Feeling Run-Down? It Might Be Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV)

By Dr. Shawn Bladel | July 10, 2025 | Recreated Health

Have you been dealing with low energy, brain fog, or weird symptoms that no one seems to explain? Or maybe your child keeps getting sick, you feel like your immune system is shot, and your labs keep coming back “normal.”

Here’s something most doctors aren’t talking about — Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) could be behind it. This virus is incredibly common — about 90% of us catch it at some point in our lives¹. For some, it causes mono (the “kissing disease”), but for others, it quietly hides in the body and can reactivate later — especially when you’re under stress, not sleeping well, or your immune system is overwhelmed².

What Is EBV, and Why Should You Care?

EBV is part of the herpes virus family, and once you catch it, it stays in your body for life.
Most of the time, your immune system keeps it in check — but when it’s run down (hello, motherhood!), EBV can wake back up and start causing problems².

Common signs it might be reactivated:

• Constant fatigue (no matter how much sleep you get)
• Brain fog or forgetfulness
• Joint or muscle pain
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Hormonal issues or thyroid symptoms
• Autoimmune flares (like Hashimoto’s or lupus)
• Kids with repeated colds, strep, or fatigue

If that sounds like you or your child — testing for EBV might give you answers.

What Triggers EBV to Reactivate?

Think of EBV like a sleeping bear. It usually lies low, but certain things can wake it up:

• Stress and burnout
• Poor sleep
• Toxin exposure (like mold, heavy metals, or processed foods)
• Weakened immune system
• Nutrient deficiencies³

You don’t need a fancy diagnosis to know something’s off. If your body feels overwhelmed and stuck, EBV could be the missing piece.

How to Support Your Body Naturally

Here’s the good news: You can feel better — and it doesn’t have to involve complicated treatments or endless prescriptions. Let’s talk about some simple, natural steps that work.

1. Nourish Your Immune System

When EBV is active, your immune system needs some serious support.

Start here:

• Eat real food: More leafy greens, berries, garlic, bone broth, and healthy fats like avocado and olive oil.
• Take key nutrients:
  • Vitamin C + Zinc – help your body fight the virus⁴
  • Selenium – great for thyroid and immune health⁵
  • L-Lysine – an amino acid that helps slow down viral replication⁶
• Immune-supporting herbs: Olive leaf, oregano oil, echinacea, and cat’s claw have natural antiviral properties⁷.

Supplements that help (and are mom-approved):

• IFC by CellCore – Helps calm inflammation and support detox
• LymphActiv – Keeps lymph fluid moving so your body can clear out waste
• Monolaurin Advantage – From coconut, this compound breaks down viruses and supports immune balance⁸

Quick tip: These work even better when you’re also working on sleep, stress, and detox (we’ll get to that below).

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2. Detox Without Overwhelm

Toxins make it harder for your body to keep EBV under control. Start with simple detox habits that work for your busy life:

Daily detox support:

• Drink filtered water (aim for half your body weight in ounces)
• Support your liver with foods like dandelion greens, lemons, beets, and cruciferous veggies⁹
• Sweat regularly – use an infrared sauna, hot bath with Epsom salt, or light movement
• Dry brushing or rebounding – helps move your lymph so your immune system can do its job¹⁰

Avoid overwhelm: You don’t need to do all the things. Pick 1–2 detox habits and stay consistent.

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3. Heal Your Gut

Your gut is home to 70% of your immune system¹¹. If it’s inflamed or out of balance, your whole body struggles — including your ability to fight EBV.

Here’s what helps:

• Probiotics and prebiotics: These feed good gut bugs and crowd out harmful ones
• Bone broth & collagen: Heal the gut lining and reduce inflammation
• Remove trigger foods: Gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and processed oils often make symptoms worse

Make it family-friendly: Try adding bone broth to soups, smoothies, or cooking rice. Use almond flour tortillas, coconut milk yogurt, or clean snacks to keep your kids included.

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4. Stress Less, Sleep More (We Know — Easier Said Than Done!)

This might be the most important piece — because chronic stress and sleep deprivation are major EBV triggers³.

Easy ways to calm your system:

• Deep breathing before meals or bed
• Journaling or prayer
• Short walks in nature (grounding helps reset your nervous system)¹²
• No phones in bed — aim for 7–9 hours of sleep if you can¹³

Remember: Healing isn’t about perfection. It’s about giving your body the space and support it needs to recover.

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How Do I Test for EBV?

Ask for a simple blood panel that includes:

• EBV VCA IgM – tells you if it’s a new or current infection
• EBV VCA IgG + EBNA IgG – show past exposure (most people have this)
• EBV EA-D IgG – this is the one that tells us if EBV is reactivated¹⁴

If EA-D IgG is high and you have symptoms — it’s a sign your immune system is struggling to keep the virus under control.

You can order this panel today by clicking this EBV Link.

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Ready to Take the First Step?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, we get it. But healing is possible — and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

At Recreated Health, we help individuals and families uncover what’s driving their symptoms and walk them through simple, effective steps to feel better again.

Next Steps:

• Book a Consultation with Dr. Shawn
• Order your EBV testing
• Explore our supplements and free resources including The Immune System Blueprint and The Mitochondrial Blueprint

A Final Word

Your body isn’t broken. It’s asking for help. With the right support — good food, key supplements, stress management, and real sleep — you can get your energy and clarity back.

And when you do? You’re not just helping yourself — you’re helping your whole family thrive.

You deserve to feel like YOU again.
Let’s recreate your health — naturally.

References

1. Bouvier, S. et al. (2023). The role of lifestyle factors in Epstein-Barr virus reactivation. Front Immunol.
2. Kimura, H. et al. (2022). Reactivation and pathogenesis of Epstein-Barr virus. Front Immunol.
3. Loebel, M. et al. (2014). EBV contributes to chronic fatigue syndrome via lytic gene expression. PLoS One.
4. Maggini, S. et al. (2007). Immune function and micronutrients. Ann Nutr Metab.
5. Broome, C. S. et al. (2004). Selenium deficiency and viral infections. J Nutr Biochem.
6. Griffith, R. S. (1978). Lysine therapy for herpes simplex virus infection. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
7. Amor, S. et al. (2018). Natural antiviral compounds against herpesviruses. Viruses.
8. Isaacs, C. E. (2001). The antiviral activity of lipids derived from human milk. Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
9. Abenavoli, L. et al. (2018). Milk Thistle in liver diseases. Front Pharmacol.
10. Chevalier, G. et al. (2012). Earthing: Health implications of reconnecting with the earth. J Environ Public Health.
11. Peterson, C. T. et al. (2015). The gut microbiota and immune system health. Nutrients.
12. Park, S.-A. et al. (2014). Nature therapy and immune function improvement. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol.
13. Xie, L. et al. (2013). Sleep drives metabolite clearance from the adult brain. Science.
14. Katz, B. Z. et al. (2011). EBV reactivation diagnostics and clinical implications. Clin Infect Dis.