When your child isn’t feeling like themselves, the entire household feels the shift. As a parent, watching your bright, happy child suddenly struggle with anxiety, obsessive behaviors, or physical exhaustion is heartbreaking. You may have visited specialists, received different diagnoses, or perhaps you are just beginning to search for answers.

Often, we look at symptoms like Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) as isolated conditions. However, emerging research and clinical experience reveal that these challenges often share a common, hidden root: chronic inflammation.

Understanding inflammation is the first step toward reclaiming your child’s health. It is not just about a swollen knee or a fever. In children, inflammation can affect the brain and nervous system in profound ways. At hol+, we believe in illuminating these connections with clarity and compassion, empowering you to move from fear to a place of informed action.

Explore pediatric care at hol+

Understanding the “Silent Fire” Within

To understand how conditions like PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) develop, we must first look at inflammation’s role in the body.

Think of inflammation as the body’s emergency response team. When a virus, bacteria, or injury occurs, the immune system rushes in to protect and heal. This is acute inflammation, and it is a healthy, necessary process. However, when that immune response doesn’t shut off – or when it gets confused and targets healthy tissue – it becomes chronic inflammation (1).

In Eastern medicine, we often refer to this as “damp heat” or trapped energy that disturbs the body’s natural harmony (2). In Western terms, we see elevated markers in the blood that indicate the immune system is on high alert. When this “fire” reaches the brain, it can alter how a child thinks, feels, and moves (3).

The Brain on Fire: PANS and PANDAS

For many families, PANS and PANDAS are terrifying terms because the symptoms often appear overnight. A child might go to bed fine and wake up with severe separation anxiety, tics, or restrictive eating.

This dramatic shift happens because the inflammation has breached the blood-brain barrier. In the case of PANDAS, a simple Strep infection triggers the body to produce antibodies (4). Instead of just fighting the bacteria, these antibodies mistakenly attack a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which controls movement and behavior.

This is distinct from a traditional psychiatric diagnosis. It is a medical condition where the brain is inflamed. The good news is that because the root is biological and inflammatory, it can be treated. By lowering the inflammation and modulating the immune system, we can help the brain heal and return to balance.

Related: Early Detection is Key—Recognizing the Signs & Symptoms of PANS/PANDAS

The Connection to OCD and Anxiety

While OCD can exist on its own, sudden-onset obsessive-compulsive behaviors in children are frequently a symptom of this underlying neuroinflammation (5).

When the brain is under stress from inflammation, the “fight or flight” mechanism becomes stuck in the ‘on’ position. Your child isn’t trying to be difficult or rigid – their nervous system is signaling that they are in danger. The rituals or intrusive thoughts associated with OCD are often the brain’s way of trying to create safety in a chaotic internal environment.

Approaching this with gentleness is key. We validate the child’s experience while working behind the scenes to cool the inflammatory fire that is driving the anxiety.

Learn more: Diagnosing & Treating PANS/PANDAS with Functional Medicine

When the Body Can’t Keep Up: POTS and Dysautonomia

Inflammation doesn’t just stay in the brain. It also impacts the autonomic nervous system – the system responsible for automatic functions like heart rate, digestion, and blood pressure (6). This is where we see conditions like POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) arise.

Children with POTS might feel dizzy when standing, experience racing hearts, or suffer from debilitating fatigue. This is often a sign of dysautonomia, where the autonomic nervous system is out of sync. Chronic inflammation damages the nerves that regulate these systems, leading to a disconnect between what the body needs to do and what it actually does.

From a holistic perspective, this is a disruption of the body’s Qi (energy flow) and circulation. Integrating therapies that support nervous system regulation can provide immense relief.

Read: 4 Functional Treatments to Recalibrate Your Nervous System

Why is This Happening Now?

Many parents ask, “Why is this happening to my child?” It is rarely one single cause. Instead, it is usually a “perfect storm” of factors that overwhelm a growing immune system. These drivers can include (7):

• Lingering Infections: Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus, or Strep that hasn’t fully cleared.
• Environmental Toxins: Exposure to mold, heavy metals, or household chemicals that add stress to the body.
• Gut Health: The gut and brain are inextricably linked. An imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis) is a primary source of systemic inflammation.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: A lack of essential minerals and vitamins needed to calm the immune response.

Related: How Infections Cause Neurological Symptoms–And What to Do About It

An Integrative Path to Healing

The journey to resolving inflammation and conditions like PANS, PANDAS, and POTS requires a comprehensive, compassionate approach. At hol+, we merge the precision of Western diagnostics with the wisdom of Eastern healing to treat the whole child.

1. Identify the Triggers

We start by listening. Your story provides the clues. Then, using advanced testing, we look for hidden infections, autoimmune markers, and nutrient levels. We don’t just guess – we look at the data to understand the specific inflammatory load your child is carrying.

2. Nourish the System

Food is medicine. An anti-inflammatory diet is often the first line of defense. This involves removing inflammatory triggers like processed sugar, gluten, and dairy, and introducing nutrient-dense whole foods. In Eastern medicine, “cooling” foods may soothe the system and repair the gut lining, which in turn protects the brain.

3. Regulate the Nervous System

Healing cannot happen when the body is in a state of stress. We utilize techniques to stimulate the vagus nerve, which helps switch the body from “fight or flight” to “rest and digest.” This might include gentle breathwork, somatic exercises, or acupuncture, which has been used for centuries to restore flow and reduce inflammation (8).

4. Targeted Support

Whether through herbal protocols that gently modulate the immune system or targeted supplementation to support mitochondrial health (energy production), every plan is personalized. We meet your child exactly where they are.

A Future of Balance

Navigating these diagnoses can feel isolating, but please know that inflammation is not a permanent state. The body has an incredible capacity to heal when given the right support.

By addressing the root cause – the fire within – we can help your child find their way back to balance. The anxiety can settle, the energy can return, and the spark that makes your child who they are can shine brightly again. Contact a patient care coordinator to explore treatment options for your child.

Want to learn more? Schedule a FREE 15 minute consultation

Schedule Your Consultation