Gut health, the HPA axis, chemicals, and stress are all terms that frequently surface in the world of functional and integrative medicine – and for good reason.

Achieving equilibrium in these areas is crucial for supporting optimal digestion, maintaining healthy hormone levels, and producing ATP at the cellular level.

However, one region of the body that often times flies under the radar is the one assisting you to read this right now – your skull. Or more specifically, your brain.

Joining your brain in your skull is your jaw, oral microbiome and sinus cavities. It is these three areas specifically which will be the focus of this and the following blog.

You may be asking why? What could these areas have to do with chronic illness?

Aside from the sample of possible root causes of fatigue initially flagged above, chronic infections form a category of their own.

For today’s purpose, chronic infections in the sinuses can be responsible for straining the immune system and activating the cell danger response, culminating in a reduction in energy amongst other pervasive symptoms.

Sinus infections/colonisations:

MARCoNS

One common yet often overlooked sinus issue is Multiple Antibiotic Resistant Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, also referred to as MARCoNS. This bacterial colonisation of the sinus cavity is commonly associated with Lyme disease and mold illness.

These forms of staph release inflammatory chemicals into the bloodstream, driving systemic inflammation. What makes MARCoNS particularly problematic is its resistance to conventional antibiotics, making it harder to treat effectively.

Unlike acute sinus infections, the symptoms of MARCoNS include severe fatigue, aches and pains, and brain fog.

A nasal swab culture can help detect the presence of MARCoNS, but a positive swab for staph does not necessarily indicate a positive MARCoNS result. For a diagnosis, the bacteria must be resistant to at least two types of antibiotics.

Treatment involves the use of biofilm-reducing substances in addition to either conventional or natural antimicrobials.

Fungal

Sinus infections can also be fungal in nature and can be diagnosed using a fungal nasal swab culture. Once more, biofilm disruptors and anti-fungal agents can assist in eliminating these types of infections.

As is the case with the gut microbiome, ensuring one’s sinus microbiome is in balance and inoculated with healthy flora is one of the most important ways of guaranteeing long-term sinus wellness.

Stay tuned for the next blog on dental health and its link with fatigue.

You can find other ME/CFS related blogs here.