Functional Medicine Approach To Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

A Functional Medicine Approach to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Understanding the Root Cause

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is one of the most common reasons people seek medical care, yet traditional treatments often fall short. Many individuals feel dismissed or unheard after being diagnosed, with limited options for true recovery. Functional medicine, however, offers a root-cause approach, addressing the underlying drivers of CFS rather than just managing symptoms.

Dr. Zimmerman at Peak Brain and Body in Wesley Chapel is a leading expert in helping individuals find answers and solutions for chronic fatigue syndrome through a non-pharmaceutical approach. His patient-centered approach focuses on identifying triggers such as infections, gut health, neurological dysfunction, and lifestyle factors.

In this article, we’ll explore what actually causes chronic fatigue syndrome, why traditional medicine struggles to treat it effectively, and how a chronic fatigue syndrome holistic treatment plan in functional medicine can lead to better outcomes.

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Understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Tampa

What Is Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS), is a complex condition characterized by extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest. It is classified as a syndrome, meaning it consists of a set of correlated medical signs and symptoms rather than a specific disease with one defined cause.

There are a variety of symptoms individuals may experience: fatigue, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, brain fog, headache, tachycardia, allergies, and frequently getting sick. A proper chronic fatigue syndrome test may include immune system evaluation, blood sugar analysis, neurological exams, and gut health assessments to determine contributing factors.

Chronic fatigue syndrome is more common in females than males and is typically diagnosed when symptoms persist for six months or longer after ruling out other conditions like iron deficiency, blood sugar imbalances, thyroid dysfunction, or diabetes as the sole cause. With that being said, these can co-exist and may play a role in chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Overlapping Conditions of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

One of the key challenges in treating CFS is its overlap with other conditions. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome specialists often point out that POTS has significant symptom similarities, including dizziness, fatigue, brain fog, and immune dysfunction. Research shows that 95% of CFS patients experience worsening symptoms when moving from a seated or lying position to standing.

Rather than viewing CFS as a single disease, it’s more helpful to see it as a multi-system dysfunction impacting neurological, immune, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and cardiovascular systems. This is why individuals are sent to a variety of specialists, but also struggle to get better.

What Causes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome?

The functional medicine approach to chronic fatigue syndrome starts with a fundamental question: What is driving the condition? Several contributing factors can set off the cycle of chronic fatigue, including infections, neurological dysfunction disorders, gut health issues, and immune dysregulation.

1. Pathogens and Chronic Infections Role in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Pathogens—including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites—can play a significant role in the development and persistence of chronic fatigue. Some of the most common infectious triggers include:

• Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) – Often associated with reactivation in CFS patients. Note that most of the population has been exposed to EBV. The labs that would suggest an ongoing EBV issue include EBV early antigen IgG and EBV viral capsid antigen IgM.
• SARS-CoV-2 (Long COVID) – Can lead to post-viral fatigue and brain inflammation. Numerous studies have shown that the immune response can create a brain injury which explains why so many struggle with neurological symptoms after COVID.
• Herpes viruses – Including cytomegalovirus (CMV) and HHV-6.
• Lyme disease and co-infections – Bartonella, Babesia, and Mycoplasma pneumonia.
• Mold and mycotoxins – Often overlooked but significant in chronic fatigue cases.

Often, chronic infections and toxin exposure weaken the immune system, creating persistent fatigue. In some cases, mycotoxin testing is recommended to uncover mold exposure that may otherwise go undetected.

2. Neurological Dysfunction and Brain Inflammation

Chronic fatigue syndrome is often associated with neurological impairments, such as brain fog, dizziness, headaches, concentration, and word-finding difficulties. Research shows that inflammation in the body can cross the blood-brain barrier, triggering an immune response in the brain’s microglial cells. This leads to:

• Cognitive dysfunction (memory issues, poor concentration).
• Mood imbalances (anxiety, depression, irritability).
• Dysautonomia (heart rate and blood pressure irregularities).

Targeted therapies, such as functional neurology and neurological exercises, can help improve brain connectivity and restore energy regulation.

3. Gut Health and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The gut plays a crucial role in immune function and inflammation. Many CFS patients have dysbiosis (an imbalance of gut bacteria), which contributes to:

• Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) – Allowing inflammatory molecules to enter circulation.
• Low butyrate production – Reducing the gut’s ability to regulate inflammation.
• Inflammation spilling into the brain – Worsening cognitive symptoms and fatigue.

Addressing gut health through targeted nutrition, prebiotics, and probiotics can help improve overall energy levels and immune function.

