AYELET CENTER | PAEDIATRIC NATUROPATH FOR PANS/PANDAS | SYDNEY & ONLINE
PANS & PANDAS Support for Children, Naturally
Gentle, evidence-informed naturopathic care for children experiencing sudden behavioural or neurological change, including tics, anxiety, rage and PANS-like symptoms, working alongside your child's medical team.
Less overwhelm. More clarity. A plan that makes sense for your child.
75 minutes | Full history & symptom review | Your child's first-step plan
WHEN A CHILD CHANGES SUDDENLY
YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE IF
Your child changed suddenly after illness
You feel something deeper is being missed
Symptoms come and go without clear explanation
You want gentle, root-cause support, not quick fixes
You feel worried, overwhelmed, or unsure what to do next
You do not need to figure this out alone.
"My child was fine… and then suddenly everything changed."
What many parents tell me, almost word for word.A once calm, happy child may begin refusing school, developing fears, washing repeatedly, or showing sudden emotional shifts. Some children develop tics, sleep disturbance, sensory sensitivities, or regression in skills such as handwriting or toileting. If this sounds familiar, you are not imagining it. Sudden change in a child always deserves gentle, careful attention.
QUICK ANSWER
What is PANS / PANDAS?
PANS describes a sudden, often overnight, change in a child's mood, thinking or behaviour, usually new obsessive worries, compulsions, or a sharp drop in eating, arriving within days rather than building gradually. PANDAS is the version of this pattern that follows a strep infection specifically, though many children develop PANS after other illnesses, immune stress or inflammatory triggers. Even when standard results come back clear, factors such as immune activation, inflammation and gut health may still be worth considering as part of the child's broader clinical picture
Reaching a PANS or PANDAS diagnosis is a medical process. It depends on a doctor piecing together your child's whole clinical picture, not one isolated result, which is why a full assessment from your GP or paediatrician always comes first. My role begins once that assessment is underway, supporting your child's gut, immune and nervous system alongside the medical care they're already receiving.
A quick comparison of PANS and PANDAS in children
| Feature | PANS | PANDAS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome | Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal infections |
| Typical presentation | Sudden OCD symptoms or severely restricted eating, plus other acute behavioural or neurological changes | Sudden OCD symptoms, tics, or both |
| Possible trigger | Several possible triggers, including infection, mould exposure or immune stress, or none clearly identified | Linked to group A streptococcal infection |
| Diagnosis | Clinical assessment after other causes are considered | Clinical assessment, including the timing of a possible strep infection |
| Confirmatory test | No single test | No single test |
When to seek urgent help
Some symptoms need medical attention straight away, not a booking with me. Please call 000 or go to your nearest emergency department if your child cannot keep food or fluids down, loses consciousness, has a seizure, or is at risk of hurting themselves or someone else.
For anything less immediate but still worrying, your GP or paediatrician is the right first call. I work alongside that medical care, I'm not a substitute for it.
Signs Parents Often Notice
Parents commonly report:
Sudden anxiety, fears, or emotional volatility
Obsessive or repetitive behaviours
Tics or motor changes
Sleep disturbance or night waking
Handwriting regression or concentration changes
Sensory sensitivities or overwhelm
Behavioural regression after illness
Mood swings, irritability, or clinginess
These symptoms are real and often reflect deeper nervous system and immune imbalance. If your child is experiencing any of these changes, you're not alone. Let's explore what's happening and create a gentle path forward.
"After speaking to Ayelet for the very first time, I instantly felt hope. Hope I didn't have before."
— Eden N., mother of a 4-year-old with sudden-onset tics and OCD
"She goes above and beyond to ask the right questions and work out the best treatment plan. We have already seen results after only a short period of time."
— Nadine S., mother of three
The Gut–Immune–Brain Connection
The gut, immune system and brain communicate through complex, interconnected pathways. Research continues to explore how immune activity, inflammation, the gut microbiome and nervous system function may interact in children with neuropsychiatric and neurological symptoms.
This is why I look beyond the presenting symptoms and consider the child's broader health picture:
Are there ongoing digestive symptoms or changes in bowel habits?
Is there a history of frequent or recent infections?
How well is the child sleeping?
Are there nutritional gaps that may need attention?
What seems to increase or reduce their nervous system load?
For a child with PANS or PANDAS, this doesn't replace medical assessment or treatment. Instead, it helps identify areas of general health that may benefit from additional support alongside their medical care.
You can also read more about the gut–brain connection in children here.
My Naturopathic Approach
Children with complex or sudden-onset symptoms often need a gentle, considered approach. I don't try to address everything at once.
I begin by looking at your child's whole health picture, including nutrition, digestion and gut health, sleep, recent infections, stress and nervous system regulation. From there, we identify the areas where supportive naturopathic care may be most useful alongside their medical care.
Depending on your child's individual needs, support may include:
Strengthening nutritional foundations
Supporting gut and microbiome health
Supporting healthy sleep and daily rhythms
Gentle nervous system regulation
Age-appropriate herbal medicine where indicated
Practical dietary and lifestyle strategies your family can realistically maintain
Every child is different, particularly when their system is sensitive. We work step by step, introduce changes thoughtfully and adjust the plan according to how your child responds.
My aim is to give you a clear, manageable plan while keeping your child's medical care at the centre of their PANS or PANDAS assessment and treatment.If your child is also experiencing eczema, gut health concerns, or ADHD and focus challenges, I offer dedicated support for each of these areas as well.
Is Testing Needed?
Not always. Testing is never a requirement to begin care.
