The One Supplement That Helped One Woman Fight Her POTS

Terrified she was close to dying, Heather Anderson feared standing up, as even the slightest physical effort sent her heart racing. “I can’t live the rest of my life lying down scared that standing up might kill me,” she tearfully told her husband as she prayed for a way to reclaim her once-active life.

“At the time, we were living in Chicago, enjoying an active lifestyle, walking everywhere, including the grocery store where my husband and I went every day to grab a few things and have coffee,” she recalls. “That was our time to unplug, soak up fresh air or talk about where our next travel adventure would take us.

“But in 2018, the quick stroll I’d been making for years became nearly impossible as I struggled to summon energy, often needing to stop and rest or turn around and go home. Feeling guilty I wasn’t able to partake in our daily ritual and frustrated that despite being in my early 50s, I felt decades older, I tried to push myself to at least make it to the store, then sit in the store’s café while my husband shopped alone.

Barely getting by

“Over the next few months, fatigue took over my life, but it also ushered in a new, terrifying problem: postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, an excessive increase in heart rate when you sit or stand. Symptoms can include dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, palpitations, fatigue and headache. So on days when I was able to dig up the energy to walk to the store, I couldn’t stand in line long enough to check out and I was unable to carry more than a loaf of bread home. Any effort sent my heart racing.

“My health grew so poor that I spent days lying in bed, lacking energy to move or think, often unable to read or even watch TV because following a plot required too much energy. Several trips to doctors fueled my frustration, as no one was able to pinpoint the cause of my declining health.

“Desperate for answers, in May of 2019, I researched my symptoms and learned about chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), an illness that can cause debilitating brain fog and exhaustion, dizziness, pain and other symptoms. I saw a new doctor, who agreed that I likely had CFS that she believed was most likely caused by my history of mononucleosis at age 19. She referred me to a specialist but cautioned that, as there’s no known treatment, CFS symptoms are often managed with medication.

“Before committing to medicines for the rest of my life, more research for alternative remedies led me to the book From Fatigued to Fantastic! by Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. I read about his SHINE program as an alternative to medicines. I was fascinated reading how small changes can become a blueprint for optimal energy and reclaiming wellness.

“I began the next day, aiming to get 8 hours of sleep every night and eating a diet rich in nutrients like vitamins A, B12, C and D, and within a month, the fog began clearing and each day brought a bit more energy than the day before.

“After a few months, I was able to take short walks with my husband a few times a week. Then I learned Dr. Teitelbaum also recommends taking PEA, a fatty acid that helps promote a healthy inflammation response and boost mental well-being. I learned that PEA is believed to alter the immune response responsible for chronic fatigue.

“After three months of taking PEA, I was walking daily and felt great. No longer terrified by a racing heart rate, I started walking up and down hills of Tucson, where we relocated, and pushing my speed. My husband couldn’t believe I was walking with him again.

“Most days I forget I have CFS. We’re back to traveling and just returned from Peru. I’m so excited about once again living a full, fun life!”

The science: The ‘superhero molecule’ that revs energy

“I call PEA (palmitoylethanolamide) a ‘superhero molecule’ because it acts as an antidote to the stressors of modern life and the problems they cause, such as fatigue, mood disturbances and pain,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, coauthor of You Can Heal From Long COVID. Produced naturally by the body, PEA helps tame inflammation and ensure healthy nerve cell, brain cell and immune cell function. But stress itself can deplete PEA levels, as can aging and viral infections. Fortunately, supplementing with PEA can deliver the following benefits:

PEA boosts mood and energy within 12 weeks, according to a study of COVID survivors. And Australian experts found that people who took PEA for two months fell asleep faster and woke up feeling more alert.

PEA eases pain. A report in the journal Pain Therapy reveals PEA can significantly ease fibromyalgia pain. Plus, an analysis in the British Journal of Pharmacology notes that PEA alleviates back pain, pelvic pain and nerve pain due to diabetes, trauma and carpal tunnel syndrome.

How toharness the power of PEA

Women who take PEA can experience impressive health improvements in as little as three weeks, says Dr. Teitelbaum. He advises taking 600 mg of PEA twice daily, then assessing your energy, mood and pain after 30 days. If you don’t see results, double the dose for another two months. After that, scale back by 300 mg every two weeks until you arrive at the best amount for you. Tip: Opt for a highly absorbable supplement, like Terry Naturally PEA Healthy Inflammation Response. It’s formulated with gamma-cyclodextrin, a plant-based substance that enhances PEA absorption.

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This story was originally published May 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM.