Chronic Pathogens: What to do About Them?
Have you ever felt like your body just can’t quite bounce back — like you’re fighting off “something” that never fully goes away? Maybe it shows up as low energy, brain fog, recurrent infections, or inflammation that lingers no matter what you try.
While conventional medicine often focuses on killing pathogens directly, functional and holistic medicine look deeper — asking why these organisms are thriving in the first place.
Instead of simply wiping them out, the goal is to restore balance, strengthen your internal terrain, and create an environment where viruses and bacteria can’t take hold. When you support your body’s natural detox, immune, and drainage systems, you don’t just get rid of the “bad guys” — you rebuild long-term resilience and vitality from the inside out.
*This is NOT medical advice and should not be interpreted as so. This is a simplified version of a complex strategy which often needs to be tailored and specified for each individual. Please seek the advice of your healthcare practitioner before adding in extra herbs, or other supplements, if you are on medications, have been diagnosed with any conditions, or are severely struggling with your health.
Phase 1: Strengthen the Terrain (the “internal environment”)
If the terrain is weak — poor digestion, sluggish lymph, nutrient deficiencies — pathogens have an easier time taking hold. You will stay in this phase 1 - 2 weeks. Ideally, you are having a bowel movement everyday.
Focus on:
Digestive health:
Support stomach acid with Betaine HCl if low.
Support bile flow (artichoke, dandelion, milk thistle, beet juice).
Heal gut lining with L-glutamine, zinc carnosine, aloe vera, slippery elm.
Hydration & minerals: Electrolyte-balanced water; trace minerals.
Sleep & stress: The immune system repairs at night. Deep sleep = stronger immunity.
Movement: Gentle daily movement or rebounding to circulate lymph (key for immune drainage).
Beetroot juice
Phase 2: Support Detox & Drainage Pathways
Before mobilizing pathogens, you must make sure the body’s “exit routes” are clear. You will stay in this phase 1 - 2 weeks and you can continue your protocol from phase 1 while adding in some of these additional steps.
Support liver, lymph, colon, and kidneys:
Liver: Milk thistle, burdock root, dandelion root, NAC, turmeric.
Lymph: Red root, cleavers, rebounding, sauna, dry brushing.
Colon: Magnesium citrate or oxide if sluggish; fiber and hydration.
Kidneys: Hydration + nettle leaf, parsley, cranberry.
This prevents “die-off” and helps toxins/pathogens leave safely.
You do not need to do all things in each category, you could pick one or two.
Nettle leaf tea
Phase 3: Target the Microbes (viruses, bacteria, etc.)
Now that your terrain and detox are supported, you can gently reduce microbial load.
For bacterial overgrowth or chronic infections:
Berberine (from goldenseal, barberry, or Oregon grape)
Garlic extract (allicin)
Oregano oil (enteric-coated; use short-term only)
Olive leaf extract
Neem
Propolis (antimicrobial + immune modulating)
For viral load or lingering viral activation (like EBV, herpes family, etc.):
Lysine – amino acid that helps inhibit herpes and EBV replication.
Monolaurin (from coconut) – antiviral, especially for lipid-coated viruses.
Cat’s Claw and Andrographis – antiviral, immune supportive.
Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms – modulate immune response.
Elderberry or black seed (Nigella sativa) – antiviral and anti-inflammatory.
These should be cycled or rotated every 3–4 weeks to prevent adaptation.
You can find all these supplements and more in my
>> Fullscript Account <<
Propolis
Phase 4: Rebuild and Modulate Immunity
After clearing, support long-term resilience.
Focus on:
Nutrients: Vitamin A (from cod liver oil or egg yolks), vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, selenium.
Gut restoration: High-quality probiotics (Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, soil-based strains) and prebiotics (polyphenols, fiber).
Adaptogens: Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, or Holy Basil for adrenal and immune balance.
Mitochondrial health: CoQ10, carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid, B vitamins.
Key Functional Medicine Principles:
Don’t chase bugs—fix the environment.
Pathogens thrive in stagnation, poor bile flow, and low stomach acid. Correct those first.Support before attack.
Many people feel worse when killing microbes because detox pathways are not ready or “open”.Less is more.
Over-cleansing or taking too many antimicrobials can deplete minerals and strain the liver and other organs. Don’t “go crazy’!Cycle your support.
Do “on” and “off” phases (e.g., 3 weeks on antimicrobials, 1 week off).
Simple Daily Lifestyle Add-ons
Lemon water or apple cider vinegar before meals – This simple step primes digestion and helps stimulate stomach acid before eating.
Infrared sauna or Epsom salt baths (2–3x/week) – Encourages sweating to release stored toxins and support the body’s natural detox pathways. Magnesium in Epsom salts calms the nervous system while relaxing tight muscles and aiding elimination through the skin. Make sure the epsom salt is not fragranced or doesn’t have any nasty additives.
Grounding or sunlight exposure daily – Morning sunlight resets the circadian rhythm, which helps regulate cortisol and hormone balance. Walking barefoot on the earth reduces inflammation, lowers stress hormones, and provides an energetic reset to the body’s electrical system.
Nature exposure – Regular time outdoors offers more than calm—fresh air and soil microbes actually help train and strengthen the immune system and support a more diverse, balanced microbiome.
Gentle daily movement – Movement is medicine for lymphatic flow and detox.
Castor oil packs (2–3x/week) – Applied over the liver or abdomen, castor oil packs help improve circulation, support lymphatic flow, and assist the liver’s detoxification process.
Herbal bitters before meals – Bitter herbs such as dandelion, gentian, and artichoke leaf stimulate digestive secretions, bile flow, and liver detoxification. **They’re especially useful for sluggish digestion, bloating, and hormonal imbalances linked to poor bile metabolism.
Deep breathing or contrast showers – A few minutes of slow, diaphragmatic breathing each day activates the parasympathetic nervous system and encourages proper oxygen exchange. Alternating hot and cold water in the shower boosts circulation and lymphatic tone.
I hope this blesses you today, The Nontoxic Babe.