Understanding Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation is at the core of nearly every modern health problem — from fatigue, pain, and brain fog to autoimmune disease, allergies, and even hormonal imbalance. While short-term inflammation is a healthy and necessary immune response to injury or infection, chronic inflammation is a sign that the immune system has become stuck in overdrive.
At the Restorative Medicine Center, we view inflammation not as the diagnosis itself, but as a downstream symptom of deeper immune dysfunction. In many patients, this immune imbalance is part of a condition known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS) — a state in which the immune system becomes chronically activated by hidden triggers such as infections, toxins, or ongoing stress. Over time, this dysregulated immune activity creates a cascade of inflammation throughout the body, affecting energy production, hormones, brain chemistry, and organ function.
Conventional medicine often focuses on managing this inflammation through symptom-based treatments — anti-inflammatory medications, steroids, or other “band-aid” approaches. While these may provide temporary relief, they rarely identify why the inflammation is happening in the first place. Without addressing the true source, the problem persists and often worsens over time.
At Restorative Medicine, we take a deeper, more comprehensive approach through what we call the Root Cause Triad — a framework that examines the three fundamental drivers of immune imbalance: Microbes, Toxins, and the Stress Response. By uncovering which of these (or which combination) is keeping your immune system in a chronic state of alarm, we can finally begin to calm inflammation at its source and restore balance from the inside out.
The Root Cause Triad Framework
Dr. Birkmeier-Fredal’s unique diagnostic and treatment model—the Root Cause Triad—is designed to identify and address the three primary drivers of chronic inflammation: Microbes, Toxins, and the Stress Response. These three categories are deeply interconnected, and effective healing requires addressing all of them in a coordinated, sustainable way.
Microbes
Hidden or “stealth” infections are among the most common and overlooked causes of persistent inflammation. Microorganisms such as Lyme (Borrelia), Bartonella, Babesia, and mold-related microbes can remain active in the body long after the initial exposure, producing biotoxins that disrupt immune regulation and cellular communication.
These stealth pathogens often go undetected by standard testing, which is why comprehensive, specialized diagnostics are critical. At Restorative Medicine Center, we utilize advanced testing and careful clinical evaluation to uncover microbial imbalances that may be fueling immune dysfunction and inflammation.
Once identified, treatment is individualized—focused on reducing microbial load while supporting the body’s detoxification and repair systems so that healing occurs at a sustainable pace.
Toxins
Environmental toxins and biotoxins play a powerful role in sustaining inflammation. From mold exposure and heavy metals to industrial chemicals and pesticides, these substances can interfere with mitochondrial energy production, damage tissues, and perpetuate immune imbalance.
In many cases, the body’s natural detoxification systems—especially the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, and gut—become overwhelmed. Supporting these pathways is a cornerstone of the Root Cause Triad approach.
Common detoxification strategies include:
- Supporting liver function with targeted nutrients and herbal compounds
- Using binders to capture and remove circulating toxins
- Encouraging elimination through hydration, movement, and adequate fiber intake
- Incorporating Far Infrared Sauna therapy to enhance detoxification through gentle sweating
These foundational strategies help clear the “toxic backlog,” allowing the immune system to calm and repair itself naturally.
Stress Response
The third pillar of the Root Cause Triad—the Stress Response—is often the most underestimated driver of chronic inflammation. When the body is stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode due to chronic stress, trauma, illness, or overexertion, the nervous system continually signals danger. This keeps the immune system on high alert and prevents it from returning to a state of balance.
Restoring a healthy stress response is essential to resolving inflammation. Dr. Birkmeier-Fredal helps patients retrain their nervous systems using techniques such as:
- Breathwork and mindfulness-based stress reduction
- Sleep hygiene to reset circadian rhythm and hormone balance
- Neural retraining programs that help shift the brain and body out of chronic defense mode
As patients learn to calm their nervous systems, their inflammatory markers often drop, energy improves, and healing accelerates.
Alternative and Integrative Treatment Options
At the Restorative Medicine Center, treatment for chronic inflammation goes far beyond masking symptoms. True healing requires a strategic, layered approach that restores balance at the cellular, biochemical, and emotional levels.
Below are some of the key integrative and evidence-informed therapies that support the body’s natural ability to heal and recover from chronic inflammation.
Nutritional Therapy
The foundation of any anti-inflammatory program begins with food. What you eat directly influences how your immune system behaves.
A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory diet helps calm immune overactivation and provides the raw materials your body needs to repair damaged tissues. We often begin with eliminating inflammatory foods such as refined sugars, processed oils, and artificial additives while focusing on clean, whole foods that nourish the gut and support detoxification.
