26SW12 - Naturopathic Strategies for the Treatment of Dysautonomia and POTS

Speaker: Kenneth Proefrock, NMD

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is the part of the nervous system that allows the body to maintain internal equilibrium(homeostasis) despite changing environmental conditions through automatic regulation of processes like heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, excretion, perspiration, temperature regulation, sphincter dilation, and respiration. Dysautonomia is an umbrella term that describes a group of 15 disorders of the autonomic nervous system that affect an estimated 70 million people worldwide, these are often invisible illnesses with a wide array of presentations that vary based on the type of autonomic dysfunction, the most common being POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome).

We will discuss the underlying causes of dysautonomia while presenting lifestyle-oriented approaches to treatment that include nutritional, botanical medicine, and exercise interventions. We will also discuss the current pharmacological model of intervention for dysautonomia, with emphasis on rationale and mechanisms of action as compared to the botanical and nutritional interventions. Botanical and pharmaceutical agents include fludricortisone, cortisone, beta-blockers (atenolol), stimulants (methylphenidate, dexedrine, modafanil/armodafinil, dextroamphetamine), alpha-1 and 2 agonists (midodrine, clonidine), Anti-depressants (SSRI's, MAO's, and tricyclics), anticholinergic agents, including tropane alkaloid containing botanicals (Datura, Atropa, Hyoscyamus, Lobelia), adaptogens, and lymphatic agents (Phytolacca, Baptisia, Ceanothus, Gallium). This discussion will also brush up against the worlds of Ehler-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) as they intersect with conditions of dysautonomia.

Related product: The PowerPoint for this recording is available here: 2026 Southwest Conference Book Download (PDF)