Is Viral Overload at the Root of Your Symptoms? Understanding EBV and Its Impact on the Body

Have you ever felt chronically exhausted, foggy, anxious, or just "not quite right" - even when all your blood tests come back normal?

If you've experienced lingering fatigue after a virus, low immunity, hormonal issues, or mysterious symptoms that come and go, you could be dealing with viral overload, particularly from a virus called Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV).

As a naturopath, I see many women in clinic and online whose symptoms can be traced back to a reactivated or lingering viral load - and EBV is often at the core.

What is EBV?

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) is part of the herpes virus family and is incredibly common. In fact, over 90% of adults carry it — often contracted as “glandular fever” (mononucleosis) during adolescence or early adulthood.

While most people recover from the initial infection, EBV can go dormant and reactivate during times of stress, hormonal shifts, poor gut health, or immune suppression — creating what we call viral overload.

How EBV Creates Systemic Symptoms

When reactivated, EBV doesn't always cause flu-like symptoms — it can become a chronic, low-grade driver of inflammation and dysfunction across multiple systems.

Here’s how it may be affecting your health:

🧠 Anxiety, Brain Fog & Mood Swings

• EBV can trigger neuroinflammation, affecting the nervous system and how your body handles stress.

• You may feel wired but tired, anxious, or emotionally overwhelmed — especially during hormonal transitions like perimenopause.

🦋 Thyroid Disruption (Hashimoto’s Disease & Hypothyroid)

• EBV is a known trigger for autoimmune thyroid conditions like Hashimoto’s Disease.

• It may hide in thyroid tissue, causing chronic inflammation and interfering with hormone production.

❤️ Cardiovascular Stress

• Chronic viral load increases systemic inflammation, which may contribute to elevated blood pressure, palpitations, or poor circulation causing cardiovascular health issues.

• Some women report tightness in the chest, fatigue after minimal exertion, or unusual heart flutters when EBV is flaring.

🛡️ Immune System Suppression

• EBV burdens the immune system and weakens your ability to fight off other infections (cold sores, urinary tract infections (UTIs), or other viruses).

• You may feel like you're always “coming down with something,” or never quite recover fully.

🌸 Reproductive Hormone Imbalance

• Viral load adds stress to the liver, adrenals, and immune system, all of which are key players in hormone balance.

• Many women experience irregular cycles, heavier periods, low libido, or fertility struggles when EBV is active and this can make you feel worse when you reach perimenopause.

🔬 So Why Does EBV Reactivate?

EBV tends to flare when the body is run down, inflamed, or overloaded — often triggered by:

• Emotional stress or burnout

• Gut dysbiosis such as Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) or food sensitivities

• Environmental toxins

• Hormonal changes (especially perimenopause)

• A suppressed immune system after illness or antibiotic use

EBV, Herpes Simplex & Chronic Viral Load

Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1), and Herpes Simplex Virus 2 (HSV-2) all belong to the herpes virus family — a group of viruses known for staying dormant in the body and reactivating during times of stress, immune suppression, or hormonal shifts. While EBV is most often linked with glandular fever and long-term fatigue, HSV-1 (commonly causing cold sores) and HSV-2 (associated with genital herpes) can also quietly linger in the nervous system and reactivate again and again.

These flare-ups may seem like isolated skin outbreaks, but beneath the surface they place a chronic burden on the immune system, nervous system, and even emotional wellbeing.

Frequent viral reactivation has been linked with anxiety, fatigue, inflammation, and immune dysregulation — particularly in women experiencing burnout, perimenopausal changes, or gut issues. Supporting the body to manage viral load naturally can reduce the intensity and frequency of symptoms, and help restore energy, clarity, and resilience.

Ross River Virus & Varicella: Lingering Impacts of Hidden Viruses

Some viral infections don’t just come and go — they leave a lasting imprint on the body. Ross River Virus, a mosquito-borne virus common in Australia, can trigger ongoing symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, brain fog, and muscle weakness. For many, these symptoms flare during times of stress, hormonal changes, or immune suppression — signs the body is still struggling to fully clear the viral aftermath.

Similarly, Varicella-Zoster Virus — the virus responsible for chickenpox and later shingles — can remain dormant in nerve tissue for years. Reactivation may cause nerve pain, skin sensitivity, fatigue, and mood changes. Both viruses contribute to chronic inflammation, disrupt nervous system regulation, and can interfere with hormone balance, immune resilience, and emotional wellbeing if not properly supported.

In naturopathy, we take a holistic approach to reduce the body’s viral load, strengthen the immune system, and gently restore balance across the systems impacted — whether it’s your energy, hormones, skin, or mood.

We may also incorporate Body Balance Treatments to gently support emotional release, nervous system regulation, and energy flow — especially when emotional trauma or prolonged stress has played a role in viral reactivation.

You Don’t Have to Push Through It Alone

If you’ve been told “everything looks normal” but you still feel exhausted, anxious, inflamed, or just not yourself — there may be more going on under the surface.

Book in for a Naturopathy Consultation to explore whether viral overload (especially EBV) could be contributing to your symptoms — and let’s support your body to reset, restore and thrive.

Yours in health and  wellness,

Katrina xxx

Springfield Lakes | HIghfields | Online