For many patients, oxalate awareness is also important. Oxalates—naturally occurring compounds in certain healthy foods—can worsen pain, inflammation, and mitochondrial stress when consumed in excess or when detox pathways are impaired. Gradual reduction under guidance helps prevent flare-ups as the body rebalances.
Herbal and Nutraceutical Support
Plant-based and nutrient therapies can powerfully modulate inflammation and support healing at the root level. Depending on each patient’s needs, treatment may include:
- Curcumin (from turmeric) for its potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
- Omega-3 fatty acids to regulate immune signaling and support cardiovascular and neurological health.
- Adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha or rhodiola to balance cortisol and reduce stress-driven inflammation.
- Antioxidants like CoQ10, resveratrol, and N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) to neutralize free radicals and protect cellular structures.
These therapies are personalized based on each individual’s lab findings, tolerance, and treatment goals—never a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Detoxification & Cellular Support
Toxin overload is one of the most common drivers of persistent inflammation. Supporting the body’s detoxification and repair systems helps relieve that burden and restores energy production at the mitochondrial level.
Key strategies include:
- Far Infrared Sauna: Promotes sweating to eliminate biotoxins, heavy metals, and other pollutants while improving circulation and cellular oxygenation.
- Red Light Therapy: Enhances mitochondrial function, reduces oxidative stress, and supports tissue regeneration.
- Hydration: Ensures proper lymphatic flow and toxin clearance. Drinking 2–3 liters of clean, filtered water daily helps the body flush inflammatory byproducts.
- Clean Air and Water: Minimizing mold exposure and using high-quality air and water filtration systems can dramatically reduce immune triggers in your environment.
These approaches work synergistically to create a “cleaner” internal environment, allowing your body to shift from survival mode to repair mode.
Hormone Optimization
Chronic inflammation often disrupts how hormones communicate with their receptors—creating what’s known as hormone resistance. Even when blood levels look “normal,” the hormones may not be effectively signaling inside cells.
By first reducing inflammation and improving cellular function, the body becomes more responsive to natural hormone balance. In some cases, gentle bioidentical hormone support is added to enhance energy, mood, and metabolic repair, but only after addressing the underlying inflammatory stressors.
Mitochondrial and Immune Support
The mitochondria—your body’s energy factories—are also powerful regulators of immune function. When they’re damaged by toxins, infections, or oxidative stress, the immune system becomes erratic.
Targeted therapies to restore mitochondrial and immune balance may include:
- Methylene Blue for mitochondrial enhancement and cognitive support.
- Glutathione (the body’s master antioxidant) for detoxification and immune regulation.
- Vitamin D Balance, ensuring proper ratios with Vitamin A and K2 to support immune signaling and inflammation control.
These interventions help the body generate sustainable energy, reduce oxidative stress, and enhance immune resilience.
Lifestyle Foundations
No treatment plan is complete without addressing the foundational habits that sustain long-term health. Healing inflammation requires more than supplements and therapies—it requires a lifestyle that supports calm, connection, and restoration.
- Movement: Gentle, consistent exercise supports lymphatic flow, circulation, and detoxification.
- Restorative Sleep: Deep, regular sleep is one of the most powerful anti-inflammatory medicines available.
- Sunlight: Exposure to natural light supports circadian rhythm, vitamin D production, and mood regulation.
- Community Connection: Social isolation is inflammatory. Engaging with supportive relationships helps regulate the nervous system and enhances healing.
When these foundations are in place, other therapies work more effectively—and patients often find their energy, focus, and vitality return in ways they haven’t felt in years.
Start Healing from the Inside Out
If you’ve been told your inflammation is “normal,” or if you’re tired of chasing symptoms without real answers, it’s time to dig deeper.
At the Restorative Medicine Center, we don’t believe in quick fixes or one-size-fits-all protocols. We believe in understanding why your body is inflamed—and helping it return to balance through a thoughtful, integrative approach grounded in both science and compassion.
By uncovering the true causes of chronic inflammation—whether microbial, toxic, or stress-related—we can help you move from constant fatigue and frustration to renewed clarity, vitality, and long-term wellness. Healing isn’t about silencing symptoms. It’s about restoring harmony to the systems that keep you alive, energetic, and thriving.
When you’re ready to take that next step, we’re here to guide you.
Contact Us
📍 Restorative Medicine Center
705 Barclay Cir #115
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
📞 Phone: 248.289.6349
📠 Fax: 248-289-6923
🌐 Website: www.restorativemedcenter.com