
If you're dealing with symptoms like joint stiffness, fatigue, brain fog, bloating, or stubborn weight gain, there's a good chance inflammation is playing a role. You may not see it or feel it directly, but under the surface, your immune system could be in a chronic state of overactivation—quietly disrupting your health and energy.
At O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul, we specialize in identifying and treating the root causes of inflammation using functional medicine and hands-on natural therapies. In this article, we’ll explain what inflammation is, what causes it, and most importantly, how you can heal from it.
What Is Inflammation?
Acute inflammation is your body's natural defense mechanism. When you get injured or sick, inflammation is part of the healing process. It's short-term, protective, and essential.
Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is different. It happens when your body gets stuck in a low-grade inflammatory state. This can go on for months or years without obvious symptoms at first. Over time, this ongoing immune response starts to damage tissues and disrupt critical systems.
Chronic inflammation is linked to nearly every major chronic illness, including:
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Arthritis
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Type 2 diabetes
It's your body’s way of waving a red flag that something deeper needs attention.
What Causes Chronic Inflammation?
Most chronic inflammation is driven by lifestyle and environmental factors. Some of the most common triggers include:
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Diets high in sugar, processed foods, and refined carbs
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Emotional stress and an overactive "fight-or-flight" response
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Poor sleep habits and lack of restorative rest
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Environmental toxins in personal care products, cleaners, and plastics
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Chronic infections (viruses, bacteria, parasites)
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Leaky gut and microbiome imbalances
These hidden sources of stress add up and overwhelm your body’s ability to repair itself.
Natural Ways to Reduce Inflammation
The first step to reducing inflammation is creating a healthier foundation. Lifestyle changes often have a bigger impact than people realize:
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Anti-inflammatory diet: Load up on leafy greens, berries, omega-3 fats, turmeric, ginger, and clean proteins
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Daily movement: Walking, stretching, and yoga improve circulation and reduce stagnation
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Hydration: Helps your body flush toxins and support lymphatic drainage
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Stress reduction: Deep breathing, meditation, EFT tapping, and nervous system regulation
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Sleep hygiene: Consistent routines and natural sleep support to help your body repair overnight
At O'Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic, we help you build these habits in a way that works for your life.
How We Treat Inflammation at O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic
We take a functional medicine approach, which means we don’t just treat symptoms—we uncover the underlying causes of inflammation.
Through detailed health histories, functional lab testing, and personalized assessments, we identify what’s driving your immune system out of balance. Then we create a custom plan using proven therapies that support your body’s healing capacity. Our most effective tools include:
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PEMF Therapy (Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy): Improves circulation, recharges cells, and reduces pain
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Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM): Targets inflammation, tissue repair, and nervous system regulation
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Acupuncture: Promotes balance and calms the inflammatory response
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Chiropractic care with soft tissue therapy, Graston, Cupping, Soft Tissue Massage, and heated stones: Improves alignment, relieves tension, and enhances lymph flow
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Cold laser and therapeutic ultrasound therapy: Stimulate tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation in joints and muscles
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Therapeutic bodywork: Boosts circulation, enhances lymphatic drainage, and promotes relaxation
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Detox and clinical nutrition: Supports liver and gut detox pathways using lab-guided protocols and personalized nutrition
All of our therapies are integrated with diet, movement, hydration, and lifestyle support to provide a full-body approach to healing.
There are no cookie-cutter plans—just thoughtful, personalized care designed to get to the root of your inflammation and help you feel your best.
Take the First Step Toward Healing Naturally
If you’ve been struggling with fatigue, pain, skin issues, or brain fog, and nothing seems to work long-term, it's time to look beneath the surface.
Let us help you uncover what’s driving your inflammation and guide you toward a clear, functional medicine plan that helps your body heal naturally and effectively.
O’Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic
1053 Ashland Avenue
Saint Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651-292-8072
Call us today to schedule a consultation or full functional medicine assessment.