The immune system is one of the body’s most intelligent networks—constantly scanning, defending, repairing, and adapting. But when that system becomes misdirected, it can lose its ability to tell friend from foe. This is what we refer to as immune dysfunction—not an immune system that is too weak or too strong, but one that has lost its balance.
Immune dysfunction doesn’t look the same for everyone—and that’s what makes it so challenging to identify. For some, it appears as chronic fatigue or brain fog; for others, it’s autoimmunity, pain, or persistent infections. But beneath these surface symptoms lies the same core problem: a dysregulated immune system struggling to find balance.
Common signs that your immune system may be out of sync include:
- Chronic fatigue or brain fog that persists despite rest
- Autoimmune conditions such as Hashimoto’s, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis
- Recurrent sinus, respiratory, or urinary infections
- Allergies or sensitivities that seem to worsen over time
- Joint or muscle pain without clear injury or cause
- Mood swings, anxiety, or depression linked to systemic inflammation
- Poor response to vaccines or medications, suggesting immune suppression
For many people, these symptoms are met with frustration. Standard lab work often returns “normal,” even when the patient feels anything but. In reality, the immune system may be working overtime in one area while underperforming in another—creating hidden imbalances that standard tests simply don’t detect.
At Restorative Medicine Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, approaches immune dysfunction through her signature Root Cause Triad framework. This evidence-based functional medicine model examines the three most common drivers of immune imbalance:
- Microbes – Hidden infections and microbial overgrowths that trigger inflammation.
- Toxins – Environmental, microbial, or metabolic toxins that overwhelm detox pathways.
- Stress Response – Chronic fight-or-flight activation that prevents immune repair and balance.
By identifying and treating the underlying disturbances in these three systems, Dr. Birkmeier helps patients naturally restore immune function—moving beyond symptom control to achieve real, sustainable healing.
Her approach is educational, compassionate, and grounded in science. Patients are not just treated; they are guided to understand their body’s signals and actively participate in the process of regaining balance.
Understanding Immune Dysfunction
The immune system is designed to protect, repair, and regulate—to identify threats, neutralize them, and then stand down. It operates like a finely tuned orchestra, with every cell and chemical messenger in rhythm. But when the body is exposed to chronic infection, toxic overload, or unrelenting stress, that rhythm falters.
Over time, the immune system can become overactive, underactive, or both:
- Immune Overactivity – When the system is overstimulated, it can begin to attack the body’s own tissues, leading to autoimmune diseases or allergic responses. This hypervigilant state often manifests as inflammation, rashes, joint pain, or heightened sensitivities.
- Immune Suppression – Conversely, when the immune system becomes exhausted or suppressed, it struggles to defend against everyday microbes, resulting in frequent infections, poor wound healing, and chronic fatigue.
These seemingly opposite patterns often coexist, reflecting a miscommunication within the immune network rather than a simple “strong” or “weak” immune system.
The Hidden Role of Chronic Inflammation and Stealth Pathogens
Many patients with long-standing immune dysfunction are unknowingly fighting hidden infections—such as Lyme, Bartonella, Mycoplasma, Epstein-Barr virus, or Candida—that keep the immune system in constant alert mode. Meanwhile, environmental toxins, mold exposure, and chemical pollutants further overload detox pathways, deepening inflammation.
This state of chronic activation and overwhelm is known as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS)—a concept central to Dr. Teresa’s practice. CIRS represents what happens when the immune system can no longer regulate itself. Instead of turning inflammation off once a trigger is resolved, the body stays trapped in a perpetual state of alarm.
Over time, this ongoing immune dysregulation can impact hormones, mood, energy production, and even brain function. Patients may experience anxiety, sleep disturbances, and cognitive decline—all downstream effects of an immune system that can’t reset.
Natural Therapies Used at Restorative Medicine Center
At Restorative Medicine Center, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal blends the best of modern science and natural medicine to help patients restore immune balance and resilience. Every therapy is carefully chosen based on lab findings, clinical presentation, and the individual’s capacity for healing. The goal is not to overwhelm the body—but to support it in regaining equilibrium, layer by layer.
Dr. Birkmeier’s integrative approach focuses on five key pillars of immune restoration, each designed to strengthen the body’s natural defenses while calming inflammation and promoting repair.
Nutrient and Mitochondrial Support
The immune system depends on optimal nutrition and cellular energy to function properly. Chronic inflammation, infection, and stress can rapidly deplete these resources, leaving the body running on empty.
Dr. Birkmeier uses targeted nutrient protocols to replenish the body’s essential building blocks, including:
- Vitamin D – Regulates immune response and inflammation.
- Zinc and Magnesium – Critical cofactors for immune signaling and detox pathways.
