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Natural Remedies for Dysautonomia: Holistic Approaches to ANS Disorder

| Modified on Aug 09, 2024
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Dysautonomia refers to a spectrum of conditions resulting from malfunctioning the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which governs vital automatic functions like breathing, heart rate, and digestion. Though there's no definitive cure for dysautonomia, several natural remedies may alleviate its symptoms and enhance overall well-being.

Symptoms of Dysautonomia

The wide-ranging symptoms make diagnosis challenging. While dysautonomia can manifest in anyone, it is more prevalent in women and often emerges during puberty. Some symptoms include:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Weakness
  • Heart irregularities
  • Digestive issues
  • Excessive or diminished sweating
  • Food allergies and chemical sensitivities
  • Weight fluctuations
  • Dizziness
  • Anxiety
  • Blood pressure irregularities
  • Intolerance to varying temperatures or exercise
  • Sleep disturbances

Notably, Neurocardiogenic Syncope (NCS) is the most common type, characterized by fainting spells. On the other hand, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) affects millions, primarily young, seemingly healthy women.

Potential Causes of Dysautonomia

While dysautonomia's exact cause often remains uncertain, some contributing factors have been identified:

Autonomic dysreflexia: Often results from spinal cord injuries.
Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy: A complication from diabetes.
Bodily stresses such as accidents, sepsis, pregnancy, or fevers can also be triggering factors.

Natural Remedies

There is no definitive cure for dysautonomia. Still, individuals can undertake several measures to optimize their health:

  • Dietary Choices: Consuming a balanced diet of whole foods is beneficial. Minimize intake of processed foods and sugars. Foods like oatmeal nourish the nervous system, while milk kefir can be a nutritious addition to many diets.
  • Regular Physical Activity: Engage in light exercises regularly, as per one's capacity.
  • Exposure to Nature: Daily doses of sunshine and fresh air can be invigorating.
  • Adequate Rest: Ensure you get enough sleep and relaxation.
  • Stress Management: Allocate time for enjoyable activities like puzzles, games, crafts, or any hobby.

Herbs Beneficial for the Nervous System

  • Chamomile, Passionflower, and Valerian can both calm and promote sleep.
  • Motherwort and Hawthorn can support nerves and improve circulation.

Body Alkalizing

A simple tonic can help maintain body pH: Mix 1 tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar with 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in water and consume once or twice daily.

Precautions

Before adopting any remedy, always begin with small doses, gradually increase, and remain alert for any side effects.

We invite readers to share their experiences and suggestions related to dysautonomia below. Your feedback is invaluable to the community.

The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
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Atenolol

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Posted by Sam (Miami) on 06/28/2020
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Dysautonomia is a label, an umbrella for many syndromes. One won't find remedies for dysautonomia here. Dysautonomia international is the source for all your questions. True POTS, a type of dysautonomia, is an elevated heart rate upon standing that won't go back to normal while blood pressure remains normal. Blood pools into your legs when you stand. This is classic pots. Hypovolemia is often present, but it is not accepted by doctors since they don't measure the volume of blood, they say that based on your blood work you have no hypovolemia. Which is not a fact, but an assumption. Measuring blood volume could not be done at every clinic or hospital. Hypovolemia is probably secondary to autonomic dysfunction, but it could lead to a syncope..

If blood pressure drops, it is not POTS. POTS comes with many other debilitating symptoms. Not only teenagers get it. Cervical cancer vaccine causes POTS. Managing pots is very difficult. There is no one size fits all.

I have tried everything there's to try in alternative medicine field, from supplements to modalities, nothing worked for me. I have it for 10 years. Only atenolol allows me to semi function, but it only addresses heart rate elevation, not the other 50 symptoms that come with POTS.

Replied by Jane
(Nevada)
12/04/2020

I have found the only thing that works for me is intermittent fasting and also doing an occasional water fast for 3 to 7 day water. Clean diet, daily meditation, detoxing the body via far-infrared sauna/Salt bath and acupuncture has helped me immensely however you have to be very disciplined with all of this. Just try.

Chantal
(Milwaukee)
06/02/2022

What kind of clean diet do you eat? Also what ratio of fasting do you do? How long did it take you to make it to 3 to 7 day fasting? I would pass out lol! Thanks

Replied by msmaia
(usa east coast)
02/14/2021

When you say, "One won't find remedies for dysautonomia here. Dysautonomia International is the source for all your questions." I'm not sure what you mean because I thought this was a site that has ongoing conversations and knowledge building and personal experiences. I'm sure (and hoping) people will keep sharing insights and personal experience with this condition.

