Stealth pathogens are infectious agents that persist undetected, hiding from both the immune system and standard medical testing. Unlike typical infections that cause obvious fevers or positive lab results, these microbes operate below the surface—creating chronic, multi-system symptoms that often confuse patients and doctors alike.
These infections can evade detection and elimination, embedding themselves deep in tissues, forming protective biofilms, and altering immune responses. The result? Persistent inflammation that disrupts energy production, hormone balance, neurological function, and overall immune health—even when standard labs appear completely “normal.”
Common examples of stealth pathogens include:
- Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)
- Bartonella
- Babesia
- Mycoplasma
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)
- Chlamydia pneumoniae
- Certain molds and parasites
These organisms are masters of disguise—capable of lying dormant for years or decades before reactivating under stress, illness, or toxin exposure. Because they continually stimulate the immune system, they can trigger a wide range of chronic conditions, including fatigue syndromes, autoimmune reactions, anxiety, and neuroinflammation.
At Restorative Medicine Center near Detroit, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, specializes in identifying and treating stealth pathogens using her Root Cause Triad framework. This integrative model examines how microbes, toxins, and the stress response interact to create chronic illness. By uncovering these connections, she helps patients move from confusion and frustration to clarity and sustainable recovery.
Dr. Birkmeier’s approach is compassionate, evidence-informed, and deeply investigative—combining advanced diagnostics with functional medicine to finally answer the question so many patients ask: “Why do I feel this way?”
Dr. Teresa’s Stealth Pathogen Evaluation Process
At Restorative Medicine Center, located just north of Detroit, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, takes a distinctly thorough and investigative approach to uncovering stealth pathogen illness. Her Stealth Pathogen Evaluation Process is rooted in functional and integrative medicine, combining in-depth listening, advanced diagnostics, and clinical experience to find the “why” behind chronic symptoms that have been overlooked elsewhere.
This process is collaborative and data-driven—a true partnership between physician and patient. Each step is designed to reveal connections between infections, toxins, and the body’s stress response that conventional testing often misses.
Comprehensive History Review
Healing begins with understanding the story. Dr. Birkmeier starts with an extensive, detailed review of each patient’s health journey—mapping symptom patterns, environmental exposures, life events, and triggers that may have contributed to illness onset.
This timeline-based approach helps identify key inflection points, such as:
- Tick bites or other vector exposures
- Mold or water-damaged building contact
- Viral reactivations (e.g., Epstein-Barr or COVID)
- Emotional or physical stressors that preceded symptom flares
Functional Testing
After establishing the clinical history, Dr. Teresa orders advanced functional testing tailored to each individual’s presentation. These tests go far beyond standard labs, providing a deep look into immune, microbial, hormonal, and metabolic health.
Testing may include:
- Comprehensive infection panels for stealth microbes like Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, Mycoplasma, and viruses.
- Immune markers and CIRS biomarkers (VEGF, MMP-9, C4a, TGF-β1, Vitamin D ratio) to assess inflammation and immune activation.
- Toxin and mycotoxin testing to evaluate mold exposure and biotoxin burden.
- Hormone and adrenal analysis to assess how chronic illness has impacted stress physiology.
- Nutrient and mitochondrial function panels to identify deficits in cellular energy production.
Root Cause Mapping
Once results are available, Dr. Birkmeier synthesizes all findings into a Root Cause Map, visually connecting microbial, toxic, and stress-related patterns.
This integrative mapping process highlights the interplay between different systems—showing, for example, how a stealth infection may have triggered hormone dysregulation, or how chronic toxin exposure may have impaired mitochondrial energy and immune signaling.
The result is a clear, holistic picture of the patient’s unique physiology, not just a list of abnormal results. This map becomes the blueprint for treatment, guiding both Dr. Birkmeier and the patient through a personalized plan for recovery.
Personalized Treatment Planning
Armed with this data, Dr. Teresa develops a step-by-step treatment strategy designed to restore immune function and reduce inflammation at a sustainable pace. Each plan addresses the three arms of the Root Cause Triad:
- Microbial balance – Using targeted antimicrobials (natural or prescription) and immune-modulating therapies.
- Toxin reduction – Implementing detoxification and drainage support to lower biotoxin load.
- Stress regulation – Teaching nervous system tools to reestablish healing rhythms and resilience.
Treatment unfolds in phases, allowing the body to process change gradually and minimizing detox or “Herxheimer” reactions. Throughout care, the emphasis remains on balance, pacing, and partnership—empowering patients to take an active role in their healing.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment
Recovery from stealth pathogen illness is a journey, not a single intervention. Dr. Birkmeier monitors progress through symptom timelines, biomarker tracking, and ongoing dialogue. Patients are encouraged to record their responses to treatments, identify patterns, and bring observations to each follow-up appointment.
As the body shifts, protocols are adjusted—fine-tuning antimicrobial dosing, detox supports, or lifestyle interventions to match the patient’s tolerance and progress. This feedback-based model ensures that care remains responsive, individualized, and always moving forward.
