All Things Strep: From Healing Strep Throat and GBS to Understanding PANS/PANDAS

Did you know there are well over 100 strains of strep?

This often-misunderstood bacteria reaches far beyond strep throat, with complex impacts on our health - and even deeper connections to conditions like PANS/ PANDAS and GBS in pregnancy.

In this episode, we are diving deep into all things strep: how it affects the body, why traditional treatments often fall short, and how rebalancing the gut provides a powerful, holistic alternative that empowers true healing. You’ll learn actionable steps for strep throat, Group B strep in pregnancy, and healing PANS/PANDAS, two conditions where strep can drive sudden, life-altering neurological changes.

Packed with insights on the gut-brain connection and immune support, this episode offers an effective approach to healing that works with your body. If you're ready to gain the knowledge to feel prepared and empowered, you won’t want to miss this one.

Links from the episode:
Explore The Children's Gut Rebalance Kit
Explore The Women's Gut Rebalance Kit

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Sending love and wellness from my family yours,
xx - Juniper Bennett
Founder of ōNLē ORGANICS

Transcript

Strep is a complex and often misunderstood bacteria that reaches far beyond strep throat, with complex impacts on our health - and even deeper connections to conditions like PANS/ PANDAS and Group B Strep in pregnancy.

Today, we're diving deep into everything from understanding the bacteria itself, exploring why traditional treatments can fall short. You’ll learn actionable steps for healing strep related conditions. We will go deeply into what these conditions are, how they develop, and symptoms to be aware of. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel empowered with the knowledge to take charge of your health and make choices that align with your body’s natural healing potential.

First, let’s start with what strep actually is. Strep, or Streptococcus, is a type of bacteria. While most people are familiar with strep throat, it’s actually just one of many strains. 

In fact, there are over 100 known strains, which are primarily categorized into two main groups: Group A and Group B.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is responsible for infections like strep throat, scarlet fever, and more severe illnesses such as rheumatic fever. This is the strain most people think of when they hear about strep because it causes the classic sore, red throat and fever symptoms.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), includes the well known strain that commonly lives in our gastrointestinal and urinary tracts. It’s typically harmless for healthy adults but can cause serious infections in newborns and is why pregnant women are tested and given antibiotics during pregnancy if they have it. 

Other strains can lead to pneumonia, ear infections, and even dental issues like tooth decay. While each strain varies in how it interacts with the body, the disruption that strep causes to your gut microbiome and immune system is why understanding these strains is so important.

When it comes to treating strep, antibiotics are the go-to solution. While they work quickly to kill the strep bacteria, they don’t differentiate between harmful bacteria and the beneficial bacteria that our bodies need. 

This causes a disruption in the gut microbiome, which is the body’s own vital ecosystem of bacteria. When this balance is disrupted, it creates an environment where harmful bacteria are more likely to thrive, and our immune system becomes compromised.

The microbiome plays a critical role in “training” our immune system to recognize and respond to pathogens. Beneficial bacteria in the gut work as a first line of defense, producing compounds that directly inhibit harmful bacteria and supporting immune cells that control inflammation and fight infections. But when we take antibiotics and wipe these good bacteria out, the body loses this essential layer of protection, making it easier for strep - or other harmful bacteria - to move back in and cause a reinfection.

This weakened microbiome also leads to increased inflammation, which puts further strain on the immune system. Antibiotic use can create a cycle: the immune system becomes less able to resist infections, while the gut struggles to restore its beneficial bacteria. In fact, studies show it can take up to two years for the gut to restore itself after just one round of antibiotics. This makes it not only easier for strep to return but also for other health issues, like mental health, digestive and skin issues to develop.

We have been conditioned to believe that antibiotics are the only option for fighting infections like strep. This creates a dilemma, leaving so many of us feeling torn because, on one hand, there’s an urgency to kill the strep bacteria, but on the other, there are significant risks that come with disrupting the delicate gut microbiome - especially for young children, whose microbiome and immune systems are still developing, and for pregnant women, where supporting a balanced microbiome is crucial for both mama and baby.

So, what's the alternative? Rebalancing.

