[Xylitol and Strep]

Has anyone had any experience with Xylitol and its ability to help prevent strep? Thanks, Cindy

 

Our DAN recommended it to us as did our homeopath because some strep does reside or take up residence in the mouth and nasal cavities, I believe Xylitol has anti bacterial properties. The idea was to prevent or minimize new exposures. Our Homeopathic dentist is also carrying a lot of xylitol for prevention of gingivitis (sp?) and oral cancer. Does it work? Well, we're still here. Strep is nasty. But, most of the products we have tried seem better for our family than drugstore brands so we lean that way.

[Has anyone used natural antibiotics for PANDAS?]

Hello all,

 

While we're still waiting to get a diagnosis (or not) for PANDAS, I've been researching natural antibiotics. We've been taking probiotics for about 6 weeks now, and I was hoping to learn more before considering the large-dose antibiotic route. But if that's what we have to do to see results, of course we'll take that route!

 

In the meantime, can anyone tell me if you've ever tried grapefruit seed extract, oregano oil, olive leaf extract, or caprylic acid? I read on Wikipedia (may or may not be true) that caprylic acid is effective against some strains of Strep and Staph, although there have been steady reports of mild to severe gastrointestinal side effects. I can't find any reported side effects with grapefruit seed extract, and it is supposed to be a natural broad-spectrum antibiotic effective against yeast, bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Both seem almost too good to be true! I don't know much yet about the other two. Any thoughts, advice, and experience are welcome.

 

Also, here is an update on our progress.

 

Today I took my ds11 to a pediatric neurologist who diagnosed OCD and referred us to a child psychiatrist. (Shocker.) In advance I tried to determine if/how they treat and diagnose PANDAS, but they never responded to my repeated visits and e-mails. Basically, we were dismissed with: "I'm not goint to argue with you about PANDAS" even though the dr was doing all of the talking - mostly explaining why it *wasn't* PANDAS. But for whatever reason, he did agree to run bloodwork for ASO and AntiDNaseB titers and a 3-day strep culture. We also have an appointment in two weeks with a dr who is supposed to know about PANDAS, so that's reason to hope, although I try not to get too excited about a good outcome. Just trying to be ready if more obstacles appear along the way....

 

Thanks,

SearchingMom

 

When DD was younger in 1st and 2nd grade we did have some success Oregamax and Oregonol and Olive Leaf Extract. Uvi Ursi also works too, though limited. We have used caprylic for yeast but when we're on Zithromax we need to use Nystatin. It is important to rotate herbals, not give the same one all the time. I'm not the biggest expert. There is a notion that the body gets used to them. When she was younger we could knock out or greatly reduce her first or second exposures in the school year, usually November or December with the herbals. The Winter exposures were still pretty bad. That was before we could get a doc to believe in her symptoms = PANDAS and agree to treat. She's in 5th Grade now. We now treat with Zithromax and keep those herbs on board to deal with other things besides the bacteria, like yeast.

[Probiotics]

Could we start a response thread on probiotic usage?

 

What are you using?

What is the dosage? perhaps including per weight or age or per antibiotic

Is it a pill or powder?

Where do you get it?

Anything else that might be helpful about it.

 

 

Right now we're using Therbiotic Detoxification Support from Klaire Labs, no strep strains.

[strep bacteria in the brain]

i know i have no business in posts like this, but. . . my head starts wondering and i can't help myself!

 

we talk about the strep antibodies affecting the brain. is there any proof that it is/is not also the actual strep bacteria in the brain? i mean, we do have proof of strep in the throat, the gut and the skin - so why not the brain? it's proven that the lyme spirochete actually likes to live in the brain tissue, yes?

 

there is proof that it is the actual antibodies causing trouble, yes? is there proof or disproof that the bacteria could be there, too?

 

does this make a difference in the fight to eradicate strep? i have trouble understanding the "intercellular" concept. is this similar to the lyme borrelia changing to a cyst state? could the strep bacteria change state in the brain?

 

do we know that it's limited to the basal ganglia? could the seeming groupings of symptoms correlate to actual other areas of the brain being affected?

 

please excuse my ignorance, but the basal ganglia is different from the frontal lobe, correct? and the frontal lobe is labeled the emotional control center - involved in motor function, problem solving, spontaneity, initiation, judgement, impulse control, social behavior, flexibility, problem solving, perseverating, non-compliance with rules, emotional liability, immature behavior, dramatic change in social behavior. that right there describes my son's issues better than ocd ever has.

 

i know i'm way too stupid to start this discussion, but am interested in what others have to say.