POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome): Causes, Symptoms & Best Treatment Options
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is a rapidly increasing condition affecting thousands of people every year—especially women, long-COVID patients, and individuals recovering from chronic illness. POTS causes an abnormal increase in heart rate when standing and can significantly disrupt daily life, energy levels, cognitive function, and overall wellness.
If you’re searching for what causes POTS, why it develops, or the best treatment options, this guide provides a deep yet clear explanation based on integrative and naturopathic medicine.
What Is POTS?
POTS is a form of dysautonomia, meaning the autonomic nervous system (ANS) struggles to regulate heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, temperature, and circulation. When someone with POTS stands up, the body cannot properly control blood flow, leading to symptoms like:
Rapid heartbeat
Dizziness or faintness
Brain fog
Fatigue
Exercise intolerance
Nausea
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Because the ANS controls so many biological processes, POTS often affects multiple systems at once.
Root Causes of POTS
Understanding what triggers POTS is essential for proper treatment. The following underlying conditions are the most common contributors:
1️⃣ Adrenal Fatigue / HPA-Axis Dysfunction
Chronic stress, trauma, illness, or inflammation can exhaust the adrenal glands. Low cortisol levels contribute to:
Low blood pressure
Fatigue
Poor stress tolerance
Blood sugar instability
These imbalances worsen POTS symptoms and make recovery slower.
2️⃣ Mold Illness (Toxic Mold Exposure)
Exposure to toxic mold can create a chronic inflammatory state called CIRS. Mold toxins affect vascular tone, mitochondrial function, and autonomic regulation.
Common overlapping mold + POTS symptoms include:
Lightheadedness
Temperature sensitivity
Chronic fatigue
Cognitive issues
Heart rate swings
Detoxification and correcting environmental exposure are essential steps.
3️⃣ Long COVID / Post-Viral Dysautonomia
Long COVID is now one of the leading triggers of POTS. Viral inflammation can damage:
Autonomic nerve fibers
Blood vessels
Mitochondria
Immune pathways
This results in rapid heart rate, dizziness, chest discomfort, and severe fatigue.
4️⃣ Lyme Disease & Coinfections
Tick-borne infections—including Lyme, Bartonella, and Babesia—can damage the autonomic nervous system and create chronic inflammation.
These infections frequently cause:
Heart palpitations
Dizziness
Fatigue
Anxiety-like symptoms (but physiologically driven)
Treating the infection can dramatically improve POTS stability.
Best Integrative Treatment Options for POTS
POTS treatment requires personalized, whole-body care. At Valley Integrative Health, we combine functional evaluation, root-cause testing, and restorative therapies.
Here are the most effective integrative treatment strategies:
1. IV Hydration Therapy
One of the fastest ways to reduce POTS symptoms. IV hydration increases:
Blood volume
Circulation
Energy
Mental clarity
2. Peptide Therapy
Peptides support autonomic stability, immune regulation, and tissue repair.
Effective peptides include:
Thymosin Alpha-1 (TA1): Immune balance, post-viral repair
BPC-157: Vascular healing, gut repair, anti-inflammatory
MOTS-C: Mitochondrial energy production
Selank/Semax: Cognitive support and neuroimmune regulation
Peptides may be beneficial for long COVID and mold-related POTS.
3. Supportive Supplements for Autonomic & Immune Balance
Targeted supplements help stabilize symptoms and improve functional recovery.
Common supports include:
Electrolytes
Adaptogens
Mitochondrial nutrients
Anti-inflammatory herbs/supplements
Immune-modulating nutrients
Supplement plans should be individualized.
🧠 4. Nervous System Rehabilitation
The autonomic nervous system can be retrained.
Helpful strategies include:
Recumbent exercise programs
Breathwork & vagal nerve activation
Compression garments
Structured sleep restoration
Increasing fluids + salt intake
Environmental detox (mold removal, chemical reduction)
These approaches help rebuild long-term stability.
🦠 5. Root-Cause Treatment
Lasting recovery requires identifying and treating the underlying issue:
Mold detoxification
Lyme/co-infection protocols
Adrenal restoration
Long-COVID recovery programs
Gut and immune healing
POTS is a symptom of imbalance—not the root problem.
🌟 Final Thoughts
POTS can be overwhelming, but with a comprehensive, integrative approach, many patients experience major improvements in energy, cognitive clarity, and autonomic stability.
At Valley Integrative Health, we specialize in identifying underlying causes and creating personalized treatment plans using a wide variety of effective treatments.
If you’re struggling with POTS symptoms, you’re not alone—and you can get better with the right plan.