The Streptococcinum
Streptococcus bacteria is an incredibly common bacteria, which contains over 50 distinct species such as Strep Pyogenes. Now research shows that nearly all school aged children get strep throat at some point.
For some genetically susceptible people, there is an immune reaction after a strep infection, where the strep bacteria ‘hide’ from the immune system by putting molecules on their cell wall - they cleverly camouflage so they look nearly identical to molecules found on a child’s heart, joints, skin and brain tissues. This is called '“molecular mimicry”, and essentially it allows the strep bacteria to evade detection for a long time. When these molecules on the strep bacteria are eventually recognised as foreign to the body, the child’s immune system reacts by producing antibodies, and these antibodies then attack the mimicked molecules in the child’s tissue and react to similar molecules found on other parts of the body. Some medical and scientific studies show that some cross-reactive antibodies target the brain, contributing to obsessive behaviours, twitchches, tics, fidgeting, and other neuropsychiatric symptoms of PANDAS.
This is why the strep nosode is one the most commonly prescribed homeopathic nosodes for children in clinic. It can be used for acute throat/immune presentations, such as strep throat, fever, tonsillitis, enlarged tonsils, etc. It can also be used for possible post-strep behaviour/emotional presentations, such as obsessive compulsive behaviours, ritualistic behaviours, twitches, tics, anxiety, etc.
What exactly is streptococcus?
Various strep species are responsible for a number of health disturbances, which may present as:
sore throat - pharyngitis (aka ‘strep throat’)
painful swallowing
enlarged tonsils (sometimes with white spots)
recurring eye infections & pink eye
sinus congestion
bacterial pneumonia
Homeopathic indications for using the Strep nosode:
The strep nosode can be used acutely for sore throats, fever, skin rash, scarlett fever, painful throat and painful swallowing, enlarged tonsils and sinusitis.
I also use strep nosode for more chronic cases, and if it matches behavioural/emotional presentations such as obsessive behaviours such as obsessive hand washing, defiance, tantrums, ritualistic behaviours, separation anxiety, general anxiety, reactive/sensitive to noises such as other people chewing, low self esteem, self harm and suppressed grief.
There can also be fever, headache, tics, twitches, fidgeting, poor handwriting, swollen tonsils and glands, bad breath (often referred to as ‘strepy breath’), keratosis pilaris, and arthritis.
The homeopathic strep nosode can be a transformative remedy. It may be a stand-alone remedy if there’s suspected strep infection/post-strep behaviours (such as enlarged tonsils, recurring illnesses, fligeting, tics, twitches, outbursts, etc.) or the strep nosode can be used alongside a constitutional/classical homeopathic medicine to address throat, immune or behavioural issues.
Please note: there are no lab tests to determine PANDAS or post-strep issues - it’s based on clinical presentations, which is why it’s important to work closely with your health practitioner and homeopath.