- Omega-3 fatty acids – Reduce inflammation and support cellular repair.
- Antioxidants (Vitamin C, glutathione, CoQ10) – Protect tissues from oxidative stress.
Alongside nutrient repletion, mitochondrial support plays a central role in her treatment plans. Healthy mitochondria fuel every immune and repair process in the body. By restoring mitochondrial function, patients experience improved energy, reduced fatigue, and enhanced recovery.
Detoxification and Drainage Support
Detoxification is not a one-time event—it’s a continuous process the body performs every day. In patients with immune dysfunction, however, these pathways often become sluggish or blocked by chronic inflammation and toxin buildup.
Dr. Birkmeier emphasizes gentle, consistent detoxification, focusing on supporting drainage before mobilization to prevent Herxheimer (“die-off”) reactions. Her detox strategies include:
- Far-infrared sauna therapy to promote safe sweating and toxin elimination.
- Hydration and mineral balance to flush cellular waste.
- Binders (such as charcoal or bentonite clay) to capture and remove circulating toxins.
- Clean, anti-inflammatory dietary protocols to reduce ongoing exposure and support liver detoxification.
This approach ensures the body can clear toxins at a manageable pace, supporting steady progress without overwhelming the immune system.
Targeted Herbal and Botanical Medicine
Dr. Birkmeier incorporates evidence-based botanical medicine to balance immune function, reduce inflammation, and address hidden infections. These plant-based therapies work synergistically with the body’s own healing mechanisms, often with fewer side effects than pharmaceuticals.
Commonly used categories include:
- Immune-modulating herbs like astragalus, reishi mushroom, and cordyceps, which regulate—not overstimulate—the immune system.
- Adaptogens such as ashwagandha and rhodiola to enhance resilience and lower stress-induced immune suppression.
- Antimicrobial botanicals (such as berberine, oregano oil, and Japanese knotweed) to help address stealth infections that conventional testing may have missed.
Each herbal protocol is customized and introduced slowly, ensuring tolerance and effectiveness as the body’s immune system begins to rebalance.
Hormone and Adrenal Optimization
The immune system is deeply influenced by hormones—especially cortisol, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones. When these are out of balance, immune signaling falters, inflammation increases, and fatigue worsens.
Dr. Birkmeier evaluates cortisol rhythm patterns to determine whether the body is stuck in overdrive (chronic stress mode) or has shifted into adrenal burnout. Treatment may include:
- Adaptogenic herbs to normalize cortisol output.
- Nutrients such as B vitamins, vitamin C, and magnesium for adrenal repair.
- Lifestyle interventions to restore circadian rhythm and sleep quality.
By stabilizing hormone levels and addressing adrenal fatigue, patients regain the stamina and emotional resilience needed for long-term recovery.
Lifestyle and Mind-Body Medicine
Healing the immune system isn’t just about lab results—it’s about retraining the body to feel safe, supported, and in balance. Dr. Birkmeier integrates mind-body medicine into every treatment plan to help patients regulate their nervous system and reduce the inflammation driven by chronic stress.
She encourages daily, simple practices that create powerful physiological change:
- 4-7-8 breathing to lower stress hormones and calm the immune response.
- Mindfulness and gratitude journaling to shift focus away from fear and toward healing.
- Grounding and time in nature to restore circadian rhythm and cellular regulation.
- Restorative sleep routines—dim lighting, cool environments, and digital detox—to promote deep recovery.
- Gentle, consistent movement (stretching, yoga, walking) to stimulate lymphatic flow and immune balance.
These lifestyle foundations act as the glue that holds all other therapies together—transforming temporary relief into lasting wellness.
Restore Balance to Your Immune System—Naturally
If you’ve been living with chronic fatigue, inflammation, allergies, or recurring infections—and have been told “everything looks normal”—it may be time to take a deeper look. Immune dysfunction isn’t just about having a weak immune system; it’s about having one that’s out of balance.
At Restorative Medicine Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, helps patients uncover and correct the root causes behind immune imbalance using her Root Cause Triad framework. By addressing microbes, toxins, and stress response, she helps the immune system calm, regulate, and repair naturally—without masking symptoms or relying on quick fixes.
Whether you’re struggling with autoimmunity, chronic infections, or mysterious symptoms that haven’t responded to traditional care, there is a path forward. Through personalized testing, natural therapies, and a supportive partnership, Dr. Birkmeier guides each patient toward lasting immune resilience and renewed vitality.
Contact Restorative Medicine Center Today
📍 705 Barclay Cir #115, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
📞 248-289-6349 | 📠 Fax: 248-289-6923 🌐 www.restorativemedcenter.com