Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP

Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP Dr. Nancy O’Hara's functional medicine practice integrates the care of children with neurodevelopmental disorders and various chronic illnesses.

I received this podcast review recently and I’m genuinely grateful. 💛My goal with Demystifying PANS/PANDAS is to help fa...
04/28/2026

I received this podcast review recently and I’m genuinely grateful. 💛

My goal with Demystifying PANS/PANDAS is to help families and clinicians feel less alone, better informed, and more confident taking next steps—especially when symptoms like tics, OCD, anxiety, or sudden behavior changes appear.

If you haven’t listened yet, I invite you to check it out.
Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast is available on your favorite platform!

Spring is here, which means more time outside — hikes, parks, playing in the yard, and yes… more exposure to ticks and o...
04/27/2026

Spring is here, which means more time outside — hikes, parks, playing in the yard, and yes… more exposure to ticks and other VBD’s

Here’s a simple, practical prevention guide in today’s post: what to wear, what to use, and a few easy yard/home strategies that can help you enjoy the outdoors with more confidence.

Save this carousel for later, and share it with a friend who spends a lot of time outside. 🌿

04/23/2026

Children can be in OT, PT, speech, and multiple therapies — and still not improve the way we hope — if we never step back and ask, “What’s the common thread?”

Bri explains how tongue restriction/tongue tie can be more than a feeding issue. In some children, it can contribute to a cascade that touches:

posture and coordination

fascial tension patterns through the body

digestion and elimination

sleep quality and regulation

It’s not that every child has the same root cause.

It’s that the body is connected — and when we treat one “piece” without putting the puzzle together, progress can stall.

Listen to the full conversation, Demystifying PANS/PANDAS wherever you get your podcasts, for a thoughtful “tongue-to-toes” framework that helps parents and clinicians ask better questions.

04/22/2026

Picky eating” is often a sign of protection, not stubbornness.

Bri says it plainly: she doesn’t believe in “just picky.”

Because food refusal and restricted eating often have a reason — and it’s frequently tied to a child’s nervous system, airway, tongue function, sleep quality, and digestion.

In this conversation, we talk about why feeding struggles shouldn’t be treated in a vacuum. If a child is struggling to eat, we need to ask:

How are they breathing?

How are they sleeping?

How is their digestion and elimination?

Is their tongue moving well?

Are they living in fight-flight-freeze most of the day?

When we identify the root contributors, the path forward becomes much clearer — and far more compassionate.

Episode 55 of Demystifying PANS/PANDAS is available now! If your child has feeding struggles, sensory overwhelm, or sleep issues, I encourage you to listen to the full episode.

04/21/2026

Before tomorrow’s episode drops, I want to highlight a “small” sign that often isn’t small at all - Mouth breathing.

Pediatric OT Bri Kurcsak explains why mouth breathing is a red flag — not just for children with PANS/PANDAS, but for any child.

When a child is chronically breathing through the mouth, it often goes along with:

- altered oral posture and tongue position

- poor sleep quality (even if they “sleep enough hours”)

- increased nervous system stress and fatigue

- and sometimes more difficulty with regulation, attention, and recovery

What I appreciate about Bri’s approach is that it’s practical and whole-child: the airway, tongue function, posture, sleep, and nervous system are connected — and we miss a lot when we look at symptoms in isolation.

Episode 55 of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast drops tomorrow: “Mouth Breathing Is a Red Flag Parents Shouldn’t Ignore.”

If you’re a clinician who’s tired of “symptom management” being the end of the conversation in pediatric mental health…I...
04/20/2026

If you’re a clinician who’s tired of “symptom management” being the end of the conversation in pediatric mental health…

I’d like to invite you to take a look at the Certified Pediatric Functional & Integrative Psychiatry Fellowship — led by Dr. James Greenblatt, myself, and an esteemed group of global leaders in pediatric functional and integrative psychiatry.

This is the first and only comprehensive training built specifically for clinicians who want to upgrade how they approach mental health care for children, adolescents, and teens.

Not with more “try this next,” but with a clearer, more personalized framework to answer:

Why is this child struggling?

What’s driving the symptoms underneath the surface?

What should we evaluate next — and why?

What interventions are most likely to create lasting change?

Inside the Fellowship, we focus on science-backed functional medicine and nutritional / metabolic psychiatry strategies you can apply immediately — especially for complex cases where standard approaches haven’t been enough.

If you want to feel more confident in your clinical reasoning, expand your toolkit, and build a practice that reflects how connected the body and brain truly are…

I’d love to have you join us. Visit my website to learn more!

I’m really looking forward to being in London for the ILADS European Scientific Conference — and I’m grateful to be join...
04/16/2026

I’m really looking forward to being in London for the ILADS European Scientific Conference — and I’m grateful to be joining so many thoughtful clinicians who are committed to caring for patients with complex, multi-system illness.

These are the cases that require curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to keep asking better questions. Conferences like this remind me how powerful it is to be in a room with colleagues who understand that healing rarely fits into a single specialty.

I’ll be speaking on:

“What Am I Missing in Treating Vector-Borne Disease? Could It Be Cerebral Folate Deficiency?”

If you’ll be attending, I would truly love to see you there — please come say hello.