Rebalancing works by targeting and eliminating harmful bacteria like strep while allowing beneficial bacteria in the microbiome to flourish. This restores harmony within the body, strengthening the immune system and empowering it to handle infections naturally, all while creating an environment where beneficial bacteria can thrive, leaving little room for harmful bacteria to exist.

In a little bit, I’ll share exactly what I would personally do if my child had strep throat or if I tested positive for Group B strep during pregnancy. But first, I want to talk about a lesser-known condition that affects so many children.

PANS stands for Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, and PANDAS is a subtype. It stands for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal infections. These conditions occur when a strep infection triggers an immune response that affects the brain, leading to the sudden onset of neuropsychiatric symptoms.

Children with PANS or PANDAS may experience severe symptoms almost overnight. Parents might notice things like obsessive-compulsive behaviors, extreme anxiety, tics, mood swings, or even rage episodes. In these cases, the immune system has essentially overreacted to the strep infection, attacking not only the bacteria but also parts of the brain. This autoimmune response can be heartbreaking for families, as it most often disrupts the child’s behavior, learning, and overall quality of life. Parents of children who have experienced PANS or PANDAS say it’s like they lost their child overnight. 

PANS and PANDAS are conditions that unfortunately aren’t always recognized in mainstream medicine. Many western doctors, who are unfamiliar with the immune response connection, often diagnose children with psychiatric or behavioral disorders and prescribe medications to manage symptoms, without addressing the root cause. This means that many children are put on strong psychiatric drugs when the underlying issue is actually an autoimmune response triggered by strep. 

One of the most challenging aspects is that many children with PANS or PANDAS never show classic strep symptoms like a sore throat. Often, strep bacteria can be present in the body without causing any sign of infection, which means parents and doctors may have no idea that strep is even a factor. 

Neurological conditions don’t typically appear overnight, so having this awareness is incredibly important. If you ever notice a sudden onset of behavioral or neurological changes in your child - especially symptoms like obsessive-compulsive behavior, mood swings, or motor tics - further explore the possibility of PANS or PANDAS. The earlier you heal their body the better but it is never too late. 

Typical treatment for PANS and PANDAS often involves antibiotics. Considering how antibiotics impact the gut-brain connection though, this can lead to increased anxiety, ADHD symptoms, and behavioral issues. This approach is not ideal.

Just like with strep throat or GBS, ​​Rebalancing is a beautiful alternative. It not only kills the strep but helps create an environment that allows the body to heal.

I want to pause here to acknowledge that sometimes antibiotics are necessary, and there are cases when going that route feels intuitively right - and that’s okay. Antibiotics can play a critical role in certain situations. But if you do choose that path, remember that intentionally restoring the gut afterward is essential. Rebalancing will help rebuild the microbiome, strengthen the immune system, and protect the vital gut-brain connection, so healing can continue in a way that promotes long-term health.

Here is exactly what I would personally do if my child had strep throat or if I tested positive for Group B strep during pregnancy:

For Strep Throat: I would follow the full rebalance protocol, with one additional step - gargling with Cleanse before swallowing. The longer you gargle, the more effective it is, as it allows Cleanse to target the bacteria directly in the throat.

For PANS/PANDAS: I would follow the rebalance protocol, but instead of tapering off the initial larger dosage of Cleanse after four days, I would continue this higher dosage and add a third dose midday. This provides consistent support to the immune system and microbiome while targeting the strep bacteria.

For Group B Strep (during pregnancy): I would begin rebalancing as soon as I found out I was pregnant. If I didn’t, or if I did and still tested positive for GBS, I would start rebalancing in my third trimester, ideally around 35 weeks, so the protocol overlaps with birth and postpartum. If I did test positive, in addition to following the full rebalance protocol, whenever I showered, I would wash with the Wash bar soap. And I would apply Relieve to my vaginal area morning and night to support the vaginal microbiome and ensure that strep doesn’t persist.

Thank you for joining me in this deep dive into strep and the power of rebalancing. Whether it’s strep throat or understanding more complex conditions like PANS and PANDAS, I hope you feel empowered to explore healing approaches that nurture your body from the inside out. Remember, true healing begins in the gut, and by supporting our microbiome, we give our immune system the best chance to thrive. At the end of the day, always listen to yourself. You know best for yourself and your family. Every episode on the podcast is intended to empower and educate you to make your most informed and aligned decisions. I will catch you next week.