Dysautonomia International has not provided me with any help with my condition due to their policies on medical advice. I'm hoping one day it will.

In the meantime, members are not free to talk on the social media page about actual cures so I will still be checking Earth Clinic which has already been a help to me in find cures to some of my symptoms over the years.

Replied by msmaia
(usa east coast)
02/14/2021

I want to make sure that the misinformation posted here is corrected. POTS is not for teenagers only. See article from NIH. "Anyone at any age can develop POTS, but the majority of individuals affected (between 75 and 80 percent) are women between the ages of 15 to 50 years of age. Some women report an increase in episodes of POTS right before their menstrual periods." - NIH

I developed POTS at age 44, I am now 47 and still have it. I also did a pole in a large pots group and was surprised to see a surprising amount of potsies 40-60. It's important that people are aware because I went 2 years not knowing what was wrong with me.

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome Information Page | National ...www.ninds.nih.gov › Disorders › All-Disorders › Postural...

Replied by Ioana M
(Chicago)
03/15/2022

For those that are looking for treatment for dysautonomia!! Have you tried functional neurology? They take a full person approach with an extensive initial exam of 3 hours that looks at EVERY symptom not just one. Here is the link to one of these offices! : https://neurologicwellnessinstitute.com/dysautonomia/

Mary Alice Silverthorn
(Marquette, MI)
03/21/2024

Hello! I just received a diagnosis from functional neurologists in Grand Rapids. It was two hours. I feel a constant feeling of anxiety in my stomach area and had no idea that could be a PoTS symptom. I start treatment in a little over a month. Will update results...but happy to have some clarity. I was given some supps to try.

Butcher's Broom +

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Posted by Thewozi (Charlotte, NC) on 12/28/2022
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Work in progress...

My teenage son was recently diagnosed with dysautonomia. We are at a functional neurology center that, despite my skepticism, is helping. I don't have enough mileage to call any of these a 'cure' but we are experimenting with - butcher's broom (herb) 2x per day, building up calf muscles to better move blood, hydration drinks, and red light therapy behind the knee.

Replied by Syd
(New Mexico)
04/08/2023

I actually have orthostatic hypotension, not POTS (though have been misdiagnosed w/ POTS - my BP drops precipitously, so not POTS). Anyway, I have been wondering if there is an application for red light therapy as one of the tools. Behind the knee is fascinating!! How did you choose that location, and has your son found it useful?

Must be super hard as a mom to see your kid suffering. Sending hugs to both of you.

(I used to use Butcher's Broom and it noticeably helped. For some reason, I can't tolerate it now, but it's really worth trying out, imo.)

Art
(California)
04/08/2023
2325 posts

Syd, I am curious of what you are taking to help your orthostatic hypertension, if you don't mind saying? Thank you! Art

Art
(California)
04/08/2023
2325 posts

Syd,

In my previous reply, I meant to say orthostatic hypotension.

Art

Syd
(New Mexico)
12/30/2023

Goodness, I'm just seeing this question! I've tried so many things. Some folks get great results with licorice, but it can raise cortisol and if your cortisol is already high, that's a no-go. It can also deplete potassium, but that's easy to supplement. Butcher's Broom helped for a while. Then it gave me breast tenderness/achiness. Drinking enough water with electrolytes helps some.

I'm really exploring thiamine, though I can barely tolerate it right now. (That doesn't mean I don't need it! ) There's a great (large and expensive) book on dysautonomia (an umbrella term, of course) and thiamine. I'm also exploring riboflavin. I know several folks who no longer have OH after using riboflavin. I have these in tinctures and am literally starting out at a drop and working my way up.

My OH is greatly impacting my life. My cognitive functioning, mostly.