Why Traditional Medicine Fails to Treat Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

In conventional medicine, treatment for CFS is typically symptom-based, often relying on stimulants or antidepressants for chronic fatigue syndrome. While these may provide temporary relief, they do not address underlying causes.

Symptom	Traditional Treatment	Functional Medicine Approach
Fatigue	Stimulants (Adderall, Modafinil)	Addressing infections, gut health, mitochondrial function
Brain Fog	Antidepressants, stimulants	Reducing neuroinflammation, improving brain connectivity
Pain	NSAIDs, muscle relaxants	Reducing systemic inflammation, targeted neurological exercises
Gut Issues	Laxatives, antidiarrheals	Restoring gut microbiome balance, healing leaky gut

Functional medicine, on the other hand, identifies and treats the drivers of CFS—whether they are pathogens, gut imbalances, brain inflammation, or environmental toxins. This difference explains why many patients feel more supported through a patient-centered approach in functional medicine.

A Functional Medicine Approach to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome in Wesley Chapel

Functional medicine goes beyond symptom management by performing in-depth testing to find the underlying factors driving the symptoms that make up this syndrome. We are going to explore some that that providers will often use when utilizing a functinal medicine approach to chronic fatigue syndrome. With this testing the provider is able to create personalized treatment plans. Here’s how it differs from conventional care:

1. Comprehensive Testing

A functional medicine provider will assess multiple body systems using tests such as:

• Advanced stool testing – Identifies gut imbalances and infections.
• Blood panels: to evaluate endocrine, metabolic, and vascular factors.
• Mold and mycotoxin testing – Evaluates mold exposure’s impact on the immune system. There is a dispute on the best testing: urine vs blood. We utilize blood testing that measures the immune response to mycotoxins and believe it is superior to urine. Having mycotoxins in urine doesn’t mean it’s creating an issue for the individual.
• Immune function panels – Measures inflammatory markers and immune imbalances.
• Neurological testing – Includes video oculography to assess brain function. We will discuss this more below as over 95% of functional medicine providers do not measure brain health and function.

Based on results, treatment is focused on restoring balance and supporting natural healing. This might include gut repair, detoxification, brain connectivity therapies, mitochondrial support, and neurological exercises.

2. Targeted, Root-Cause Treatments For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Once underlying causes are identified, treatment focuses on restoring balance. This may include:

• Mitochondrial support – Improving energy production with key nutrients like CoQ10, acetyl-L-carnitine, and B vitamins; but this is always done in conjunction with nutrition changes.
• Brain connectivity therapy – Strengthening brain function through functional neurology techniques.
• Gut repair protocols – Using dietary interventions and microbiome support. 
• Detoxification support – Removing toxins that contribute to inflammation by avoiding exposure and using targeted nutrition to support detoxification pathways in the body.
• Neuroinflammation reduction – Utilizing lifestyle strategies to calm the brain’s immune response.

3. A Holistic, Patient-Centered Approach

Unlike traditional medicine, functional medicine providers take the time to listen, analyze the full history, and develop an individualized plan. Lifestyle changes such as nutrition, sleep optimization, movement, and stress reduction play a central role in recovery.

The Missing Link: Functional Neurology

While functional medicine addresses many underlying causes of chronic fatigue syndrome, brain connectivity remains an overlooked factor. Functional neurology bridges this gap by:

• Evaluating eye movements to detect neurological dysfunction by using videooculography.
• Using balance testing to assess brain-body communication through computerized balance posturography.
• Providing targeted exercises to restore brain function and energy regulation.

In our experience, when these test results are off you can take all the supplements in the world but it’s not going to yield great results. The brain uses 25% of the entire body’s energy supply and to get someone out of a state of chronic fatigue by ignoring brain dysfunction is very hard. 

For the best results, working with a provider who combines functional medicine and functional neurology can provide a more complete approach to healing.

Final Thoughts

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complex, multi-system condition that requires more than symptom suppression. A chronic fatigue syndrome holistic treatment through functional medicine provides long-term results by addressing root causes: chronic infections, leaky gut, neurological dysfunction disorders, pathogens, and blood sugar imbalances.

If you’re struggling with fatigue and conventional care hasn’t helped, our team at Peak Brain and Body offers a patient-centered approach that looks at the bigger picture.

Contact Dr. Zimmerman for Functional Medicine in Wesley Chapel and take the first step toward recovery today.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re looking for real answers to your chronic fatigue, reach out for a functional medicine consultation to start your path toward recovery today!