When symptoms are complex or persistent, selected testing may help us understand aspects of your child's broader health picture. Depending on their history and symptoms, this may include:
Microbiome testing where gut symptoms or digestive concerns are present
Blood tests to assess nutrients such as iron, zinc, vitamin B12 and vitamin D
Mineral assessment where clinically appropriate
Testing is chosen thoughtfully and individually. I don't test simply for the sake of testing. If I recommend something, I'll explain what we're looking for, how the result may influence your child's plan, and whether it's worth doing.
How We Work Together
Care is collaborative, calm, and supportive for both child and parent, available online across Australia and in person in Surry Hills, Sydney by arrangement. Together we:
Understand your child’s story and symptom pattern
Identify possible triggers and stressors
Support nervous system safety and regulation
Build a gentle, step-by-step plan
Adjust care as your child responds
Parents are guided throughout the process, and support evolves as the child stabilises and strengthens.
What does a naturopathic treatment plan for children look like?
1. Initial Consultation (75 minutes) — $255
We meet online for an in-depth exploration of your child's health, including symptoms, diet, sleep, development and environment. Your observations as a parent are central to this conversation. Where helpful, I may suggest functional testing such as microbiome or nutrient analysis to better understand what may be driving their symptoms.
2. Your Child's Personalised Plan — included with your initial consultation
Following the initial consultation you will receive a detailed written report with a clear, step-by-step plan. This draws on herbal medicine, nutrition, homeopathy and lifestyle guidance, tailored to your child's unique needs, sensitivities and your family's preferences.
3. Ongoing Support and Progress — $125 per consultation
We check in regularly to review progress, adjust support as your child responds, and continue building resilience across the immune system, nervous system and gut. As your child begins to settle, most parents find they feel calmer and more confident too. You will receive guidance and resources throughout so you always feel informed and never alone in the process.
Not sure if this is the right fit for your family? Start with a free 10-minute clarity call first.
FAQ
Can a naturopath help with PANS?
Naturopathic care can provide supportive care for children with PANS or PANDAS alongside their medical team. My role is not to diagnose or replace medical treatment, but to look at the child's broader health picture, including nutrition, gut health, sleep, stress and nervous system regulation.
Support is gentle, individualised and adapted as your child responds. Where appropriate, I may also work alongside your child's GP, paediatrician or other healthcare practitioners so care remains coordinated.
What triggers PANS?
The exact causes and triggers of PANS are still being investigated. In some children, symptoms begin suddenly following an infection or illness, although not every child has an identifiable infectious trigger.
PANDAS is a specific subgroup in which symptoms are associated with Group A streptococcal infection.
Because sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms can have several possible causes, a thorough medical assessment is important. A GP or paediatrician can consider your child's symptoms, recent infections and medical history and rule out other conditions that may present in a similar way.
Do we need testing?
Not always, and testing is never a requirement to begin care. Some children respond well to gentle supportive treatment without any functional testing. When symptoms are complex, persistent, or not responding as expected, targeted testing can help us understand what is driving the picture, whether that is microbiome imbalance, nutritional deficiencies, food sensitivities, or mineral dysregulation. Any testing recommended is chosen thoughtfully and explained clearly, so you always understand why it is being suggested and what we are looking for.
How long does improvement take?
Every child is different, and there is no single timeline that applies to all families. Some children show noticeable shifts within the first few weeks of support, particularly in sleep, mood, or the frequency of flares. Deeper healing, particularly where the immune system and gut are significantly dysregulated, often takes several months of steady, consistent support. Families we work with across Australia are guided throughout the process, with care adjusted regularly as your child responds and strengthens.
Can PANS cause sudden regression or behavioural change in children?
Yes. Sudden behavioural or developmental changes can be part of a PANS presentation and are often among the most distressing symptoms for families.
A child may suddenly become much more anxious or emotionally reactive, develop obsessive or repetitive behaviours, experience tics, or regress in areas such as handwriting, toileting, independence or school performance.
The important clue is often the speed and intensity of the change, particularly when several symptoms appear together in a child who was previously functioning quite differently.
These changes deserve medical assessment, as a number of conditions can cause sudden changes in a child's behaviour or neurological function. If PANS is suspected, your GP or paediatrician can assess the broader clinical picture and rule out other possible causes.
If your child has changed suddenly, you don't have to work out what's going on alone
A free 10-minute Clarity Call is a gentle first step, a conversation to see whether we're the right fit for your family.
Stories of healing
“My son developed a sudden onset of tics and OCD (only 4 years of age) and I was so distressed as to what to do. I saw a neurologist who explained to me what it was and she suggested I speak to a psychologist to help him with stress and also look at his diet. I still was lost, and a friend of mine recommended I see Ayelet. After speaking to her for the very first time, I instantly felt hope. Hope I didn’t have before. I went through the journey with Ayelet to find out more about my son’s gut health and her extensive knowledge and experience with tics helped us quickly establish the best ways to help him. Once I implemented all of Ayelet’s recommendations I finally started to see that hope turn to results and my son’s condition is now well managed and very minimal. I’m forever grateful to her. Ayelet is professional, warm and kind and extremely generous with her time and attention. The reports that she would prepare after each session were incredibly thorough and helpful. I feel very blessed to have come across her in such a difficult time, and for her help with my son. Words can’t express my full gratitude.”
— Eden N.
“Ayelet has been absolutely amazing in treating me and my 3 children. She goes above and beyond to ask the right questions and work out the best treatment plan. She is always so responsive and we have already seen results after only a short period of time. Can’t recommend her enough!”
— Nadine S
Ready to take the next step? Book a free 10-minute clarity call to explore whether naturopathic support is the right fit for your child.
Insights from the blog
Learn More About PANS, Tics and Sudden Behavioural Changes
When your child changes suddenly, it is natural to have questions. You may be wondering whether it is anxiety, tics, ADHD, a phase, or whether something deeper could be contributing. The articles below explore the questions parents ask most often.
