Chronic Fatigue Treatment with Functional Medicine in Saint Paul, Minnesota
By Dr. Shannon O’Keefe, DC, DCBCN, Functional Medicine Practitioner at O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul
Reclaiming Your Energy and Overcoming Chronic Fatigue
Many people in the Twin Cities search for answers when fatigue will not go away, even after normal lab results. Fatigue is more than feeling tired. It is your body’s way of signaling that something deeper is happening. Chronic fatigue may be connected to hidden inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, digestive dysfunction, toxin exposure, or impaired mitochondrial health.
In functional medicine, we view fatigue as a symptom, not a diagnosis. The key is uncovering the why. As Dr. Mark Hyman explains:
“Fatigue is not a diagnosis. It’s a symptom with many possible causes, and the key is to find the underlying imbalance in the system.”
(How to Reclaim Your Energy and Overcome Chronic Fatigue)Why Chronic Fatigue Happens
Your energy comes from the mitochondria, which are the tiny “power plants” in every cell. When mitochondria are weakened by stress, infections, processed foods, toxins, or nutrient depletion, they cannot produce energy efficiently.
Dr. Hyman notes:
“Our mitochondria are under siege from toxins, processed foods, stress, and infections. Rebuilding them is essential to regaining energy.”
(What Chronic Inflammation Really Does to Your Body)Scientific research confirms mitochondrial dysfunction plays a role in chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders of low energy (PubMed study). Even low-grade inflammation can disrupt cellular energy and immune balance.
Functional Medicine Testing for Fatigue
At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul, we go beyond standard lab work to uncover the true drivers of fatigue. Our goal is to piece together a full picture of your body’s health, identifying both subtle imbalances and deeper dysfunctions that conventional testing often misses.
Our assessment may include:
Comprehensive blood panel: CBC, metabolic panel, thyroid hormones (TSH, free T3, free T4, reverse T3), vitamin D, iron studies, ferritin, B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, and inflammatory markers such as CRP, homocysteine, and ESR
Advanced thyroid evaluation: Full thyroid antibody panel to screen for autoimmune thyroid disease such as Hashimoto’s or Graves’ which can directly affect energy
Metabolic and nutrient testing: Organic Acids Test (OAT) to assess mitochondrial efficiency, B vitamin metabolism, detox pathways, and gut byproducts that impact energy
Adrenal and stress hormone testing: Cortisol rhythm and DHEA testing to evaluate adrenal fatigue or HPA axis dysfunction
Digestive and microbiome assessment: GI mapping to uncover infections, dysbiosis, leaky gut, or inflammatory gut markers that can drain energy
Toxin and heavy metal evaluation: Testing for environmental toxins, mold exposure, or heavy metals that interfere with mitochondrial and nervous system function
Comprehensive hormonal testing: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol balance which can influence sleep, mood, and energy production
This in-depth functional medicine assessment allows us to design a highly personalized plan for each patient rather than offering generic fatigue treatments.
How We Treat Chronic Fatigue in Saint Paul
Once we uncover the underlying patterns, we build a care plan that integrates functional medicine, lifestyle medicine, and advanced therapeutic tools. Our goal is not only to restore energy but also to retrain the body to maintain vitality over time.
Nutrition as medicine: A customized, whole-food, anti-inflammatory plan that balances blood sugar, replenishes nutrient reserves, and reduces toxic load. Many patients benefit from elimination of common triggers such as gluten, dairy, or processed sugars, followed by a carefully guided reintroduction.
Targeted supplementation: Based on your lab results, we may recommend mitochondrial nutrients such as magnesium, CoQ10, NAD precursors, alpha-lipoic acid, or adaptogenic herbs for adrenal support. These are chosen specifically for your lab profile, not given as blanket protocols.
Neurofeedback: This therapy uses brainwave training to improve focus, calm the nervous system, and reduce the “mental fatigue” that often accompanies physical exhaustion. By retraining brainwave patterns, patients often notice improvements in sleep, mood, and mental clarity, which directly support energy.
Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM): FSM uses gentle currents tuned to specific frequencies that help repair tissues, reduce inflammation, and calm an overactive nervous system. In patients with chronic fatigue, FSM is particularly helpful for balancing the autonomic nervous system, allowing the parasympathetic “rest and repair” system to function again.
Acupuncture: Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine and validated by modern research, acupuncture supports energy flow, balances stress hormones, and improves sleep quality. For chronic fatigue patients, acupuncture often relieves tension, calms the nervous system, and improves overall vitality.
Lifestyle medicine: Sleep optimization plans, guided stress management techniques, movement tailored to your energy capacity, and pacing strategies to prevent post-exertional crashes. Environmental support such as identifying and reducing mold, chemical, or heavy metal exposure is also part of the program.
This integrative approach ensures that patients are not only treated at the symptom level but supported at every level of physiology, from mitochondria and hormones to brain and nervous system balance.
The Hopeful Truth
Chronic fatigue does not have to define your life. With a root-cause functional medicine approach, energy can be restored. As Dr. Hyman reminds us:
“Energy is the most important currency in health. When you have it, everything else in life becomes possible.”
(How to Reclaim Your Energy and Overcome Chronic Fatigue)
At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we help patients in Saint Paul and the Twin Cities uncover their root causes of fatigue, restore vitality, and reclaim quality of life.
Learn more about our functional medicine services here
A Quiet Place for Healing and Renewal
At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we believe healing happens best in a calm and supportive environment. Our clinic is not rushed or impersonal. Instead, it is quiet, welcoming, and designed to give you the time and space you need to be truly heard. Every detail of your care is personalized because no two patients with fatigue are exactly alike.
We take pride in offering a place where you can step away from the noise and stress of daily life and focus fully on your health. Patients often tell us that from the moment they walk through our doors, they feel cared for in a way they have never experienced before.
Our team combines advanced functional medicine, gentle hands-on therapies, and state-of-the-art treatments such as neurofeedback, Frequency Specific Microcurrent, and acupuncture. Just as important, we combine this with kindness, careful listening, and deep respect for each person’s healing journey.
If you are struggling with chronic fatigue or feeling like your energy will never return, we want you to know that there is hope. You do not have to accept exhaustion as your normal. With the right guidance and support, your body can begin to heal, and your vitality can be restored.
At O’Keefe Matz, we are honored to walk beside you on this path. Together, we can uncover the root causes of your fatigue, calm and rebalance your system, and help you reclaim the energy and quality of life you deserve.
