Kid’s Health
Has your child’s health concern transformed your home?
It may be hard to talk about, but when a child is ill the order of a home can change dramatically. My job is to help you bring health back to the home
Does your doctor keep telling you everything is fine?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard this when it wasn’t true
Is your child dealing with recurring infections?
There are many ways that we can get to the root and nip this in the bud.
Is the bathroom an issue EVERY time?
No matter what you’ve heard, constipation is not normal and there are many ways to find resolution.
So many children are struggling with recurring issues from allergies to joint pain to urinary tract infections.
I solve the cause of symptoms BEFORE they lead to lifelong health concerns.
My tools allow me to assess and identify the underlying root cause of health concerns that will allow your child to live happily and healthy on a day-to-day basis.
I use a combination of clinical assessment, conventional and functional lab testing, and multiple modalities to guide your child’s journey to wellness.
To name a few, my modalities include nutrition, botanical medicine, genetic assessment, nutrient deficiency, and GI rebuilding.
Areas of Focus
Specific Challenges I Can Address
PANDAS/PANS
Pediatric acute-onset neuropsychiatric disorder associated with streptococcal and Pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric syndrome ~ arguably autoimmune encephalitis of the basal ganglia, is a disorder that influences the behavior of your child. Most commonly PANS is thought to be associated with new-onset tics and OCD, yet I have seen it manifest as anger, anxiety, mood swings, insomnia, urinary changes and MANY other symptoms. I have seen children that have changed after strep infections, mold exposure, tick bites, and other infections. PANDAS is a clear diagnosis whereas PANS is much more broad.
What we are dealing with is an autoimmune attack on your child’s brain. When symptoms are severe conventional medicine can help with pharmaceuticals, but when your child has moderate or mild symptoms there is little conventional medicine can do. This is where I come in. My tools balance your child’s health, halt the inflammatory cascade, and many can be applied to your family. I also have the tools to help your family stay flare free and healthy. Our work together emphasizes identifying the root cause and modulating the immune system so it can react appropriately to future infections. This helps us to prevent similar symptoms in the entire family too.
Learn more from Dr. Knapp’s lecture series PANS and PANDAS with the experts
Download the PANDAS Symptom Checklist & Tracker. Enter your info to gain access.
PANS RESOURCES
- PANDAS Network
- ASPIRE: The Alliance to Solve PANS and Immune Related Encephalopathies
- PANDAS Physicians Network
- NWPPN: Northwest PANDAS/PANS Network
- NEPANS: New England Pans/Pandas Association
- Stanford Area PANS Parent Support Facebook Group – this group also has monthly calls with guest speakers often from the Stanford PANS Clinic
- Autoimmune Encephalitis Alliance
- The Foundation for Children with Neuroimmune Disorders
- Moleculera Labs: Cunningham panel
School advocacy
- Pans, Cans, and Automobiles: A Comprehensive Reference Guide for Helping Students with Pandas and Pans
- Jamie Candelaria-Greene
- PANDAS and PANS in School Settings by Patricia Rice Doran
Books
- What Happened to My Child?: A Mother’s Courageous Journey to Save Her Son – Heather Rain Mazen Korbmacher
- Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS and Autoimmune Encephalitis by Beth Lambert, Maria Rickert Hong, Roseann Capanna-Hodge, Jennifer Glustra-Kozek, Lauren Stone
- Childhood Interrupted: The Complete Guide to PANDAS and PANS by Beth Alison Maloney
View other areas of focus:
Autoimmune Diseases
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Autism
Chronic Infections
Autoimmune Diseases
The rate of autoimmunity in children is on the rise. I see children with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, folate receptor-a autoantibodies, and other autoimmune diseases.
Conventional medicine has great tools for suppressing the symptoms. Yet when you plug the hole in a water balloon while it’s being filled, another hole erupts.
