113: Understanding PANS & PANDAS: A Conversation with Dr. Nancy O’Hara

Denise speaks with pediatrician Dr. Nancy O’Hara about PANS and PANDAS, and why these children need a skilled team. This conversation offers something rare: the chance to listen in as two experienced clinicians—one in functional medicine pediatrics, one in homeopathy—talk through the complexity of these cases together.Together, they explore how these cases are understood medically, why they can be difficult to identify, why deeper individualized care matters, and why homeopathy can be an important part of a broader root-cause approach.This is a thoughtful conversation for parents and practitioners alike—grounded in complexity, collaboration, and hope.Dr. Nancy O’Hara is a board-certified pediatrician who specializes in treating PANS, PANDAS and BGE and other neurodevelopmental disorders. She is a leading trainer and mentor of clinicians in the US and globally, educating medical professionals to recognize, diagnose and treat PANS, PANDAS and BGE. She is also the author of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS.🔗 Learn more:https://www.drohara.com/https://www.drohara.com/podcast/https://www.drohara.com/demystifying-pans-pandas-book/Denise will be presenting on this topic at JAHC 2026 this month:Complex Autoimmunity: Hahnemann had the answer all alonghttps://jahc.info/Hahnemann’s homeopathy is based on universal laws that don’t change—despite scientific “progress” or alterations to human circumstance. This philosophical roadmap is more important today than ever as homeopaths are faced with case after case of complex autoimmunity—including pediatric cases that vex even the most competent prescriber.Using PANS/PANDAS as the therapeutic through line, this talk positions Homeopathy as the bridge between the Hippocratic roots of healing and the biomedical paradigm of the 21st century and uses clinical cases to demonstrate the capacity of Hahnemann’s elegant system to unravel even the most complicated cases of autoimmunity.Strange, Rare & Peculiar is a weekly podcast with Denise Straiges and Alastair Gray of the Institute for the Advancement of Homeopathy and the Academy of Homeopathy Education.This season, we’re focusing on truth — what it means to Aude Sapere (“dare to know”) in homeopathy today. From Hahnemann’s original insights to the realities of modern practice, research, and education, Denise and Alastair bring over 50 years of experience to conversations that challenge assumptions and invite curiosity.🎧 If you’re ready to look deeper — beyond trends, beyond opinion — join the conversation and rediscover what homeopathy truly is.Explore more:• Study homeopathy professionally → academyofhomeopathyeducation.com• Access affordable, virtual homeopathy care → homeopathyhelpnow.com• Support the future of homeopathy → advancehomeopathy.org• Join the practitioner-generated research network (PGRN) → advancehomeopathy.org/hohm-pgrn