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Acupuncture for POTS & Autonomic Dysfunction

Support for Postural Tachycardia, Dysautonomia, Dizziness & Nervous System Dysregulation

 

POTS — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome — and related forms of autonomic dysfunction are conditions in which the autonomic nervous system fails to regulate basic physiological functions properly. Standing up causes the heart rate to spike dramatically. Blood pressure shifts unpredictably. The body that should adjust automatically to changes in position, temperature, or activity simply doesn't — and the result is a constellation of symptoms that can make ordinary daily activities feel profoundly destabilizing.

 

These conditions are often invisible, frequently misunderstood, and underdiagnosed — particularly in women and in people who developed symptoms following an illness. At ECHO, care for POTS and autonomic dysfunction is individualized, paced carefully to current functional capacity, and oriented toward gradual stabilization of the nervous system's regulatory function.

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What We Support

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  • POTS — postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome with rapid heart rate on standing, dizziness, and fatigue

  • Orthostatic hypotension — blood pressure dropping on standing, causing lightheadedness or near-fainting

  • Dysautonomia — broader autonomic nervous system dysfunction affecting heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and temperature regulation

  • Post-COVID autonomic dysfunction — POTS or dysautonomia developing after COVID-19 infection

  • Temperature dysregulation — difficulty tolerating heat or cold, excessive sweating, or cold extremities

  • Digestive symptoms from autonomic dysfunction — nausea, bloating, slow gastric emptying, or constipation

  • Fatigue and exercise intolerance — disproportionate exhaustion with minimal activity

  • Brain fog and cognitive symptoms associated with autonomic dysregulation

  • Sleep disruption related to autonomic instability

  • Anxiety and nervous system hyperactivation alongside dysautonomia

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How Acupuncture & Herbal Medicine Help

 

POTS and autonomic dysfunction involve the autonomic nervous system's failure to maintain homeostasis — the automatic regulation of heart rate, blood pressure, circulation, digestion, and temperature. Acupuncture works directly with the autonomic nervous system, supporting its capacity to regulate these functions more consistently. Its effect on the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity is one of its most studied mechanisms, and it is directly relevant to the dysregulation that characterizes POTS.

 

Pacing is important in autonomic dysfunction — pushing the body beyond its current regulatory capacity can worsen symptoms. Treatment at ECHO is calibrated carefully to your current functional level, and adjusted based on how your body responds between visits. Sessions may be shorter and gentler than for other conditions, particularly early in care.

 

Herbal medicine provides continuous daily support between sessions — particularly valuable for a condition where the nervous system needs sustained, gentle regulation rather than intermittent intervention.

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Treatment is designed to:

  • Support autonomic nervous system regulation and improve heart rate and blood pressure stability

  • Reduce dizziness, lightheadedness, and orthostatic intolerance

  • Improve circulation and peripheral blood flow

  • Ease digestive symptoms associated with autonomic dysfunction

  • Reduce fatigue and improve exercise tolerance gradually over time

  • Support sleep, cognitive function, and emotional regulation

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What to Expect

 

Your first session includes a careful intake covering your autonomic dysfunction history, current symptom pattern, functional capacity, and what makes things better or worse. People with POTS often arrive having seen many providers without adequate support — this care takes the full picture seriously and proceeds at a pace that genuinely respects your current capacity.

 

Progress with autonomic dysfunction is gradual. Early improvements often show in sleep, digestive symptoms, and cognitive clarity. Heart rate stability and exercise tolerance typically improve more slowly over a consistent course of care.

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Related Services

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Acupuncture and East Asian Medicine for Health, Mood & Functional Concerns

Individualized acupuncture and herbal prescribing for POTS, autonomic dysfunction, and whole-body systemic health.
Learn More | Book a Session​

 

Acupuncture for Long COVID

For POTS or autonomic dysfunction developing following COVID-19 infection.
Learn More | Book a Session

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Clinical Herbal Medicine Consultations

Herbal prescribing as a standalone service — providing continuous daily nervous system support between acupuncture sessions.​
Learn More | Book a Session

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