The Missing Link You Can’t Afford to Ignore: Hidden Infections & Hashimoto’s 🦠
Are you doing “all the right things” for your Hashimoto’s but still feel exhausted, inflamed, or stuck in a cycle of flares? The missing piece might not be your thyroid—it could be a hidden chronic infection.
While most conventional approaches focus narrowly on thyroid hormone levels, holistic functional medicine looks deeper. One root cause often overlooked? Chronic stealth infections that keep your immune system in a constant state of alarm.
Let’s explore the powerful connection between chronic infections and autoimmunity—especially Hashimoto’s thyroiditis—and what you can do to begin healing today.
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How Chronic Infections Trigger Autoimmune Disease
Autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s are not just genetic. They’re often triggered by environmental factors—including persistent infections that overstimulate the immune system and disrupt immune tolerance.
According to research in Frontiers in Immunology, infections can break immune self-tolerance through molecular mimicry, epitope spreading, and chronic inflammation—leading the body to attack its own tissues (including the thyroid).
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Common Hidden Infections Linked to Hashimoto’s
1. Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
This is the virus behind mononucleosis. Over 90% of adults have been exposed—but in some, EBV goes dormant and later reactivates, especially under stress or immune suppression.
📚 Studies show EBV may reside in thyroid tissue and stimulate antibodies like TPO and TgAb.
🧪 Symptoms of reactivation: fatigue, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, night sweats
2. H. pylori
A bacterial infection in the stomach lining linked to ulcers, reflux, and chronic inflammation.
📚 Research in the World Journal of Gastroenterology links H. pylori with thyroid autoimmunity via molecular mimicry and gut-thyroid axis disruption.
🚨 H. pylori also interferes with nutrient absorption, including B12 and zinc—key players in thyroid function.
3. Lyme Disease & Co-Infections
Caused by the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria, Lyme often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed.
🧠 Chronic Lyme symptoms mimic Hashimoto’s: brain fog, fatigue, joint pain
🌿 Lyme often comes with Babesia, Bartonella, and Ehrlichia, which can fuel immune dysregulation
4. Candida Overgrowth
An imbalance in gut fungi, often caused by antibiotics, high-sugar diets, or poor gut integrity.
📚 Candida can trigger chronic inflammation and leaky gut, both of which contribute to immune system overactivation.
🩺 Common signs: bloating, white coating on tongue, yeast infections, cravings for sugar
5. Mold & Mycotoxin Exposure
Living or working in a water-damaged building can expose you to mycotoxins—harmful fungal compounds that suppress immunity and burden your liver and mitochondria.
🧬 Mold toxicity symptoms include: fatigue, memory issues, histamine intolerance, chronic sinus problems
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Why These Infections Are Often Missed
They don’t show up on routine blood work
Symptoms mimic autoimmune flares or hormone imbalance
Standard medicine often dismisses them as "not clinically significant"
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Functional Medicine Testing to Uncover Infections
A skilled practitioner can help identify stealth infections with advanced functional labs such as:
- Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)
- GI-MAP stool test (for Candida, parasites, gut infections, H. Pylori)
- Tick-borne illness panel
- Mycotoxin testing
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How to Begin Healing from Chronic Infections
1. Work with a Functional Medicine Practitioner
You must test before treating! Inappropriate use of antimicrobials (even herbs) can worsen symptoms or miss the root issue.
📩 Contact me to explore safe and comprehensive testing options.
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2. Support Your Immune System Daily
Even before a diagnosis, these evidence-based strategies can help:
Anti-inflammatory diet | Gluten-free, dairy-free, high in fiber, cruciferous veggies, omega-3s
💧 Hydration | Aim for half your body weight in ounces of water, ideally with minerals
😴 Sleep | 7–9 hrs of quality sleep; supports natural killer cell activity
🧘🏽♀️ Stress resilience | Yoga, breathwork, vagus nerve toning (gargling, humming, cold exposure)
🌞 Vitamin D | 5,000 IU/day (check levels, aim for 55–85 ng/mL)
💊 Zinc + Selenium | Support viral immunity and thyroid enzyme function
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3. Use Natural Antimicrobials (with Holistic Functional Physician Guidance)
Once tested and confirmed, your protocol may include a curated combination of immune system support, powerful antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antifungal herbs paired with supplements and binders to support natural detoxification, all based on your unique biochemistry, health history, and test results.
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You’re Not Broken—Your Body Is Communicating
If you’ve been told “your labs are normal” but you know something still isn’t right, don’t ignore that inner wisdom.
Hidden infections are real, scientifically validated, and entirely addressable—with the right approach.
You can reclaim your energy, clarity, and balance.
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➕ Want to Go Deeper?
🧪 Need testing for EBV, H. pylori, mold, or Candida?
💡 Want a custom protocol based on your lab results?
📞 Book a free consult to explore your next steps.
👩🏽⚕️ https://backtohealthfunctionalmedicine.janeapp.com/
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Let’s Heal, Not Just Treat Symptoms
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