Multiple Remedies

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Posted by Heyjamieboy (New York ) on 12/22/2017
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Dysautonomia: Learning about this illness from Lyme disease:

  • feet are numb tingle
  • neck and head pain
  • mornings are hell with palpitations shortness of breath body ache.
  • Excessive urination at night, 1.5 liter or more
  • - exercise intolerance
  • colld and heat Intolerance
  • disturbed sleep
  • brutal pain. after sittting more than an hour

taking many supplements, eating clean

b vitamins nerve support

After leaky gut from Lyme

Loooking into plasma exchange and hyperbaric oxygen treatments

Desperate for help and feedback and support and ideas on anything

Replied by Anie
(Ny)
01/23/2018
15 posts

I got allergy tested and went on a low histamine diet with help medically, avoiding high histamine foods and supplements or rotating them in slowly is key to healing the gut. In one day I had less pots in the am, that is when it hits me most, not sure why. Also at night before bed I have Golden milk, use the right milk not raw as it needs to be low histamine, read up on it, with tumeric and local raw honey, then follow it up with a heaping teapsoon of coconut oil. The higher the quality the better you are at healing. ORganic and non-gmo along with cold pressed items. Get to know what is low histamine and keep track of your food on chronometer to be sure you meet your needs. In less than a day I am feeling better. If your supplements are high histamine then only have them 1x a week and maybe double it, then go up to 2x a week, the idea is to heal the gut and rotate foods for good health. Dr Rapp had a good rotational diet, just have to watch those histamines. Prayers and blessings to you. Also find a way to exercise with docs okay, even if laying down or sitting at home as pots is well treated with exercise but it should be supervised and prescribed to prevent episodes. Good luck!

Replied by Becky
(Mi)
05/12/2018

I also have dysautonomia. I have had 16 times of going to the hospital in 6 years.I first get vasovagal syncope, followed by excessive heat. I used to then have trouble breathing from AFIB followed by blood pressure dropping very very low, dehydration, low potassium and magnesium, then so many different things happen like ischemic colitis, hypothermia needing a bear blanket to bring myself back from 93 degrees. Last year I had a slight stoke. I eventually got a cardiac ablation and do not have AFIB anymore. But I am now very sensitive to things like midodrine, nitroglycerin, epinephrine, and 5HTP. My heart spasms and I actually died in the ambulance last year. No one wants to spend the time treating this and want to refer me to someone else. I have actually been referred to Mayo Clinic but even they refused me. If anyone has any ideas, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks

Lou
(Tyler, TX)
08/01/2022

My spouse's BP dropped to 80/40 several times in the last 10 years or so. I keep Fritos on hand. I crush them up and put them in milk. He takes that by spoonfuls and his BP returns to normal in a short amount of time. He had an episode at a rest stop a couple of weeks ago while traveling. A Mountain Dew did the trick. Sodium.

Replied by Steve
(Fl)
05/14/2018

I was diagnosed with this condition over 13 years now which was confirmed by Mayo Clinic after numerous tests. The treatment for this condition from all conventional doctors was for the symptoms and not the root cause. I eventually tried a center for natural and integrative medicine and was immediately diagnosed with Epstein-barr virus along with deficient adrenals through blood tests and a saliva test. Treatment with anti-viral medication and adrenal support medication have significantly reduced my symptoms. I still have a long way to go in my recovery as this treatment needs to be followed for a year or two in order to eliminate this condition. You may want to explore this avenue and see if you can achieve relief from your symptoms.

God blessings.

Shannon
(Arizona)
02/03/2023

I see your post was in 2018. Have you improved since then? Wondering what anti-viral meds or adrenal support you were/are on? We prefer to go the most natural route possible with of course treating the root cause as well. Not sure if you will see this and are still on this site from time to time....but hoping and praying you are better. Thank you

Steve
(Florida)
02/04/2023

My condition deteriorated over time despite using those meds. Also visited Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Fl where they prescribed Fludrocortisone, which did not provide any relief. Eventually visited Vanderbilt University medical center in Nashville TN. Dr. Biaggioni determined my noradrenaline levels were very low and prescribed droxidopa for low bp during the day and Lorsatan at night to lower high nighttime bp. We are currently tweaking the meds by adding Atomoxetine to bring even more relief of my symptoms. So far, I feel lots of moments of normalcy daily, but, this is a balancing act. I do have moments dizziness early in the morning prior to taking my meds.

Replied by Tim
(Highland, Il)
07/18/2018

Becky, my wife has pure autonomic failure which is a dysautonomia. We have seen many neurology doctors Mayo Clinics Rochester Minn, and Jacksonville Fl., Springfield Il. Clinic, Washington University St Louis Mo., and Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tn. She has passed out 6-8 times in 12 years mostly early with this condition. She also had the heart ablation which helped with heart AFIB. She could not take midodrine because it made her scalp burn.

