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This guide explores natural remedies for PANDAS and PANS. It organizes herbs, nutraceuticals, vitamins, minerals and other therapies into a guide that I wish I had had from the start of our PANS/PANDAS journey. It is a blend of insights and methods gathered from a variety of sources, including medical doctors, naturopaths, functional medicine doctors and herbalists. It draws from 10+ different books, herbal medicine courses and webinars. The books cover a range of topics: some focus on PANS/PANDAS, others delve into autoimmune diseases, Lyme, and a few are general reference books for herbal and natural medicine. You can find links to all these books here. They are invaluable resources I reference over and over again. I also have a list of podcasts here covering the same topics and from some of the same authors.
My journey to creating this guide for myself started with a single book that made a significant difference for my son. Inspired, I read another book, tweaked things and added new elements. This process continued, book after book, until I distilled everything I’d learned into one comprehensive chart. This chart shows the systems necessary for healing that were referenced over and over in my research and lists the herbs, vitamins, and nutraceuticals that could help treat those issues. When I combined all the protocols, I found that despite the differences in approaches they were all more or less addressing the same issues: get rid of any bugs (virus, bacteria & fungus) and toxins, heal the gut, dampen the inflammation, address symptoms, and then focus on giving the body what it needs to heal itself.
“Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”
― Hippocrates
This resource is not meant to encourage you not to use prescriptions or conventional medicine. Antibiotics, ibuprofen, steroids and other pharmaceuticals have been part of our healing journey.
My hope and prayer is that this information may find another parent and child searching for something to help and that it may offer a little light, a little hope, and a few more tools to support healing. Natural remedies for PANDAS and PANS have given our family much-needed relief when combined with conventional medicine and functional care.
I’m not a doctor and this is not medical advice. The information shared here is about my own experience and is meant for educational purposes only, to guide your own research and help you have informed conversations with your child’s healthcare provider.
Some disagree on the order in which you should focus, but most practitioners subscribe to a “heal the gut first” approach, except when dealing with mold. In the last 10 to 15 years research on the gut that has completely changed our understanding of its role in chronic illness. We now know that gut issues can cause everything from food sensitivities, poor nutrient absorption, mood swings, detoxification, neurotransmitter production, and inflammation control.
Because the gut plays such a central role in the immune system, supporting digestion and gut health is often one of the first steps in recovery. Many families exploring natural medicine for PANDAS begin by addressing gut balance, using food, probiotics, and gentle detox strategies to help calm inflammation and rebuild the body’s resilience from within.
The Evolution of Herbal Medicine
Deep Dive into Phytochemical Benefits
Herbs contain phytochemicals; natural compounds that plants produce to protect themselves but they also offer significant health benefits for humans.
• Antimicrobial, Antiviral, and Antifungal Properties: Many herbs have been shown to effectively combat pathogens, offering natural alternatives to pharmaceutical antibiotics and antivirals. For example, garlic possesses strong antimicrobial qualities, and echinacea is frequently used for its antiviral effects.
• Anti-inflammatory Effects: Chronic inflammation is linked to a range of health issues, from arthritis to heart disease. Herbs like turmeric and ginger are highly valued for their potent anti-inflammatory properties.
• Immune System Modulation: Some herbs can help modulate the immune system. Rhodiola, for example, helps modulate immune activity while improving resilience to physical and mental stress.
• Antioxidants, Minerals, and Vitamins: Herbs are packed with nutrients that protect against oxidative stress and support overall health. Herbs like parsley and nettle are rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which help in protecting the body’s cells.
• Detoxification Processes: Certain herbs can aid in detoxifying the body by enhancing liver function and promoting the elimination of toxins. Milk thistle, for example, has been used to support liver health for centuries.
• Cellular Repair: Herbs like reishi are known for their neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties.
Validation through Ongoing Research
Ongoing research not only confirms many age-old uses of herbs but also opens new avenues for therapeutic applications.
Herbal medicine is deeply rooted in ancient practices. Today, modern herbology has the benefit of scientific research to understand the specific biochemical components of herbs, providing a scientific basis for their historical medicinal use.
