OCD symptoms and meltdowns were severe and daily. Over time, with carefully tailored remedies, we witnessed steady shifts.

Progress Today

At age 11, this child is a very different boy than he was two years ago:

• His mother cannot recall the last time he had a meltdown over underwear.

• He now eats various foods on the same plate without distress.

• Self-injurious behaviors have completely resolved.

• He is socializing, playing with friends, and engaging in daily life with far more freedom and joy.

• Improved behavior toward mother, with decreased jealousy and separation anxiety. Mother is now able to go for a walk alone and leave the house without distress from the child.

While his labs still show some autoimmune markers turned “on,” his quality of life has transformed. The trajectory of healing is clear and ongoing.