Functional & Herbal Medicine Support for Fatigue
Persistent fatigue is not a personal failing - and it’s rarely “just stress"
If you feel constantly tired despite sleeping, resting or “doing all the right things”, fatigue may be a signal that one or more underlying systems are under strain.
At The Body Detective, I work with fatigue through a functional and herbal medicine approach, focusing on why your energy is depleted and what your body needs to recover resilience — rather than pushing through or masking symptoms.
Why fatigue often becomes chronic
Fatigue is rarely caused by one single issue.
Common underlying contributors include:
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Blood sugar instability
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Inflammation or immune activation
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Thyroid or metabolic strain
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Nutrient depletion
When several of these interact, the body can struggle to restore energy — even with rest.
This is why fatigue is so often dismissed as “unexplained” or labelled as burnout without further investigation.
A functional medicine approach to fatigue
Functional medicine asks different questions:
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Why is your energy not replenishing?
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What is your body adapting to?
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Which systems are compensating — and at what cost?
At The Body Detective, fatigue is explored by looking at how stress physiology, digestion, sleep, hormones, inflammation and lifestyle factors interact.
The aim is not to stimulate energy artificially, but to restore the conditions that allow energy to return naturally.
How herbal medicine can support low energy
Herbal medicine can be particularly valuable in fatigue because it works gently and systemically.
Depending on the individual, herbs may be used to:
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Support nervous system regulation
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Improve sleep depth and quality
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Enhance stress resilience
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Support digestion and nutrient absorption
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Reduce inflammatory load
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Aid recovery rather than stimulation
Herbs are prescribed individually, based on your symptom pattern, constitution and overall health picture — not as generic “energy boosters”.
Fatigue commonly overlaps with other symptoms
Many people experiencing fatigue also notice:
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Brain fog or poor concentration
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Low mood or emotional flatness
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Poor stress tolerance
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Muscle aches or heaviness
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Digestive symptoms
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Hormonal symptoms (especially in midlife)
Addressing fatigue often improves these alongside it.
Working with me for fatigue support
My work combines:
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Functional medicine assessment
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Individualised herbal medicine (where appropriate)
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Practical lifestyle and nutritional insight
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An integrated understanding of how body systems interact
Where relevant, neuromuscular therapy may be used as an adjunct, particularly when physical tension or pain is contributing to fatigue.
This is about rebuilding capacity — not pushing harder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fatigue Support
What is functional medicine support for fatgue?
Functional medicine support for fatigue focuses on identifying why energy is not being generated or restored, rather than simply naming tiredness as a diagnosis. This involves exploring stress load, sleep quality, digestion, blood sugar balance, inflammation and hormonal influences to understand what is draining resilience.
Can herbal medicine help with chronic fatigue?
Herbal medicine can support chronic fatigue by helping regulate stress responses, improve sleep quality, support digestion and reduce physiological strain. Herbs are selected based on the individual rather than used as stimulants.
Why do my blood tests look normal if I feel exhausted?
Fatigue often arises from functional imbalances rather than overt disease. Stress physiology, nervous system regulation and metabolic load can all affect energy without producing abnormal test results. Functional medicine looks at patterns, not just reference ranges.
Is this approach suitable alongside conventional care?
Yes. Functional and herbal medicine can be used alongside conventional medical care. Support is always individualised and takes into account current diagnoses, medications and treatment plans.
What happens in a consultation with The Body Detective?
A consultation involves a detailed discussion of your symptoms, health history, lifestyle, stress exposure and recovery patterns. This allows contributing factors to be identified and an individualised plan to be developed.
Is functional and herbal medicine support suitable if my fatigue has been going on for years?
Yes. Many people seek support only after fatigue has become long-standing or has gradually worsened over time. Functional and herbal medicine is well suited to exploring chronic patterns, as it focuses on how stress, sleep, digestion, hormones and inflammation have interacted over months or years. At The Body Detective, the aim is not to rush change, but to rebuild capacity and resilience at a pace the body can sustain.
Fatigue is information, not weakness
Persistent tiredness is often the body asking for attention — not more willpower. If you are struggling with ongoing fatigue and want to understand what is driving it, functional and herbal medicine may help uncover what your body needs to recover energy and resilience.
Work with The Body Detective
If you’d like to explore functional and herbal medicine support for fatigue, you can book an initial consultation or get in touch to ask questions about how I work.