Dosages for Children
When calculating herbal dosages for children, most herbalists use Clark’s Rule or Young’s Rule.
Clark’s Rule calculates the child’s dosage by considering the child’s weight. Specifically, the dosage is determined by multiplying the adult dosage by the child’s weight in pounds and then dividing by 150. For example, if an adult dosage is 300 mg and the child weighs 50 pounds, the child’s dosage would be (300 x 50)/150= 100mg.
Young’s Rule, on the other hand, focuses on the child’s age. This rule states that the child’s dosage is found by dividing the child’s age by the sum of their age plus 12, and then multiplying this fraction by the adult dose. For instance, for a child aged 4, the calculation would be (4/(4+12)) x adult dose. This gives a fraction of the adult dose proportional to the age of the child, adjusting as they grow older.
Personally, I follow Clark’s Rule because it is just easier for me to remember and calculate in my head, but either will work.
Because it works, and has for thousands of years. Herbal medicine is the original medicine before Big Pharma decided to make medicine about making money. Herbal medicine has been used by nearly every culture across history and is still relied on by billions today. According to the World Health Organization, about 4 billion people worldwide use herbs for healing.
And, many of today’s pharmaceuticals come from plants. Aspirin was first made from willow bark, which has been used for pain and fever since ancient Egypt.
Big Pharma can’t put a patent on plants in nature, so they mine traditional herbal knowledge to find particular bioactive compounds from plants, so they can isolate, synthesize and patent. But herbs work best in their whole form.
Yes, and often more than you’d expect. I started using herbs and other natural medicine with my own kids out of sheer desperation, assuming they’d be mild at best. I was wrong. Over and over, they’ve delivered results that surprised me, in a good way.
That said, it’s important to note that everyone’s experience with herbs can be different. Each person’s unique body chemistry affects how they respond to herbal treatments, as well as their gut health, nutrient status, toxin and inflammation load, and more. Herbs work best when they’re matched well to the person and the pattern. That’s part of what makes them powerful, but also why it can take some trial and error.
It depends on the herb, and the issue. Some herbs act fast. Take bitters, for example: a few drops before or after a meal can jumpstart digestion in under a minute. Others, like adaptogens or deep-toning herbs, are playing the long game. They’re working under the surface to rebuild resilience, and that can take weeks or months.
If you’re dealing with a chronic condition, expect a longer timeline. The body didn’t get out of balance overnight, and it won’t heal overnight either. Herbs help shift things gradually and steadily, supporting the body as it restores function layer by layer.
Generally, yes, especially compared to many pharmaceuticals. Most herbs work more gently and come with fewer side effects. Many can be used alongside meds like antibiotics or ibuprofen without issue.
That said, you still need to be smart about it. If you’re pregnant, nursing, or taking prescriptions for things like blood thinners, diabetes, or blood pressure, check with your provider. Herbs are powerful, and some can interact or amplify effects in ways that matter. Make sure you are following the dosage guidelines.
- Buy from trusted resources: Always buy herbs and herbal products from reputable sources. Choose companies that are transparent about where their herbs come from, how they’re grown, and when they’re harvested. Organic or wildcrafted is ideal, especially for kids.
- Read the Label: Check the ingredients, dose, expiration date, and any cautions.
- Watch how your body responds: Every body is different. Start low, go slow, and adjust if something feels off.
- Educate Yourself: Learn the basics of each herb you’re using. What it does, how it works, and any safety considerations. You don’t need to be an expert, but the more you understand, the more intentional you can be.
Because natural remedies for PANDAS support the root causes, not just the symptoms. While conventional treatments often rely on long-term antibiotics, steroids, or psychiatric meds, natural medicine works to calm inflammation, modulate the immune system, support detox, and rebuild gut and brain health, all areas that are deeply affected in PANS/PANDAS.
Herbal medicine, targeted nutrients, and natural antimicrobials have a long history of safely supporting the body’s healing processes. These remedies can help reduce flares, ease anxiety or OCD-like symptoms, and improve overall regulation without the long-term side effects of many pharmaceuticals.
Many families turn to natural medicine for PANDAS when conventional options fail, or when they want a more holistic, sustainable path to healing.
