So what are the causes and treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome?
Let's talk about it.
Chronic fatigue syndrome also known as myalgic encephalitis affects over 20 million people worldwide.
There's not a single cause for chronic fatigue syndrome. In fact, there's multiple potential etiologies.
#1 - Infections
One out of 10 people who develop Epstein Barr Virus will develop chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms.
#2 - Chronic Production of Cytokines
Cytokines are hormones that your immune system produces to elicit an inflammatory immune response and when produced continuously may result in CFS symptoms.
#3 - Low Functioning Natural Killer Cells
NKCs help you fight off infections and inflammation.
When NKCs do not function properly to protect you, chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms may develop.
#4 - Differences in Markers of T Cell Activation
T cells both activate and suppress immune responses to infection. People with CFS have different T cell activity than people without chronic fatigue syndrome.
#5 - Stress and a Dysfunctional Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis
Stress can trigger chronic fatigue syndrome and also make the symptoms much worse. The stress hormone cortisol helps lower inflammation and calms down the immune system. Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome have low levels of cortisol causing increase in inflammation and chronic activation of the immune system.
#6 - Genetics
In twin studies and families, genes play a role in the symptoms of chronic fatigue.
So how can you treat chronic fatigue syndrome?
While conventional medicine treats CFS symptoms, I’ve found in my practice dealing with chronic fatigue syndrome patients for many years that supporting their hypothalamus with Genesis Gold®, and sometimes extra Sacred Seven® amino acids can reduce the inflammation, balance the immune system response, help the HPA Axis normalize, balance cortisol levels, and improve mitochondrial function to increase energy.
Treating the symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome can help the patient become more functional until the hypothalamus optimizes. For instance, post exertional malaise is an increase of fatigue from stress, emotional, and physical exertion. PEM can be mitigated by having patients pace their activities by recognizing what triggers them and also attempting activity during the time of day they have more energy.
It's really important with chronic fatigue syndrome to address sleep issues. Along with practicing good sleep habits, supporting the hypothalamus nutraceutically helps to normalize nocturnal hormones and deepen sleep.
By supporting the hypothalamus the pain associated with CFS can often be mitigated as there's less immune inflammatory response.
Depression, anxiety, and poor stress tolerance are often symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome that can be mitigated by hypothalamic support.
Issues with memory and concentration can be improved with hypothalamic support to increase the production of dopamine.
Mitigating orthostatic intolerance with fluids and salts, and sometimes compression stockings, can be helpful.
If you have any questions about chronic fatigue syndrome, please join us in our Hormone Reboot Training.
Yes. The hypothalamus is the master regulator of metabolism, controlling how your body stores and burns energy through its signaling to the thyroid, adrenals, and pancreas. When the hypothalamus becomes dysregulated by chronic stress, poor sleep, inflammation, or blood sugar instability, it defends a higher weight "set point" — causing the body to hold onto fat regardless of diet or exercise. This makes hypothalamic dysfunction an upstream root cause of stubborn weight gain.
What is a weight set point and why won't mine move?
A weight set point is the body weight your hypothalamus works to defend, calibrated over time by stress, sleep, hormones, and inflammation. When you diet, the hypothalamus perceives scarcity and responds by slowing metabolism, increasing hunger hormones, and suppressing satiety signals to return you to that set point. This is why most people regain lost weight within two to five years of conventional dieting — the set point itself was never recalibrated, only temporarily overridden.
Why do I gain weight under stress even when I'm not eating more?
Chronic stress raises cortisol, which disrupts blood sugar regulation, promotes abdominal fat storage, and signals the hypothalamus that the body is under threat. In survival mode, the hypothalamus defends fat stores and slows metabolism — so weight can increase even without any change in calorie intake. The stress chemistry, not the food, is driving the weight gain, which is why stress reduction is essential to any lasting metabolic reset.
Why do I regain weight after stopping GLP-1 medications?
GLP-1 medications work peripherally on appetite and gastric signaling, but they do not address the underlying hypothalamic dysregulation that sets your defended weight. Because the hypothalamic set point is never recalibrated, the body resumes defending its original weight once the medication stops — leading to significant regain. Long-term success requires restoring hypothalamic regulation so the set point itself lowers, rather than relying on appetite suppression alone.
How long does it take to reset your metabolism?
Genuine metabolic recalibration takes a minimum of 90 days, because the hypothalamus needs consistent signals of safety and sufficiency before it will lower its defended set point. This differs from a diet, which produces temporary suppression the body quickly corrects. A 90-day reset typically moves through three phases: stabilizing stress chemistry (days 1–30), rebuilding metabolic efficiency (days 31–60), and lowering the weight set point (days 61–90).
Why does my thyroid feel slow even though my labs are "normal"?
Under chronic stress, the body converts thyroid hormone into reverse T3, which blocks active thyroid receptors and slows metabolism at the cellular level — even when standard lab values appear normal. This means you can experience genuine symptoms of slow metabolism, such as fatigue, cold intolerance, and brain fog, while your thyroid panel looks unremarkable. Addressing the upstream hypothalamic and stress signaling often improves thyroid conversion and symptoms.
Is stubborn weight gain a willpower problem?
No. Stubborn weight gain is a signaling problem, not a willpower problem. The hypothalamus governs weight through survival mechanisms that operate below conscious control — defending its set point by slowing metabolism and increasing hunger when it perceives threat. No amount of discipline can override this system; lasting change comes from restoring hypothalamic regulation through reduced stress, balanced blood sugar, restorative sleep, and targeted nutritional support.
Known as the Hormone Queen®️, I’ve made it my mission to help everyone - no matter their age - balance their hormones, and live the energy and joy their DNA and true destiny desires. See more about me my story here...
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