Fatigue & Functional Medicine

Fatigue is one of the most common yet overlooked symptoms in modern healthcare. If you're waking up tired, crashing in the afternoon, or constantly running on empty, it’s a sign your body is struggling to keep up. In functional medicine, we view fatigue not as a diagnosis—but as a symptom that your body is out of balance.

Whether it stems from nutrient depletion, hormone imbalances, chronic infections, poor detoxification, or mitochondrial dysfunction, we dig deeper to find and fix the root causes of your low energy.

What Is Fatigue?

Fatigue goes beyond being “just tired.” It’s a persistent lack of energy that isn’t resolved with rest. It can impact your physical stamina, cognitive function, emotional resilience, and overall quality of life. Many people with chronic fatigue feel dismissed or told their labs are “normal,” even though they know something is off.

Functional medicine uses advanced tools and testing to investigate the underlying stressors—often hidden—draining your energy reserves.

Common Types of Fatigue Patterns

Fatigue can show up in many forms, including:

  • Adrenal Fatigue or HPA Axis Dysfunction: Often due to chronic stress, leading to a “tired but wired” feeling or energy crashes.

  • Post-viral or Chronic Fatigue: Seen after infections like Epstein-Barr, COVID, or Lyme disease.

  • Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Poor cellular energy production, often linked with toxins or oxidative stress.

  • Anemia or Low Oxygen Delivery: Caused by low iron, B12, or chronic inflammation.

  • Blood Sugar Dysregulation: Energy highs and crashes, irritability when hungry.

  • Thyroid Imbalances: Especially underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s).

  • Sleep Disorders: Insomnia, sleep apnea, or poor sleep quality preventing full restoration.

  • Toxic Overload: From mold, heavy metals, plastics, or poor detox pathways.

Signs and Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue

While fatigue is a symptom in itself, it often comes with other signs that give clues to the root cause:

  • Needing caffeine to function

  • Mid-morning or afternoon energy crashes

  • Trouble waking up despite 8+ hours of sleep

  • Brain fog or poor concentration

  • Low motivation or feeling “burned out”

  • Muscle weakness or post-exertional malaise

  • Poor exercise tolerance or recovery

  • Increased sensitivity to stress or stimulation

  • Cold hands/feet, dry skin, or low mood

  • Feeling worse after eating (especially high-carb meals)

Fatigue in Women

Fatigue in women is often linked with:

  • Hormonal fluctuations (PMS, perimenopause, postpartum)

  • Undiagnosed thyroid issues (especially Hashimoto’s)

  • Iron deficiency anemia or heavy periods

  • Nutrient depletion from birth control or dieting

  • Emotional labor and chronic stress load

Fatigue in Men

Men may experience fatigue due to:

  • Low testosterone or adrenal burnout

  • Overtraining and under-recovery

  • Sleep apnea or snoring

  • High job stress or shift work

  • Metabolic issues and weight gain

What Causes Fatigue?

Fatigue is a systemic issue—often the result of long-term stress on multiple body systems. Functional medicine looks beyond basic labs to uncover drivers such as:

  • Blood sugar imbalances and poor metabolic flexibility

  • Hidden infections (viral, bacterial, parasitic, mold)

  • Environmental toxin exposure

  • Gut imbalances or leaky gut impacting nutrient absorption

  • Mitochondrial damage or oxidative stress

  • Hormonal imbalances (cortisol, thyroid, sex hormones)

  • Nutrient deficiencies (iron, B12, folate, magnesium, CoQ10)

  • Nervous system dysregulation and trauma patterns

How Functional Medicine Supports Energy and Vitality

Functional medicine restores energy by identifying what’s draining your system and rebuilding from the inside out. Your personalized care plan may include:

  • Comprehensive bloodwork, hormone testing, and mitochondrial markers

  • Gut healing and microbiome balancing

  • Anti-inflammatory, nutrient-rich food plans

  • Blood sugar and circadian rhythm stabilization

  • Targeted supplements for energy metabolism, adrenal support, and detox

  • Nervous system support (vagal tone, breathwork, stress modulation)

  • Gradual reintroduction of exercise and recovery tools

  • Sleep optimization strategies (light exposure, nervous system care)

Note: Functional medicine can complement traditional care and offer answers when you’ve been told “everything looks normal”—but you still don’t feel like yourself.