Do you ever feel like your body is working against you—achy, tired, foggy, or reactive—and you’re not sure why? Maybe you’ve been told “everything looks normal,” but your symptoms keep piling up.
What if the root of it all wasn’t aging, bad luck, or a random diagnosis—but chronic inflammation?
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we believe inflammation is one of the most overlooked drivers of stubborn, lingering symptoms. The good news? Once we uncover it, we can reverse it—naturally.
If you’ve been feeling off and can’t figure out why, this blog will help you understand what chronic inflammation really is, how it shows up in your body, and how functional medicine gets to the root of it all.
What Is Inflammation?
Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury, stress, or infection. In small doses—like when you cut your finger or get a cold—it’s a good thing. Your immune system activates to heal the damage, then calms back down.
But with chronic inflammation, the immune system doesn’t shut off. It stays active, simmering beneath the surface, causing wear and tear on your tissues, hormones, and nervous system.
Think of it like a small fire in your body that never gets put out. Over time, that fire can damage your cells and lead to all kinds of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Symptoms That May Be Caused by Inflammation
Inflammation doesn’t always “hurt.” It’s often subtle, systemic, and affects multiple systems in the body. Here are some signs your symptoms might be driven by inflammation:
- Constant fatigue, even after rest
- Brain fog or difficulty focusing
- Joint or muscle pain
- Bloating or digestive discomfort
- Weight that won’t budge
- Skin issues (eczema, acne, rashes)
- Anxiety or mood swings
- Headaches or migraines
- PMS or irregular cycles
- Autoimmune flare-ups
- Poor recovery from workouts
- Insomnia or disrupted sleep
Most of these symptoms are often brushed off by conventional medicine—especially when basic labs are “normal.” But at Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we look deeper.
What Causes Chronic Inflammation?
There are dozens of triggers, but here are some of the most common root causes we uncover in our practice:
1. Poor Gut Health
An inflamed or leaky gut allows toxins and food particles into the bloodstream, which activates the immune system. This is a huge driver of systemic inflammation, especially in people with food sensitivities, IBS, or autoimmune conditions.
2. Hidden Infections or Overgrowth
Conditions like candida, parasites, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), or stealth viruses can go undetected but create ongoing immune activation and inflammation.
3. Blood Sugar Imbalance
Chronically high or unstable blood sugar levels (even in non-diabetics) create oxidative stress and fuel inflammation. If you crash after meals or crave sugar constantly, this might be a key player.
4. Toxin Exposure
We’re exposed to thousands of chemicals daily—from plastics to pesticides to mold spores. If your detox pathways (like the liver and gut) are overwhelmed, these toxins build up and promote inflammatory damage.
5. Chronic Stress
Emotional or mental stress is just as inflammatory as physical stress. When your nervous system is stuck in “fight or flight,” it disrupts cortisol, sleep, digestion, and immune balance—adding fuel to the fire.
6. Nutrient Deficiencies
You need adequate nutrients like omega-3s, antioxidants, magnesium, zinc, and B vitamins to keep inflammation in check. Deficiencies in these areas often go unnoticed but can quietly drive symptoms.
Functional Testing: How We Find the Fire
You won’t hear this in a 10-minute doctor visit—but inflammation is a process, not just a single number.
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we use comprehensive testing to evaluate inflammation from multiple angles. That might include:
- hs-CRP: A marker of systemic inflammation
- Homocysteine: Related to cardiovascular and neurological inflammation
- Stool testing (GI-MAP): To detect gut infections, immune overactivation, or leaky gut
- Food sensitivity testing: To see if your immune system is reacting to everyday foods
- Adrenal and cortisol panels: To check for stress-related inflammation
- Nutrient panels: To see what your body is missing that could help calm inflammation
Instead of guessing, we map out your body’s unique inflammatory triggers and create a plan based on your real biochemistry.
Why Inflammation Is the Root of So Many Conditions
Left unchecked, chronic inflammation is like a slow leak that can eventually flood the whole house. Research shows that inflammation is linked to conditions like:
- Autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis)
- Type 2 diabetes
- Depression and anxiety
- Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia
But here’s the hopeful part: when we address inflammation early and holistically, you can reverse course and protect your long-term health.
How We Calm Inflammation
Conventional medicine often treats inflammation with corticosteroids, NSAIDs, or immune-suppressing drugs. These may help short-term—but they don’t fix the root issue.
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we take a more sustainable, whole-body approach to calm inflammation naturally:
1. Heal the Gut
This is usually our first stop. By removing inflammatory foods (like gluten, dairy, sugar), restoring beneficial bacteria, and repairing the gut lining, we can dramatically reduce immune overactivation.
2. Balance Blood Sugar
You can’t out-supplement a sugar rollercoaster. We guide patients toward nutrient-dense meals with protein, fat, and fiber to stabilize energy and reduce inflammatory spikes.
3. Support Detox Pathways
Your body naturally detoxes—when it has the support. We use liver-supportive nutrients, binders, and lifestyle practices like dry brushing, sweating, and hydration to enhance natural detoxification.
4. Reduce Stress + Reset the Nervous System
We help patients implement nervous system support through tools like:
- Breathwork and vagus nerve stimulation
- Sleep hygiene
- Mindfulness practices
- Adaptogenic herbs (personalized to your needs)
5. Targeted Supplements
Depending on your testing, we may recommend high-quality supplements like:
- Omega-3 fish oils
- Curcumin (turmeric)
- Glutathione or NAC
- Magnesium glycinate
- Vitamin D3 with K2
These are used strategically—not forever—to reduce inflammation while your body resets.
Real-Life Case: “Everything Hurt, and I Had No Answers”
One of our patients—a 44-year-old woman—came to us with constant fatigue, bloating, and joint pain. Her doctor had run basic labs and told her she was “fine.” But she felt anything but fine.
Through functional testing, we uncovered:
- Elevated inflammatory markers (CRP, homocysteine)
- Leaky gut and candida overgrowth
- Low omega-3s and vitamin D
- High cortisol from chronic stress
With 4 months of gut healing, inflammation-reducing nutrition, and nervous system support, her pain dramatically improved, and her energy came back.
Her comment? “I didn’t realize how inflamed I was until I wasn’t anymore.”
Inflammation Is Common—But It’s Not Normal
You don’t have to live with “mystery symptoms,” unexplained fatigue, or the vague advice to “just relax.” If your body is inflamed, it’s trying to tell you something. We’re here to help you listen.
At Functional Healing with Dr. Tara, we use testing, time, and deep clinical insight to uncover the real reason you don’t feel like yourself—and help you get your life back. Make an appointment today!