The best doctor we have found is at Vanderbilt University during a drug trial. My wife was a non-responder to new drug, but Vanderbilt drug trial director and doctor would not let leave until they found a medication she could use. It was great. We continue to see this doctor (Cyndy Chibao) twice a year. My wife is mostly functional with medication. She takes FlorineF and Octreotide in day time to raise her blood pressure and sildenafil at night to lower her blood pressure. We also found out that after meals her blood pressure would drop so Acarbose was added for that and it has helped. We monitor her blood pressure 4 times a day 2 readings at night and 2 a day. Her high nighttime blood pressure has damaged her one eye and her last blood test indicated poor kidney function.

So, it is a balancing act getting enough medication to raise her Blood pressure in daytime and enough at night to ensure safe sleeping blood pressure. Hope this helps.

Replied by Elle
(Southern California)
08/09/2024

I, too, am disalbled, not only with autonomous nervous system disorder, but a whole host of co-morbidities: POTS, CFIDS, pyroluria, Addison's disease, lead and mercury poisoning, among others, all diagnosed at different times. Now try having all that, no friends, no family, (my abusive mother died a couple months ago, we didn't live together) no car, coming down with the flu (CoVID?) and being forced to move out! That's what happened to me a week 1/2 ago, and I have to go thru that again in 2 1/2 weeks. And I have most all my stuff with me. (Put what I could in storage and already found myself missing stuff from 3 different boxes! ) I have been homeless for years due to my disabilities and I am forced to move out every 4 weeks, find a new place to live. It's too much stress for me: on top of all the rest, I am autistic!

The ANSD means sometimes I can't move, I can't get out of bed because my body can't respond to brain commands, it takes me a long while to be able to move. (This is an extreme symptom that occurs about once a month) Last summer, the cops were sent to my door cos the manager refused the rent the night before, without notice told me I had to move and the worst struck during the night, and I couldn't move.

This time, I had intense coccyx pain, extremely painful in bed when coughing and I was forced to move. I need a home but due to no credit score, I can't rent anywhere and I am autistic, so I can't live with others: I seem to attract nothing but abusive people and I can't cope with that. It destroys my health further, adrenals are shot. And that's not counting with all the mental damages. Count your blessings if you're not homeless or have family. You could be so much worse!

I am heat intolerant and live in So Cal. I have wanted to move to cooler climate for the past 20 years but I can't: I don't know anyone and I can't do much for myself. If anyone can help, with a permanent solution to any of these illnesses please post. Particularly how to detox the metals. I was supposed to get IVs 15 years ago, but I couldn't manage due moving constantly and I am old now, can't cope with living like this much longer. Thanks for reading.

POTS

Posted by Janet (Indiana) on 02/09/2016

P.O.T.S.Fluctuating blood pressure.... here is a great post from Ted that I found while researching A Fib and related heart issues Dysautonomia

Janet

Replied by msmaia
(usa east coast)
02/14/2021

Thanks for mentioning Ted's post. It is very interesting, but I am curious. Is sodium nitrate safe? Is Ted saying to ingest it? I know nothing about chemistry but online it says it's poisonous. Has anyone Ted's remedy? if so, where to buy it?

The Dysautonomia Project

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Posted by SandyS (Palm Bay, FL) on 04/10/2022
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The Dysautonomia Project has published a book and has a website for this hard to diagnose condition. Their goal is to educate patients and general practitioners. Their website is https://thedysautonomiaproject.org/ One of the doctors that helped write the book, Dr. David Goldstein, MD, PhD will send a free copy of a separate book he wrote if you email [email protected]. I'm just reading The Dysautonomia Project book, so I haven't emailed, but it was in the notes for the doctor profile. The book is very thorough and has lots of traditional and complementary treatments.

Thiamine, B Complex, Cayenne

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Posted by Daiva (CA) on 11/02/2023
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Vitamin B1, B complex, and cayenne for dysautonomia

B1 (thiamine) deficiency is a common cause of dysautonomia. Unfortunately, for some people injections or cream will be needed as their genetic makeup doesn't allow them to assimilate it. Putting some powder under the tongue and allowing it to melt bypasses digestion as well.

I had bad heartbeats after getting up and some shakiness, especially bad at night, if I had to go to the bathroom. It took a week or so to become better when putting some B1 powder under the tongue 3-4 times a day. But I also took cayenne 2 capsules 2-3 times daily, which I felt helped a lot too.

I also take B complex, B2 (for migraines) and B12.

Mine was triggered by 18 day juice fast, and severe stress.I think that made bad B1 status even worse. I haven't tried Butcher's broom herb, but that is supposed to be good as well.


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