Digestive Health, IBS, and SIBO
Do experience any of the following?
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Bloating
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Excess gas
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Constipation, diarrhea, or loose stools
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Urgency (needing to go NOW)
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Heartburn
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Discomfort after eating
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Excess burping
These are all common symptoms I work with as a naturopathic doctor. Whether these symptoms have only started recently, or if they’ve been part of your life for as long as you can remember, I'm here to support you and to help you feel better.
Digestive health is critical for overall health. If digestion is not optimized, the consequences may include uncomfortable symptoms, nutrient deficiencies, increased inflammation, and increased risk of chronic disease.
Impaired digestive health is also associated with many conditions such as autoimmune disorders, skin conditions, allergies, mental illness, hormone imbalances, fatty liver, and more.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is often used as a catch-all term for digestive problems that don’t have a clear cause. Unfortunately, without a clear cause, many IBS patients feel like they need to “just live with it”.
In reality, IBS symptoms can be due to a variety of different factors. When we unravel the story of what’s going on in the digestive tract, my patients are usually able to begin their journey toward significant relief.
As a naturopathic doctor, I regularly work with those who have either been formally diagnosed with IBS and those who suspect they may have IBS.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth is now understood to be the cause of many IBS cases. As its name implies, SIBO involves an excess of bacteria in the small intestine. In a healthy digestive tract, there are very few bacteria in the small intestine, so when bacteria flourish here it causes problems.
Depending on exactly which bacteria are growing in the small intestine, symptoms can vary from chronic diarrhea to chronic constipation, both, or anywhere in between. Often there is bloating, gas, or burping after eating, due to the bacteria in the small intestine fermenting food into gases.
SIBO can be an underlying contributor to many health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, rosacea, fatty liver, and interstitial cystitis.
If you suspect you may have SIBO, book an initial consult to talk with me about your digestion and to discuss if SIBO testing is appropriate for you. I'm passionate about this under-recognized condition and have done extra training in SIBO testing and treatment.
