Chronic fatigue – the new widespread disease?

Chronic fatigue – when the body has no energy

OVERVIEW

What is chronic fatigue?

Chronic fatigue is a complex syndrome characterized by persistent, overwhelming exhaustion that is not relieved by rest. Those affected often suffer from concentration problems, muscle pain, sleep disorders and a pronounced physical and mental stress intolerance. The causes are varied and diagnosis is often difficult as there are no uniform biomarkers. Nevertheless, new scientific findings show that chronic fatigue is linked to profound disturbances in cell energy production, the immune system and detoxification processes in the body.

Millions affected – and hardly any solutions

Chronic fatigue is more than just persistent exhaustion. It is a systemic failure of body regulation that affects millions of people worldwide – often without a clear diagnosis or effective treatment.

Studies estimate that up to 2.5 million people are affected by chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME) in the USA alone, with a high number of unreported cases. In Germany 250,000 people suffer from ME/CFS according to (pre-pandemic) estimates, in Switzerland around 60,000 people are thought to be affected, and around 17 million worldwide. In principle, any age group can develop ME/CFS, including children and adolescents. However, there are two age peaks for the onset of the disease (adolescence and mid-thirties). Women are three times more likely to be affected than men.

Functional medicine, as practiced in our ORIGIN HEALTH practice in Basel, offers an innovative, cause-based approach to deciphering the complex interplay of vital substance deficiencies, infections, intestinal health and toxin exposure.

Vital substance infusions for chronic fatigue

The causes

Why the body stops producing energy

As a doctor for functional medicine at Origin Health in Basel Dr. Joris Budweg sees people struggling with chronic fatigue every day. Many of our patients have been on a long odyssey through doctors’ surgeries without getting a clear answer. They often hear that their complaints are psychosomatic or that “you have to live with it”. But this is not the truth. Chronic fatigue is not an inevitable fate – it is a warning signal from the body that there are deeper biochemical imbalances. And so chronic fatigue can be explained as a multifactorial process. Traditional approaches often focus on individual symptoms, while functional medicine investigates the underlying causes:

The mitochondria, the power plants of our cells, are essential for energy production. If key micronutrients such as magnesium, coenzyme Q10, L-carnitine or B vitamins are missing, ATP production – the biochemical basis for energy – is reduced.

A 2021 study published in Frontiers in Neurology study shows that many CFS patients have mitochondrial dysfunction. Targeted micronutrient therapy can make the difference between total exhaustion and a gradual return to vitality. This is why a precise laboratory analysis is one of the first steps in the diagnostic process at ORIGIN HEALTH.

Many patients report that their fatigue began after an infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus or other latent pathogens. A striking number of patients report that they have not recovered after an acute Epstein-Barr infection. Unfortunately, this fact is not taken seriously by most doctors and therapists and treatment is often wrong or not given at all.

We therefore work with highly sensitive laboratory tests to detect hidden viral reactivations and use targeted antiviral therapies. The focus is not only on suppressing the viruses, but also on supporting the immune system with plant substances, immunomodulators and individually tailored therapies.

The gut-brain axis plays a key role in chronic fatigue. Leaky gut syndrome, dysbiosis and silent inflammation release endotoxins that intensify systemic inflammatory reactions.

A study by Giloteaux et al. (2016) in Microbiome found significant differences in the gut flora of CFS patients, in particular a reduction in anti-inflammatory bacteria.

At ORIGIN HEALTH, we also frequently encounter patients with CFS in whom chronic intestinal inflammation plays a central role. Using stool analyses, we can specifically identify pathogenic germs and regulate them through a combination of nutrition, prebiotics, probiotics and intestinal therapies.

Mercury, lead and aluminum can disrupt mitochondrial function and stress the nervous system. Chronic exposure to amalgam fillings, contaminated food or air pollution can cause a toxic overload of the body.

Detoxification protocols are therefore an essential part of therapy in functional medicine. We regularly test for heavy metal contamination and support our patients with safe and effective detoxification protocols to restore cellular energy production.

Functional medicine for chronic fatigue

Individual, systemic therapy

With a disease as complex as chronic fatigue, we cannot make progress with symptom-driven medicine. We need to treat the causes of the lack of energy – at all levels. Functional medicine views the body as a network of interconnected systems and relies on personalized diagnostics and holistic therapy instead of purely symptomatic treatment.

Chronic fatigue is treatable –
if we tackle the causes

“I see it as my mission to give those affected by chronic fatigue a real perspective. Functional Medicine provides a scientifically sound and personalized approach to analyze and target the complex interplay of mitochondria, immune system, gut and toxins. At Origin Health, we use state-of-the-art diagnostics and innovative therapies to restore energy and quality of life.”

Dr. Joris Budweg | Lead Functional Medicine

Chronic fatigue – we will find your way to new energy

If you feel tired all the time, suffer from concentration problems or feel that your body is not functioning as it should, then the problem often lies deeper than just stress or lack of sleep. The future of medicine is personalized – are you ready to unleash your full potential?