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If sleep doesn't refresh you and pushing through only makes you crash harder, you need more than just rest. The Forbes Clinic specialises in uncovering hidden factors influencing symtpoms in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, ME, and post-viral fatigue.
Chronic fatigue and ME are profoundly misunderstood conditions. Since COVID, post-viral fatigue and long COVID have pushed even more people into the same struggle. You might be told your bloods are normal, referred for graded exercise therapy or CBT and advised to pace yourself. You follow the guidance but you’re still experiencing:
You try to push through, but when your cellular engines (the mitochondria) are compromised, pushing yourself harder can be counterproductive.
Our registered Functional Medicine Practitioners and Integrative Medicine Doctors use advanced functional testing to investigate chronic fatigue at a cellular level. These tests go far beyond a standard NHS blood panel, which often comes back normal even when something significant is going on. The goal is to build a detailed picture of what's happening across the key systems that govern your energy, immunity and recovery.
15 minutes · no obligation
Once we understand what's driving your symptoms, we build a personalised protocol designed to support energy production, clear chronic infections and reduce systemic inflammation. Everything is carefully paced to your capacity. Your plan may include:
This isn't a one-size-fits-all programme. Your plan is built around your results, your symptoms, and your goals.
15 minutes · no obligation
You’ll work with your practitioner online, meaning you can access specialist support from anywhere in the UK. You may also opt-in to complementary therapies and hands-on support in London and the surrounding areas.
15 minutes · no obligation
Experienced, registered Functional Medicine Practitioners who specialise in immune system regulation, viral recovery and mitochondrial health.
Dr Forbes takes a multidisciplinary approach to chronic disease and is a strong advocate for working with the body and mind concurrently. She specialises in complex multi-system cases and immune system restoration.
Multi-trained naturopath, functional nutritionist and somatic therapist with over a decade of advanced clinical training under Jo Gamble. Known for her mind-body approach .
The longest standing Functional Medicine Practitioner at the Forbes Clinic, Marie uses nutritional medicine to help clients balance their hormones, regain their energy and live a fuller life with chronic ilness.
Our practitioners are fully insured, qualified and registered within their relevant professions. So you know you’re in safe hands.
We believe in transparency. Here’s a guide to what you can expect.
Costs depend on your practitioner, the tests your case requires, and the length of the consultation. If budget is a concern, let us know during your discovery call, and we'll work with you to find the right plan.
“My consultation with Marie to review my test results was incredibly valuable. She combines deep knowledge with a very reassuring and compassionate approach. I felt genuinely listened to and validated, and she helped me make sense of a lot of complex information in a clear and supportive way. I'm very grateful for her guidance and feel confident continuing to work with her as I move forward on my health journey.”
"I absolutely loved having Dr Anna Forbes as my doctor. She has a rare combination of knowledge, presence and an ability to lift you up and motivate you like no other doctor I've met. I can not recommend her enough."
"Anna is everything you want a doctor to be - knowledgeable, personable, caring, reassuring & invested [...] [[The] plan is discussed with you with alternatives depending on cost or time constraints. I am almost two years on [...] and am amazed at the progress I have made. I cannot recommend Anna highly enough"
"I have had a couple of consultations with Gayle and have found her to be very patient and gentle natured , understanding and non judgmental .She is always willing to listen and gives me plenty of time to waffle on ,l never feel rushed, she makes me feel as though everything l say regarding my health is of value, she never dismisses or minimises anything. She is skilled at unwrapping and analysing the information l share with her and always ensures l understand and am happy."
Functional medicine for ME, chronic fatigue or post-viral fatigue starts by asking what is driving the exhaustion, not just how to manage it. Our registered practitioners use advanced testing to investigate the biological systems most commonly implicated in CFS and ME: mitochondrial function, viral and immune activity, HPA axis and adrenal health, gut function, and nutritional status. Once we have a detailed picture, we build a personalised protocol that may include targeted nutrition, precision supplementation, immune support, and nervous system therapies. Everything is paced carefully to work within your current energy capacity.
Testing is determined after your initial consultation and tailored to your clinical picture. For chronic fatigue clients, this may include mitochondrial function markers, comprehensive immune profiling and viral panels (like EBV, HHV-6, CMV and other key reactivation markers), adrenal and HPA axis testing, gastrointestinal mapping, organic acids testing, or nutritional assessments. If COVID is implicated in the onset of fatigue symptoms, we may consider spike protein testing. These tests go significantly further than the standard blood tests available through the NHS, which frequently return as normal even when significant symptoms are present.
This is one of the most common experiences our clients describe and one of the most frustrating. Standard NHS blood panels test for a relatively narrow range of markers that look for a positive or negative result within a defined range. They are not designed to explore mitochondrial function, viral reactivation, HPA axis dysregulation, or the nutritional and immune factors that functional medicine considers central to chronic fatigue. A normal result does not mean nothing is wrong, it may just mean you need to look deeper. This is exactly where our advanced functional testing process begins.
Post-viral fatigue (including long COVID) shares many of the same biological patterns seen in ME and CFS: immune dysregulation, mitochondrial strain, autonomic nervous system disruption, and gut-brain axis involvement. Our functional medicine approach investigates these same underlying systems regardless of the viral trigger. We have worked with clients experiencing post-viral fatigue following a range of viral illnesses and build protocols informed by each client's individual functional test results.
Post-exertional malaise (PEM) is the worsening of symptoms following physical or mental effort. It's a defining feature of ME and CFS that exercise-based approaches can worsen. It tells us that the body's energy production and recovery systems are under meaningful strain. Our protocols are built with this in mind: we do not push clients to do more. Instead, we investigate what is limiting recovery at a cellular and systemic level, and we structure all follow-up support around your capacity at each stage of the process.
Graded exercise therapy (GET) and CBT have historically been recommended for ME and CFS, though their suitability ( particularly GET) has been significantly questioned by patient groups and increasingly by clinical guidance. Our approach is fundamentally different: we use advanced testing to identify biological factors contributing to your symptoms and build targeted protocols around those findings. Whilst we sometimes offer mind-body therapies for nervous system support we do not approach chronic fatigue as a psychological or behavioural condition, and we do not ask clients to push through their energy limits.
Yes. Our service is fully remote unless you choose optional hands-on therapies in London and the surrounding areas. All functional medicine consultations take place via video call, and functional testing kits are delivered directly to your home. You do not need to travel to a clinic in person. We work with clients experiencing ME, CFS, and post-viral fatigue from across the UK, from initial discovery call through to ongoing clinical support, entirely online.
Maybe. Some insurers provide cover for complementary therapies and functional medicine, whilst others do not. You'll need to check with your provider before booking with us. If your provider covers our care, you'll need to pay directly and seek reimbursement. We can supply invoicing and documentation to support your claim for a small administrative fee.
Every person is different. Most clients work with us for three to six months initially, with regular check-ins paced to your capacity. Some people see meaningful shifts early on, others need longer. We'll always be guided by your progress and how you're responding, and you're never locked into a set programme.
Prefer to email? Contact enquiries@theforbesclinic.co.uk
