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.

Friendly reminder that the next MAPS Conference is right around the corner!!If you’re a clinician looking to deepen your...
02/03/2026

Friendly reminder that the next MAPS Conference is right around the corner!!

If you’re a clinician looking to deepen your expertise, connect with leaders in the field, and learn the latest in integrative + functional approaches, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

And for the first time we have a separate online and in-person PARENT conference!

Make sure to use my affiliate code when you sign up to receive 20% off! OHARA20

Join us March 12-14th!

Let’s learn, grow, and elevate our impact together. Learn more at http://medmaps.org . Hope to see you there!

02/02/2026

What changed for our autism cohort wasn’t subtle.

In this episode, Tapley and Elena share how a short series of precision-dosed platelet treatments correlated with meaningful shifts—measured on the ATEC—across real-life areas parents care about:

- More connection and sociability

- Better sensory/cognitive regulation

- Calmer behavior and daily functioning

- Clearer speech and language over time

The point isn’t that this or any treatment is a miracle—it’s a method: test, dose accurately, observe, adjust. And when reactions happen, treat them as signals to address remaining triggers (infection, toxins, environment, gut).

If you’re supporting a child with autism or PANS/PANDAS and want a practical framework for what progress can look like (and how to iterate), this conversation will help.

Watch the full episode on Demystifying PANS/PANDAS! Link in bio.

01/30/2026

Not one knob—many.

Instead of suppressing a single inflammatory marker, platelets carry signals that can raise, lower, and balance pathways in real time—more like a “universal adaptogen” during a 6-week healing window. For kids with PANS/PANDAS or other neuroinflammatory conditions, that systems-level nudge may be the difference between spinning wheels and moving forward.

Catch the full discussion on the newest episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast! Link in bio.

01/29/2026

Precision dosing matters. Here’s why.

Today’s episode breaks down how TruDOSE tests and retests platelet dose (from your own blood) before treatment—so we’re not guessing. When the dose matches the need, families often see changes across multiple symptoms, because we’re modulating the system, not chasing one marker.

We also dive into:

Why platelet therapies can fail when dosing is guessed, and how testing and retesting the dose changes outcomes across immune, neurological, and inflammatory conditions.

How the body prioritizes healing in a hierarchy, targeting the brain, heart, and lungs first before downstream symptoms begin to shift.

Why reactions after treatment aren’t ‘bad news,’ but signals pointing to unresolved triggers that still need support, guiding the next step in care.

Watch the full episode on your favorite podcast platform or use the link in my bio!

01/28/2026

When healing finally feels possible.

In this conversation with TruDOSE leaders Tapley Holland and Elena Herning, we talk about what it means when a therapy gives families real hope—mind, body, and spirit. For so many of our kids, progress begins when the team around them believes there’s a path forward—and stays with them through it.

Check out the newest episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast for the full conversation! Link in bio.

Increasing magnesium in the diet or adding magnesium supplementation may play a positive role in both the prevention and...
01/27/2026

Increasing magnesium in the diet or adding magnesium supplementation may play a positive role in both the prevention and treatment of many disorders including depression, anxiety, tics, insomnia and constipation.

For more information, check out our blogs, membership and mentorship programs at drohara.com

References (more available in Resource section of Membership Program)

Botturi A, Ciappolino V, Delvecchio G, Boscutti A, Viscardi B, Brambilla P. The Role and the Effect of Magnesium in Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2020 Jun 3;12(6):1661. doi: 10.3390/nu12061661. PMID: 32503201

Boyle, N, Lawton, C & Dye, L. (2017). The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress. A Systematic Review. Nutrients, 9(5), 429. The Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Subjective Anxiety and Stress—A Systematic Review

Durlach, J, Pagès, N, Bac, P, Bara, M & Guiet-Bara, A. (2004). Magnesium research: from the beginnings to today. Magnesium Research, 17(3), 163–168.

Schwalfenberg GK, Genuis SJ. The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare. Scientifica (Cairo). 2017;2017:4179326. doi: 10.1155/2017/4179326. Epub 2017 Sep 28. PMID: 29093983

Xue, W., You, J., Su, Y., & Wang, Q. (2019). The Effect of Magnesium Deficiency on Neurological Disorders: A Narrative Review Article. Iranian journal of public health, 48(3), 379–387.)

Zhang C, Hu Q, Li S, Dai F, Qian W, Hewlings S, Yan T, Wang Y. A Magtein®, Magnesium L-Threonate, -Based Formula Improves Brain Cognitive Functions in Healthy Chinese Adults. Nutrients. 2022 Dec 8;14(24):5235. doi: 10.3390/nu14245235. PMID: 36558392

Zhao Wei, Jin Hai. Magnesium depletion score and depression: a positive correlation among US adults. Frontiers in Public Health. Volume 12. 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1486434

Hanging with Fred and Frankie during the snowstorm. Heading out to frolic and shovel! 🤪 Stay safe and warm
01/26/2026

Hanging with Fred and Frankie during the snowstorm. Heading out to frolic and shovel! 🤪 Stay safe and warm

01/23/2026

Addressing sensory sensitivities around food textures can transform dietary adherence in pediatric patients.

In episode 18 “Beating Tics, OCD, and Aggression with Food: The Diet Study Every Parent Should Know”, Julie Matthews and I demonstrate simple culinary techniques—such as creating kale chips or carrot fries—to convert challenging textures into appetizing options, thereby facilitating greater acceptance of nutrient-rich vegetables.

🌟 For the complete guide, search “Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast” on your favorite podcast platform or click the link in my bio.

01/22/2026

We don’t need more disease management—we need real health care.

Public health has warned about this for decades: our system treats crises but rarely builds health. For kids with complex issues, that means we must elevate integrative, lifestyle-first medicine—providers who have time to guide nutrition, sleep, movement, nervous-system support, and coordinated treatment.

In the latest episode with Dr. Joshua Green, we discuss how a membership-style practice model can restore time, trust, and outcomes, so families feel supported—not stranded. Watch the full conversation of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS Podcast using the link in my bio!

01/21/2026

Stuck after seeing 5…10…15 clinicians? There’s still hope.

Today’s episode with Dr. Joshua Green is for families and practitioners navigating complex, chronic illness who need a workable plan:

Shift diet by adding strategic foods (not policing every bite).

Prioritize sleep, movement, and real food—the foundations that move the needle more than piling on supplements.

Work with a primary provider who coordinates and listens, so care feels manageable instead of overwhelming. If you’ve been told “there’s nothing else to do,” this conversation offers a different way forward.

Watch now using the link in my bio or searching for the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS on your favorite podcast platform!

01/20/2026

The easiest way to change a child’s diet? Add first.

Instead of “don’t eat that,” try “have this before that.” Ten almonds or a scoop of hummus before the chips or pizza quietly shifts patterns without a power struggle. Kids feel successful, not restricted—and over time, portions self-correct.

This week’s episode of the Demystifying PANS/PANDAS, I talk with Dr. Joshua Green about this add-not-subtract approach, plus simple nutrition wins for picky/restrictive eaters in complex illness. Be sure to tune in to Demystifying PANS/PANDAS wherever you get your podcasts!

01/19/2026

“Biggest mistake people make when it comes to mold?”

Stopping at “We remediated.”

Mold/mycotoxin exposure can drive neuropsychiatric symptoms, inflammation, and mast cell activation. In my practice, a large share of complex kids have mold in the background—and they don’t turn the corner until the whole plan is done

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3 Hollyhock Lane
Wilton, CT
06897

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