Chronic Fatigue Treatment in Greenville, SC
Chronic fatigue treatment in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry identifies and treats the root causes of persistent exhaustion with functional medicine and acupuncture. Call (864) 365-6156.
What Is Chronic Fatigue?
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME — myalgic encephalomyelitis) is a complex, debilitating condition characterized by profound, persistent fatigue that is not relieved by rest and significantly impairs daily function. It is accompanied by post-exertional malaise (symptoms worsen after physical or mental exertion), unrefreshing sleep, cognitive impairment, and orthostatic intolerance. Affecting up to 2.5 million Americans, it is frequently misdiagnosed and undertreated. Many more people experience significant fatigue without meeting formal CFS criteria — a population that also benefits enormously from functional medicine evaluation.
Common Symptoms
Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective
CFS/ME pathophysiology is increasingly understood and includes: mitochondrial dysfunction (impaired cellular energy production), HPA axis dysregulation with low cortisol pattern, natural killer cell dysfunction and immune dysregulation, enteroviral persistence, neuroinflammation and microglial activation, and gut microbiome depletion.
Post-COVID fatigue (Long COVID fatigue) shares many features with CFS/ME and is driven by a combination of neuroinflammation, mitochondrial damage, gut dysbiosis, and autonomic dysfunction. Chronic Epstein-Barr virus reactivation, Lyme disease co-infections, and mold toxicity are other common triggers that functional medicine evaluation can identify. Many fatigue patients have completely normal standard blood work — the relevant dysfunction is missed without functional medicine testing.
How We Treat Chronic Fatigue at IHP
Dr. Hendry's functional medicine approach to chronic fatigue involves comprehensive testing that standard medicine doesn't perform: mitochondrial function markers (organic acids, carnitine levels), adrenal cortisol rhythm (four-point testing), full thyroid panel, EBV/viral titers, heavy metal screen, gut microbiome assessment, and inflammatory markers.
Treatment targets the specific deficiencies and dysfunctions identified: mitochondrial support (CoQ10, carnitine, B vitamins, D-ribose), adrenal restoration (adaptogenic herbs, cortisol rhythm optimization), gut healing protocols, anti-inflammatory dietary changes, and viral immune support. Acupuncture regulates the autonomic nervous system and HPA axis — particularly relevant for CFS — and improves energy metabolism. The key principle in CFS treatment is pacing: avoiding the boom-bust cycle of overexertion followed by crash that perpetuates the illness.
Dr. Hendry's Approach
Dr. Hendry has specific expertise in post-viral fatigue syndromes, having worked with Long COVID patients since 2020 and having clinical experience with Epstein-Barr related fatigue and fibromyalgia-CFS overlap. He treats chronic fatigue as a legitimate, biologically driven condition requiring systematic medical investigation — not a psychological problem requiring reassurance.