Written by the Morning Union Team. Last updated on 10/29/2026.
No fascial supplement has been tested in people with POTS, so nobody can honestly say one will help. What research does show is a strong link between POTS and connective tissue, especially in people with very flexible joints. The usual first steps are still more fluids, more salt and compression garments, agreed with your doctor. Any supplement is an add-on to that plan, never a replacement, and it should be checked against your medicines.
If you live with POTS, you know how it feels when you stand up: the racing heart, the dizziness, the heavy tiredness. You may also have seen ads for "fascial release supplements" and wondered if they could help.
This article explains how POTS is linked to connective tissue, where fascia might fit, what the usual first steps are, and what is known about supplements. Every claim links to the research, so you can check it yourself.
Why POTS and connective tissue are linked
POTS stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. When you stand up, your heart rate jumps by at least 30 beats a minute, and you may feel dizzy, foggy, shaky or exhausted. About 90% of people with POTS are women. It often starts in the teens or twenties, and in 30% to 40% of cases symptoms begin within three months of an infection such as COVID or flu (Chung and Raj, JAMA, 2026). It can affect people of any age (Dysautonomia International).
One of the clearest links is with connective tissue. The NHS lists joint hypermobility syndrome as one of the conditions that make POTS more likely (NHS). In a study of 91 people with POTS, 31% met the criteria for hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a connective tissue condition, and another 24% had very flexible joints without the full diagnosis (Miller et al., 2020).
It works the other way too. In people with joint hypermobility syndrome, 78% had POTS or another kind of trouble standing upright, compared with 10% of healthy people (Gazit et al., 2003). Dysautonomia International explains that Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affects collagen and can lead to loose joints and "stretchy" veins (Dysautonomia International).
Where fascia might fit in
Fascia is a thin, water-rich connective tissue that wraps every muscle and runs alongside blood vessels and nerves throughout the body.
Researchers at the University of Padova looked closely at the fascia just under the skin of the belly and thigh. They found it packed with nerves, mostly around the blood vessels, and about a third of those nerve fibres belonged to the autonomic nervous system (Fede et al., 2022). That is the same automatic system that controls heart rate and blood vessel squeezing, and it is the system that goes wrong in POTS.
In some types of POTS, blood pools in the legs and core when you stand (Cleveland Clinic). The tissue around those vessels seems to matter. In a trial of 30 adults with POTS, a garment that squeezed the belly and legs lowered the average standing heart rate from 109 to 92 beats a minute and eased symptoms (Bourne et al., 2021).
Put together, this is why some researchers are curious about fascia in POTS. But to be clear, no study has shown that fascia causes POTS, or that feeding fascia improves it. If you would like to read more about this emerging idea, we covered it here: emerging research on POTS and the body's connective tissue.
The usual first steps for POTS
Before thinking about supplements, it helps to know what doctors usually try first. A 2026 review in JAMA lists these first-line steps (Chung and Raj, 2026):
- More fluids. The NHS suggests drinking enough that your pee is pale (NHS).
- More salt. For some types of POTS, doctors may suggest much more salt than usual (Cleveland Clinic). Ask your doctor how much is right for you, as extra salt is not safe for everyone.
- Compression. Support tights or garments that cover the belly and legs work best, based on the trial above.
- Avoid triggers. Heat, standing still for a long time and getting up too fast can all make symptoms worse (NHS).
- Gentle, structured exercise. Starting with reclined exercise, such as rowing, a recumbent bike or swimming, is often easier (Dysautonomia International).
Medicines such as fludrocortisone and beta blockers may also be prescribed (NHS). Finding the right mix can take time, so it is worth working with a doctor who understands POTS.
Which supplements have been looked at in POTS?
Very few supplements have been studied in POTS, and none has strong evidence. Here is what we know.
- Iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Check, don't guess. Doctors have seen more iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency in people with POTS (Blitshteyn, 2017). In one study of teenagers with POTS, half had low iron stores (Jarjour and Jarjour, 2013). A simple blood test shows whether you are low. Fixing a real deficiency makes sense. Taking extra when you are not low is not proven to help.
- Vitamin B1. Rarely the answer. In 65 people with POTS, only 6% were low in vitamin B1, and one of those four improved a lot after taking it (Blitshteyn, 2017).
- Electrolyte drinks. These are mainly a convenient way to get the extra salt and fluid your doctor may suggest.
- Fascia supplements. Evidence: none in POTS yet. Common ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and boswellia have mostly been studied for joint pain. We explain each one in our guide to fascia supplements and what's in them. If you also have aching joints from hypermobility, that is where the evidence is closest.
Supplements and POTS medicines: check before you start
This part matters more in POTS than in many other conditions, because several POTS medicines act on heart rate, blood pressure and salt balance.
- Supplements can interact with medicines. Some can also cause problems with certain health conditions, and labels are not always accurate (NCCIH).
- Watch out for licorice. Interactions between licorice and corticosteroids have been reported (NCCIH). Fludrocortisone, a common POTS medicine, is a steroid.
- Go easy on caffeine. The NHS advises people with POTS not to drink too much caffeine or alcohol (NHS). Check "energy" blends for hidden caffeine.
- Bring the label to your doctor or pharmacist. Choose products that list every ingredient and dose, are third-party tested and offer a money-back guarantee.
- Change one thing at a time and track your standing heart rate and symptoms for several weeks.
If joint and muscle aches are part of your picture, you may also find our article on whether fascia can cause nerve pain useful.
Frequently asked questions
Is POTS a connective tissue disorder?
POTS is a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, but it is strongly linked to connective tissue. In one study, 31% of people with POTS met the criteria for hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and another 24% had very flexible joints.
What supplements help POTS?
No supplement has strong evidence for POTS. Doctors often check iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D, because low levels are more common in POTS and are worth correcting. Electrolyte drinks can help you reach the salt and fluid goals your doctor sets.
Does a fascial release supplement help POTS?
It has not been tested. Fascia is rich in autonomic nerves around the blood vessels, which is why some researchers are curious about it in POTS, but no study has shown a fascia supplement helps. Talk to your doctor and check it against your medicines first.
Why do people with hypermobility get POTS?
Researchers are still working this out. One idea is that looser connective tissue, including in the veins, lets more blood pool in the legs and belly when you stand, so the heart speeds up to make up for it.
What is the first treatment for POTS?
Usually lifestyle steps: more fluids, more salt if your doctor agrees, compression garments, avoiding heat and long standing, and gentle structured exercise. Medicines may be added if these are not enough.
Before you try any supplement for POTS, read what the emerging 2026 research is finding. It explains why researchers are looking at the connective tissue around the blood vessels and nerves.
POTS: the new research
A racing heart, dizziness and tiredness when you stand may be linked to changes in the connective tissue around your blood vessels. See what researchers are finding.
Read the research
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This article is for general information only. It is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting a new supplement or changing your salt intake, especially if you take medicines for POTS, blood pressure or your heart.