Integrative Treatment Approaches for Stealth Pathogen Illness
Once the underlying microbial, toxic, and stress-related factors have been identified through her comprehensive evaluation, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, develops a personalized, stepwise treatment plan that helps the body heal at a pace it can handle.
At Restorative Medicine Center near Detroit, treatment is never “one-size-fits-all.” Instead, each therapy is chosen and timed carefully to support the body’s natural recovery processes—strengthening immune balance, reducing inflammation, and restoring energy without overwhelming fragile systems.
Antimicrobial Therapy (Natural and Prescription-Based)
Stealth pathogens such as Borrelia, Bartonella, Babesia, and viral or fungal organisms require precision, not aggression. Dr. Birkmeier utilizes customized antimicrobial protocols that combine natural and prescription therapies to gently reduce microbial load while protecting the body’s energy systems.
These may include:
- Targeted herbal antimicrobials such as Japanese knotweed, berberine, or oregano oil.
- Prescription antibiotics or antivirals, used judiciously when necessary.
- Biofilm disruptors to expose hidden pathogens to the immune system.
- Mitochondrial protectants such as CoQ10, NAC, and alpha-lipoic acid to prevent energy depletion during antimicrobial therapy.
Detoxification and Drainage
Clearing toxins is essential for recovery, but doing it too quickly can worsen inflammation. Dr. Teresa focuses on gentle, steady detoxification and drainage, helping the body eliminate microbial and environmental toxins without triggering severe “Herxheimer” (die-off) reactions.
Core detox methods include:
- Far-infrared sauna therapy to enhance sweat-based elimination and support circulation.
- Hydration and electrolyte balance to maintain kidney and cellular function.
- Gentle binders (like charcoal or bentonite clay) to safely capture and remove toxins.
- Liver and lymphatic support nutrients—including milk thistle, taurine, and B vitamins.
- Clean nutrition protocols focused on low-inflammatory, whole foods and filtered water.
Immune Modulation
In stealth pathogen illness, the immune system is often both overactive and exhausted—attacking healthy tissues while failing to clear infection. Dr. Teresa’s approach focuses on retraining, not suppressing, the immune system.
Her immune-balancing strategies include:
- Nutrient repletion – Restoring vitamin D, zinc, magnesium, and antioxidants to improve immune signaling.
- Adaptogenic herbs – Such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, or reishi to stabilize cortisol and enhance resilience.
- Mitochondrial support – Using carnitine, CoQ10, and antioxidants to rebuild cellular energy.
- Anti-inflammatory nutrition – Reducing processed foods and emphasizing omega-3 fats, phytonutrients, and clean proteins.
Stress and Nervous System Regulation
No treatment can succeed if the body remains in fight-or-flight mode. Chronic illness places constant strain on the nervous system, disrupting hormone balance and blocking immune repair.
Dr. Birkmeier integrates mind-body therapies into every plan to help patients calm their physiology and re-engage the body’s rest-and-repair mechanisms. These include:
- 4-7-8 breathing to regulate cortisol and heart rate variability.
- Mindfulness and gratitude practices to reduce limbic overactivation.
- Grounding and nature exposure to reconnect circadian rhythms and improve mood.
- Restorative sleep hygiene—limiting blue light, cooling the sleep environment, and supporting melatonin balance.
Lifestyle Optimization
Long-term recovery from stealth pathogen illness depends on sustainable daily habits that reduce toxic exposure and support ongoing immune regulation. Dr. Teresa works closely with patients to make achievable lifestyle adjustments that create an environment conducive to healing.
Her lifestyle optimization strategies include:
- Clean air and water – Using filtration systems to reduce environmental toxin load.
- Balanced, anti-inflammatory nutrition – Focused on whole foods, low sugar, and nutrient density.
- Paced movement – Gentle exercise or stretching routines to stimulate lymph flow without triggering post-exertional crashes.
- Sunlight and grounding – To restore circadian rhythm and improve mitochondrial function.
Uncover the Hidden Causes of Chronic Illness
If you’ve been living with chronic fatigue, pain, brain fog, or unexplained health issues that no one has been able to explain, stealth pathogens may be the missing link. These hidden infections often linger beneath the surface—quietly disrupting immune, hormonal, and neurological function while standard tests come back “normal.”
At Restorative Medicine Center near Detroit, Dr. Teresa Birkmeier-Fredal, MD, specializes in uncovering and treating these complex infections through her Root Cause Triad approach—focusing on the interplay between microbes, toxins, and the stress response. Her diagnostic process is thorough, compassionate, and science-informed, designed to identify what others have missed and help your body restore balance naturally.
Through advanced functional testing and integrative therapies, Dr. Birkmeier guides patients step-by-step toward true recovery—not just symptom relief. Her goal is to help you understand your illness, regain your vitality, and live with clarity and calm again.
Contact Restorative Medicine Center Today
📍 705 Barclay Cir #115, Rochester Hills, MI 48307
📞 248-289-6349 | 📠 Fax: 248-289-6923 🌐 www.restorativemedcenter.com