See you soon, ILADS Europe. 💛

Japanese Knotweed & Chinese Skullcap 🌿As always, reach out to your provider or our office to set up a consult to discuss...
04/15/2026

Japanese Knotweed & Chinese Skullcap 🌿

As always, reach out to your provider or our office to set up a consult to discuss these interventions. For members, check our more information in our resource section on my website

References:

Cucu AA, Baci GM, Dezsi Ş, Nap ME, Beteg FI, Bonta V, Bobiş O, Caprio E, Dezmirean DS. New Approaches on Japanese Knotweed (Fallopia japonica) Bioactive Compounds and Their Potential of Pharmacological and Beekeeping Activities: Challenges and Future Directions. Plants (Basel). 2021 Nov 29;10(12):2621. doi: 10.3390/plants10122621. PMID: 34961091

Dilip Kumar et al. An updated review of Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis): Emphasis on phytochemical constituents and pharmacological attributes. Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine. Volume 9, 2023 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prmcm.2023.100326.

Feng Jie , Leone Jacob , Schweig Sunjya , Zhang Ying. Evaluation of Natural and Botanical Medicines for Activity Against Growing and Non-growing Forms of B. burgdorferi. Front. Med., 20 February 2020. Sec. Infectious Diseases – Surveillance, Prevention and Treatment. Volume 7 – 2020 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2020.00006

Ma, Xiao1; Leone, Jacob2; Schweig, Sunjya3; Zhang, Ying4. Botanical Medicines With Activity Against Stationary Phase Bartonella henselae. Infectious Microbes & Diseases 3(3):p 158-167, September 2021. | DOI: 10.1097/IM9.0000000000000069

Wang L, Zhang D, Wang N, Li S, Tan HY, Feng Y. Polyphenols of Chinese skullcap roots: from chemical profiles to anticancer effects. RSC Adv. 2019 Aug 15;9(44):25518-25532. doi: 10.1039/c9ra03229k. PMID: 35530094

Yin B, Li W, Qin H, Yun J, Sun X. The Use of Chinese Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Its Extracts for Sustainable Animal Production. Animals (Basel). 2021 Apr 7;11(4):1039. doi: 10.3390/ani11041039. PMID: 33917159

Zhang Y, Alvarez-Manzo H, Leone J, Schweig S, Zhang Y. Botanical Medicines Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Artemisia annua, Scutellaria baicalensis, Polygonum cuspidatum, and Alchornea cordifolia Demonstrate Inhibitory Activity Against Babesia duncani. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2021 Mar 8;11:624745. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.624745. PMID: 33763384

I’m so grateful when families and clinicians take the time to share words like these. 💛This work can be complex, and oft...
04/14/2026

I’m so grateful when families and clinicians take the time to share words like these. 💛

This work can be complex, and often the most meaningful progress comes from feeling truly seen, understood, and supported—step by step.

If you’re looking to learn more, I teach and share education in several ways, depending on where you are in your journey:

Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast (for parents and practitioners)

Membership Program (on-demand education + ongoing support)

Mentorship Program (for clinicians expanding their clinical toolkit)

Psychiatry Redefined trainings/webinars

MAPS conference education and speaking events

You can find details on all of these—along with additional resources—on my website.

Visit the link in bio (or go to my website directly) to explore what’s available.

Thank you for being here, and thank you for helping build a community rooted in compassion, curiosity, and real answers.

You do not need another event that floods your inbox.You do not need 30 separate emails you feel guilty about not openin...
04/13/2026

You do not need another event that floods your inbox.

You do not need 30 separate emails you feel guilty about not opening.

You need support that is clear, organized, and usable in real life.

The Regulated Child Summit™ was designed exactly that way. Instead of 30 expert talks all at once, you will receive 4 weekly digest emails.

Each week includes:

6 to 8 expert-backed regulation tips

One clear theme

Short insights you can read in minutes

Tools you can apply the same day

Emotional regulation.
Co-regulation.
Attention and school stress.
Sleep, nutrition, and screens.

You do not have to master everything. You just need the right tool at the right moment.

Registration is completely free, but the sequence begins TODAY. Missing the beginning means missing the foundation.

If you have been craving guidance that feels organized instead of overwhelming, this is your moment: Register using the link in my bio!

04/09/2026

Dr. James Adams shares an observation from treatment research that surprised even seasoned clinicians — including a case where Tourette’s symptoms resolved after several weeks. He’s careful with language (as we all should be), but it raises an important question:

What if some neurologic symptoms are being amplified — or even driven — by microbially produced metabolites that affect the brain?

He also mentions p-cresol, a metabolite that has been associated with neurologic effects in research settings, and why his team is approaching seizure-related work carefully and methodically.

The larger point isn’t a quick takeaway or a one-size-fits-all conclusion.
It’s this: when we broaden our lens beyond symptom suppression, we sometimes find biology we didn’t fully appreciate — and new paths worth studying.

Be sure to tune in to Demystifying PANS/PANDAS and watch the full discussion on your favorite podcast platform. Can also access it through the link in my bio

04/08/2026

Can the gut drive brain symptoms, even when GI symptoms aren’t obvious?

In this clip, Dr. James Adams explains why low fiber intake is so common — and why it matters biologically. Fiber is converted by gut bacteria into compounds like butyrate, which helps support the cells lining the gut.

But he also makes a key point:

Even though a healthier diet is foundational, diet alone may not be enough to shift entrenched dysbiosis in some cases — especially when embedded infections or overgrowth have been present for years.

This episode is packed with practical, research-informed insights on:

- “hidden” gut issues that show up as mood/sleep/behavior changes

- microbial metabolites and neurotransmitter pathways

- and why some interventions help temporarily unless the ecosystem is rebuilt

Episode 54 of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast is available now! If this topic is relevant to your patients or family, I encourage you to listen to the full conversation.

Address

3 Hollyhock Lane
Wilton, CT
06897

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 4pm

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Nancy O'Hara MD, MPH, FAAP:

Shortcuts

Share

Category