When treated by a functional medicine specialist, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME), chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS), and long COVID are often approached with similar underlying principles and strategies, because functional medicine emphasizes root-cause analysis and whole-body systems biology rather than just symptom suppression.
Here’s what they typically have in common in terms of treatment approach at The Age Less Clinic & General Practice:
1. Root Cause Investigation
Our Functional Medicine doctors view all three conditions as multi-system illnesses with potential overlapping root causes:
Each patient is evaluated with extensive lab testing, often including:
2. Diet & Nutritional Therapies
All three conditions are commonly treated with anti-inflammatory, nutrient-dense diets, such as:
Nutritional supplementation is tailored to support:
3. Focus on Mitochondrial and Cellular Health
All three conditions involve fatigue and energy production issues, often linked to:
Functional medicine often includes:
4. Immune System and Inflammation Modulation
Since CIRS, long COVID, and CFS may involve chronic immune activation or autoimmunity:
In CIRS specifically, the Shoemaker Protocol may be followed, involving:
5. Sleep, Stress, and Nervous System Support
Functional medicine recognizes the role of:
Sleep support is usually a priority:
6. Detoxification and Environmental Health
Detox support is a key pillar in CIRS and often part of treatment for the others too:
7. Personalized & Layered Protocols
Functional medicine rarely uses a "one-size-fits-all" protocol. Treatments evolve based on:
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