With a naturopathic approach I look beyond the symptoms being managed. I look for the root cause and assess multiple factors that contribute to the imbalance of immune function.
When I work with autoimmune disease, we identify the cause and reset the system using a multi-faceted approach in order to create a healthy response to self.
View other areas of focus:
PANDAS/PANS
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Autism
Chronic Infections
Down Syndrome
I do not treat down syndrome, I treat symptoms commonly associated with down syndrome.
I work with you to ensure your child with down syndrome flourishes. I have learned from the best and have extensive knowledge about the common health concerns associated with having an extra 21 chromosome.
I regularly hear that doctors tell my patient’s “that’s normal for down syndrome”. Any health concern is not normal and should be addressed. I am here to help you decide how to heal your child or how to give your child their optimal health.
I help with thyroid dysfunction, autoimmunity, recurring infections, reduce cardiovascular or lung function, constipation, cognitive development, motility, muscle tone, and more. I’ve spent years treating children with Down syndrome. And, let me tell you a secret. Supplements can help us to make sure your child does not deal with any nutritional deficiencies and has the tools they need for a robust immune system, but also, an incredibly important piece of the puzzle that you are already providing is a nurturing environment with reduced toxic burden.
Download the Guide to Improve Elimination. Enter your info to gain access.
Here are two examples of adults with down syndrome that were raised with little to no supplements and have achieved so much in life.
Karen Gaffney
Pablo Pineda
View other areas of focus:
PANDAS/PANS
Autoimmune Diseases
ADHD
Autism
Chronic Infections
ADHD
9% of children in the USA are thought to have ADHD, aka attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ADHD can be a gift because it is a different way of thinking and being.
In Naturopathic medicine, we go beyond conventional medication and therapy to treat ADHD. I work with my patients to help them discern what is within their control. We may work together to identify food triggers like artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, or salicylates.
I make sure that gastrointestinal dysfunction is not contributing to nutrient deficiency, neurotransmitter and hormonal imbalance that may be affecting the ability to focus and retain information. Sometimes poor sleep and high cortisol can be an issue. Or, I may do testing to see if there is heavy metal and chemical burden that is consuming the body’s resources.
I educate my patients on how to take care of their body, why food and movement are important, and I give tools to help shift their mental state to increase focus and productivity.
There are a number of different ways that I approach ADHD. The specific treatment and labs are catered to the individual and what sounds most obvious based on their history. We make these decisions together to help improve every day life.
Download the Guide to Improve Elimination. Enter your info to gain access.
ADHD Resources
View other areas of focus:
PANDAS/PANS
Autoimmune Diseases
Down Syndrome
Autism
Chronic Infections
Autism
1 in 54 children have autism according to the CDC. There is abundant research on the role of the gut, immune system, nervous system, and mitochondrial dysfunction playing a role in autism.
I work with families to reduce the harrowing symptoms that may come along with autism. I take special care to make sure that diagnostic overshadowing is not preventing a child from getting the treatment they need in order to be happy and healthy.
I use a combination of in depth lab testing, evidence based dietary and botanical support, lifestyle changes, low dose immunotherapy and homeopathy to reduce and prevent the negative symptoms that can often be associated with autism.
View other areas of focus:
PANDAS/PANS
Autoimmune Diseases
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Chronic Infections
Chronic Infections
As a child, I had many food allergies and chronic infections – respiratory infections, ear infections, ‘bladder’ infections. I was on repeated rounds of antibiotics to ‘heal’ the infections.
Today, I see children with chronic infections regularly. My expertise in naturopathic medicine has allowed me to teach my patients why recurring infections are an issue.
We identify the underlying cause of the susceptibility to infection. I have worked with countless people and identified what their body’s needed to manage the bacteria or virus before another infection took hold.
Download the Warming Socks Handouts. Enter your info to gain access.
View other areas of focus:
PANDAS/PANS
Autoimmune Diseases
Down Syndrome
ADHD
Autism