“Proper management of fatigue must be individualized for each patient. First, the physician needs to understand how fatigue is showing up for that person. Is it brain fog? Trouble getting through daily tasks? Low mental energy, muscle weakness, memory issues, or needing frequent naps? Is it acute or chronic?
Once the nature of the fatigue is identified, we then investigate the most likely causes—such as adrenal insufficiency, thyroid disorders, nutrient deficiencies, poor sleep, chronic infections, environmental toxicity, and more.
This thorough, personalized approach is what makes our medicine at Aspen Integrative Medical Center so unique—and effective—in treating fatigue. Our naturopathic physicians see the whole picture and know what needs to be healed first.”
~ Drs. Paul and Mele, Aspen Integrative Medical Center
Healing Chronic Fatigue
Restoring energy requires a comprehensive approach.
Chronic fatigue can range from mildly low energy to a complex, and at times debilitating, condition marked by exhaustion that isn’t relieved by rest. In its more severe form, it may be diagnosed as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and can significantly interfere with daily life—impacting your ability to work, care for your family, exercise, or even manage basic tasks.
In addition to persistent fatigue, individuals may also experience symptoms such as brain fog (difficulty with focus, memory, and mental clarity), shortness of breath, depression, sleep disturbances, muscle and joint pain, and headaches.
At Aspen Integrative Medical Center, our naturopathic physicians are uniquely trained to identify the root causes of chronic fatigue and develop personalized, natural treatment plans to support your recovery.
Give us a call today—we’re here to help you resolve your fatigue and feel like yourself again.
What symptoms indicate you might have chronic fatigue?
Chronic fatigue often shows up in ways that are easy to dismiss but hard to ignore. You might find it difficult to wake up in the morning, struggle to complete daily tasks, feel drained as soon as you get home from work, or notice a lack of motivation and productivity. You may feel like you need a nap during the day or find yourself forgetting appointments and small details. Most of all, you just don’t feel like yourself—and getting through the day feels like a challenge.
In addition to low energy, chronic fatigue can come with a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Cognitive issues (“brain fog”) – Trouble with concentration, memory, and clear thinking.
- Sleep disturbances – Insomnia, poor sleep quality, or waking unrefreshed.
- Mood changes – Depression, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm.
- Poor exercise tolerance – Difficulty sustaining physical activity, often with muscle weakness.
- Shortness of breath – Can occur at rest or with minimal exertion.
- Cardiovascular symptoms – Rapid heartbeat, palpitations, or chest discomfort.
- Muscle and joint pain – Persistent aches, stiffness, or discomfort.
- Headaches – Frequent or new-pattern headaches.
- Hormonal symptoms – Low libido, erectile dysfunction, menstrual pain, or infertility.
- Immune-related symptoms – Sore throat and swollen lymph nodes, even without an active infection.
What can cause chronic fatigue?
At Aspen Integrative Medical Center, our physicians specialize in identifying the underlying causes of fatigue. Often, there is not just one cause—fatigue can result from a combination of factors and conditions, including:
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Thyroid disorders
- Hormonal imbalances, such as those seen in PCOS, endometriosis, painful menstruation, or low testosterone
- Autoimmune conditions (e.g., Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis)
- Anemia and/or chronic blood loss
- Immune system dysfunction (e.g., Allergies, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome)
- Blood sugar dysregulation, including Type 2 Diabetes
- Environmental toxin exposure, including heavy metals, pesticides, plastics, and insecticides
- Infections, both acute and chronic (e.g., Long COVID, Epstein-Barr virus, Lyme disease, CIRS, tick-borne illnesses, Mycoplasma)
- Mold toxicity, often from exposure to water-damaged buildings and black mold
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)
- Hypermobile Spectrum Disorders
- Nutrient deficiencies, especially iron and B vitamins (particularly B12)
- Gastrointestinal issues, including food sensitivities, dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria), SIBO, IBS, IBD (Crohn’s, Ulcerative Colitis), and Celiac disease
- Mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder
- Chronic kidney disease
- Neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s
- Traumatic brain injuries, concussions, PTSD, or chronic stress
- Cancer or malignancies
- Adverse effects from medications
Our naturopathic physicians are trained to take a comprehensive approach—looking at your entire health picture to uncover what’s contributing to your fatigue and guide your recovery.
How do you diagnose chronic fatigue?
Diagnosing chronic fatigue begins with a comprehensive evaluation that includes an in-depth intake of your symptoms and health history, a physical exam, routine screenings (such as wellness exams and cancer screenings), and laboratory testing to assess which body systems may be impaired.
Our physicians take a whole-person approach, carefully ruling out other potential medical causes while identifying contributing factors to your fatigue.
Commonly ordered tests for chronic fatigue evaluation include:
Basic Labs:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) and Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP)
- Thyroid panel
- Adrenal function testing
- Iron panel
- Sex hormone testing
- Markers of inflammation and immune system function
- Autoimmune disease screening
- Infectious disease testing
Specialized Testing:
- Comprehensive hormone analysis, such as the Vibrant America urinary hormone panel
- Advanced stool testing to evaluate gut bacteria, inflammation, infections, and parasites
- Mold and mycotoxin urine testing
- Toxin burden testing, including heavy metals
- Nervous system assessments
- Brain function evaluations, such as Brain Mapping and Cortical Metrics
- Urine heavy metal testing
How is chronic fatigue treated?
Managing chronic fatigue requires an integrative approach that addresses both symptom relief and the underlying causes. Support from our naturopathic physicians—as well as understanding from family and friends—is essential for a successful recovery.
Because each person’s experience with chronic fatigue is different, treatment must be personalized based on symptoms, root causes, and individual factors such as financial resources and lifestyle. That said, some commonly used therapies at Aspen Integrative Medical Center include:
- Dietary and lifestyle modifications
- Nutritional supplementation
- Botanical medicine
- Intravenous (IV) nutrient therapy (e.g., IV Ozone, EBOO, NAD)
- Biotherapeutic drainage
- Thyroid hormone replacement
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) – testosterone, estrogen, progesterone
- Craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)
- Deep tissue laser therapy
- Detoxification support, including infrared sauna
- Compounded medications (e.g., Low Dose Naltrexone, Methylene Blue)
- Homeopathic medicine
- Neurofeedback
- Stress reduction techniques
- Mind-body therapies
If you’re ready to uncover the cause of your symptoms and receive safe, effective treatment for chronic fatigue, call Aspen Integrative Medical Center or schedule an appointment online today.