RI& KOREAN MEDICAL CLINIC

Autonomic Dysfunction

Autonomic recovery tailored to your body — RI&

1:1 personalized care that helps restore autonomic function and immunity, based on precise testing and customized prescriptions

When tests show no abnormalities yet several symptoms appear at once — headaches, insomnia, digestive trouble, chronic fatigue — the cause may be autonomic dysfunction, a state in which the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems has broken down, disrupting the body's overall homeostasis and immune system.

A tired, tense woman with eyes closed and fingertips on her temple

Autonomic Dysfunction Self-Check

If three or more of the following apply to you, autonomic dysfunction may be suspected.
  1. Recurring headaches or dizziness with no clear cause.
  2. Fatigue that doesn't lift even after enough sleep, leaving you listless.
  3. Heart palpitations or a tight, stuffy feeling in the chest.
  4. A noticeable decline in concentration and memory.
  5. Poor appetite and difficulty digesting food.
  6. Frequent coldness or numbness in the hands and feet.
  7. Feeling anxious and on edge for no apparent reason.
  8. Physical symptoms worsen under stress.

Causes of Autonomic Dysfunction

  • Recurring stress

  • Hormonal changes

  • Chronic sleep deprivation

  • Overwork & burnout

  • Irregular lifestyle habits

  • Gut microbiome imbalance

  • Endocrine-disrupting chemicals

  • Medication after-effects

Main Symptoms of Autonomic Dysfunction

Body illustration showing the nervous system extending from the brain throughout the body
  • Face

    Facial flushing, heat sensation, and a sense of heat rising to the upper body

  • Head

    Migraine, headache, vertigo, dizziness, reduced thinking ability, and impaired memory

  • Eyes

    Eye fatigue, eyelid twitching, and dry eye

  • Ears

    Tinnitus and a blocked-ear sensation

  • Throat

    A foreign-body sensation and a burning feeling in the throat

  • Shoulders

    Tension, muscle pain, stiff shoulders, and chronic fatigue

  • Chest

    Tightness, shortness of breath, palpitations, and hyperventilation

  • Skin

    Prickling, itching, hives, and alopecia areata

  • Sweat

    Excessive sweating, cold sweats, and sweaty palms

  • Abdomen

    Indigestion, heartburn, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite

  • Hands & Feet

    Trembling, a sense of numbness, abnormal sensations, hand tremors, and tingling

  • Urinary

    Nervous frequent urination, a feeling of incomplete emptying, and urinary incontinence

  • Reproductive

    Premenstrual syndrome, menstrual pain, menopausal disorders, postpartum depression, and sexual dysfunction

Key Features of Our Autonomic Dysfunction Treatment

With the goal of treating autonomic dysfunction and lowered immunity, Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic
offers customized Korean medicine treatment tailored to each patient's constitution and health condition.
A bowl of herbal medicine and a small brass scale

01RI&

1:1 Customized Constitutional Treatment

We comprehensively analyze your age, constitution, symptoms, and pulse diagnosis to prescribe acupuncture and herbal medicine tailored to your autonomic balance and immune function. Through constitutional improvement, we aim to restore autonomic balance and strengthen immunity.

RSA autonomic nervous system test device with a finger sensor

02RI&

Autonomic Function Test (RSA)

We precisely evaluate the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, analyzing how stress and anxiety affect your autonomic and immune systems, and use the findings to build a customized treatment plan.

Pulse wave test report screen (pulse wave, vascular elasticity and blood pressure indices)

03RI&

Pulse Wave Imaging Test

We evaluate cardiovascular function and vascular elasticity to analyze how autonomic dysfunction affects blood circulation and immune function, reflecting the results in treatment.

Three pairs of thermal images showing body heat distribution in color

04RI&

Thermographic Diagnosis

Using a thermal imaging camera, we measure the distribution of heat in the body to identify "heat above, cold below" patterns and localized temperature abnormalities caused by autonomic imbalance, guiding the direction of treatment.

