Dr. Taryn Cass

05/28/2026

Wow- it still feels wild to see MCAS getting the attention it deserves.

The condition is elusive and shifts without warning.

05/15/2026

Excellent info on exercising with POTS

05/07/2026

The new POTS Clinic at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, which will be led by Dysautonomia International Medical Advisory Board member Dr. Tae Chung, is looking to hire an Advanced Practice Provider and a Nurse Coordinator. Please share with medical professionals who may be interested!

Please direct all applications and questions about the positions to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

Advance Practice Provider position: https://sralab.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/SRAlabCareers/job/Chicago-IL/Advance-Practice-Provider-POTS-Program_JR-1064754-1

Nurse Coordinator position:
https://sralab.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/SRAlabCareers/job/POTS-Clinic-RN-Coordinator_JR-1064686-1

05/05/2026

Ever wonder what it actually takes to become a naturopathic doctor? 🎓🌿
The path to becoming an ND is a demanding one. It starts with a bachelor's degree and pre-med coursework, followed by a four-year, in-residence medical program with a minimum of 4,100 hours of classroom and clinical training. Online degrees aren't accepted, because hands-on experience isn't optional.

The curriculum covers the same biomedical sciences you'd expect from any medical program: Anatomy, biochemistry, diagnostic sciences, evidence-based medicine, plus four years of specialized training in:

💚 Clinical nutrition
💚 Botanical medicine
💚 Acupuncture
💚 Homeopathic medicine
💚 Physical medicine
💚 Counseling

By their third and fourth years, ND students are already diagnosing and treating patients in clinical settings and many schools are now introducing that hands-on experience even earlier.

After graduation, NDs must pass the NPLEX, a rigorous two-part licensing exam, before they can practice. Licensure is currently available in 26 U.S. jurisdictions — with more states working toward it.

NDs can also specialize in areas like oncology, pediatrics, gastroenterology, endocrinology, and psychiatry, bringing whole-person care to focused areas of medicine.

Thoroughly trained. Comprehensively prepared. 🌿Learn more: https://bit.ly/NDedu26

04/21/2026

Not the sour patch kids staring me down…

04/20/2026

😅😭

People often understand social masking, but many don’t realize that some of us who are neurodivergent and disabled are also masking pain, fatigue, executive dysfunction, dizziness, sensory overload, and how hard daily functioning really is.

When we live with hEDS and we are AuDHD as well, we may look “fine” while using every ounce of energy to stay regulated, organized, mobile, and responsive to everyone around us. Add comorbidities like POTS, GI issues, migraines, allergies/sensitivities, sleep disruption, and autonomic dysfunction, and the invisible workload becomes even heavier.

For many women and mothers among us, there can be another layer: being expected to keep caregiving no matter how unwell we feel. If our children are also neurodivergent or high-needs, and high chances they are since AuDHD tends to run in families, the sensory and emotional demands may be constant, with little to no chance to recover. Lack of support systems can turn manageable stress into severe burnout.

This kind of chronic burnout can have serious mental health consequences. Many autistic adults know what prolonged exhaustion, isolation, hopelessness, and being misunderstood can feel like. That’s why awareness, accommodations, practical support, and earlier recognition matter so much.

We are not lazy, dramatic, flaky, or unmotivated. We are often carrying so much more than others can see. Severe burnout is often the cost of masking both socially and functionally in a neurotypical, able-bodied world with little or no support.

04/14/2026

Join me this weekend!

Join us this Sunday, April 19 at the Community Health & Wellness Fair hosted by the Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce! 🌿

Fitness Formula Club Oak Park | 1114 Lake St.
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Oak Park Township will be there alongside 50+ local health and wellness organizations - come connect, learn, and explore resources to support your well-being.

Learn more: www.oprfchamber.org/health-wellness-fair

We hope to see you there!

04/09/2026

I’d bet you’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat”. But did you know this leaves a lot out of the equation?

The foods you take in are hugely important, but so is your ability to digest them. I tell patients everyday- “You are what you eat, assimilate, and absorb.”

You can eat the most nutrient dense, anti-inflammatory diet and still not feel your best if your digestive system isn’t functioning well to actually take those foods and do something with them.

You can take the most perfectly tailored supplement plan but if you aren’t able to actually absorb those ingredients you’re just making your p**p more expensive.

I see gut health issues like inflammation, permeability, dysbiosis, reduced digestive capacity (think insufficient digestive enzymes, stomach acid, and bile) as the root cause of bigger health issues all the time because they impact your ability to have sufficient nutrient status and therefore cellular function.

Before you jump to take a supplement for Hashimoto’s, fertility, migraine, or whatever else you’ve got going on- pause to check in if your digestive system can actually absorb and use that supplement.

Not sure? Follow for my next post on how to take a peak at your poo to get a clue on how your digestive system is doing.

Ready to get actual data on your digestive health? Check out the GI Effects functional stool analysis in my labshop. You can order your own testing or work with my team.

04/02/2026

Physician heal thyself.

Physician promote thine collagen production.