If you bloat after eating, experience unpredictable bowel habits, and react to "healthy" foods like garlic and onions, SIBO may be the culprit.
What is SIBO?
Bacteria that should live in the large intestine migrate upward into the small intestine, where they ferment carbohydrates and produce hydrogen or methane gas—causing bloating, pain, and altered motility.
Testing for SIBO
A lactulose breath test measures hydrogen and methane gas production over 2-3 hours. Different gas patterns indicate different bacterial overgrowth types and guide treatment.
The Treatment Approach
Successful SIBO treatment addresses the overgrowth (antimicrobial herbs or antibiotics), restores motility, heals the gut lining, and prevents recurrence by addressing root causes. After clearing SIBO, apply the 5R Protocol to rebuild gut health. Our Functional Medicine Certification covers SIBO diagnostics and treatment protocols in depth.
References
- Pimentel M, et al. ACG Clinical Guideline: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. Am J Gastroenterol. 2020;115(2):165-178. PubMed
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). NIDDK
- Quigley EMM. The gut microbiome and the liver: considering the 'ecosystem'. Liver Int. 2020;40(Suppl 1):115-119. PubMed