Two clear urine test containers

05RI&

Urinalysis

We analyze 10 items in the urine, including glucose, protein, occult blood, and white blood cells, to catch early signs of kidney or bladder dysfunction and whole-body health issues linked to autonomic dysfunction.

Pink, brown and white herbal medicine pouches printed with the clinic logo

06RI&

Carefully Selected Herbs

We use pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients manufactured under the MFDS hGMP standard, after raw-material inspection.

A bowl of vegetable salad and a water bottle

07RI&

Personalized Lifestyle Coaching

Based on a constitutional diagnosis, we provide guidance on constitution-specific diet, sleep, and stress management that supports autonomic recovery, helping stabilize your autonomic nervous system over the long term.

Who Is RI& Customized Treatment For?

Our autonomic recovery
treatment is recommended for:

  • Those whose bodily tension and fatigue persist
    due to poor sleep, anxiety, or stress
  • Those experiencing psychological distress such as depression,
    insomnia, or panic disorder
  • Those with recurring headaches, dizziness, cold hands and feet,
    or reduced appetite due to autonomic dysfunction
  • Those with persistent, unexplained palpitations,
    shortness of breath, or chest tightness
  • Those whose autonomic symptoms have worsened due to
    menopausal or postpartum hormonal changes

Related Research: Herbal Medicine and Stress Responses

Effects of a Korean Traditional Herbal Remedy on Psychoneuroendocrine Responses to Examination Stress in Medical Students:
A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Myeong Soo Lee, Ki-Won Park, Sun-Rock Moon.
Human Psychopharmacology. 2004;19(8):537-43.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 40 healthy medical students under examination stress (20 herbal, 20 placebo). In the group given the herbal remedy (Ondamtang-gamibang), systolic blood pressure, norepinephrine and cortisol fell significantly, and changes were also reported on anxiety, depression and stress scales. This was a small study in healthy students, not patients, and it did not directly test the treatment of autonomic dysfunction.

Autonomic Dysfunction Treatment Program

  1. A Korean medicine doctor performing Chuna, adjusting the back of a patient lying face down

    Acupuncture & Chuna Therapy

    Acupoint stimulation aims to help regulate the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, while realignment of the spine and cervical vertebrae is used to support the nerve functions connected to the autonomic nervous system.

  2. Three herbal medicine pouches printed with the clinic logo

    Customized Herbal Medicine

    Constitution-tailored prescriptions aim to help regulate the stress response and support the recovery of autonomic balance and immune function.

  3. Mugwort moxa cones and dried mugwort on a dish (unlit)

    Moxibustion Heat Therapy

    Warming stimulation applied to key acupoints such as Baekhoe (GV20) and Gwanwon (CV4) is intended to promote blood circulation and parasympathetic activity, helping ease tension and fatigue.

  4. Dried wild ginseng and amber ampoules on a wooden tray

    Wild Ginseng Pharmacopuncture

    Saponin components derived from wild ginseng are injected directly into acupoints with the aim of supporting nervous-system recovery, immune function, and the vital energy depleted by chronic stress and overwork.

prescribed to suit your constitution and symptoms

Herbal prescription and preparation

Individual prescriptions are prepared with pharmaceutical-grade herbal ingredients manufactured under the MFDS herbal Good Manufacturing Practice (hGMP) standard.
Each prescription is decocted separately.

  1. Pharmaceutical-grade herbs

  2. Prescribed by constitution and symptoms

  3. Decocted per prescription

  4. Progress checks while you take it

At Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic,
every herbal prescription is prepared with meticulous care,
using pharmaceutical-grade medicinal herbs.

A thorough quality-control system from raw herbs to final preparation
Trustworthy herbal medicine prepared with well-maintained facilities and strict process management.

An open notebook, a pen and tea on a wooden desk

Ri& Case

Autonomic Dysfunction Director's Column

Clinical columns written by our head director.

Photos of people on this page are staged images, not actual patients.

Balanced health and beauty at Myeongdong RI& Korean Medicine Clinic

Book online (opens in a new window)