Do hot chips = gut cramps, nausea, burping or burning?
You may have a condition called SIBO. SIBO is a common gut condition I see in clinic. This small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) is where it really shouldn’t be. SIBO symptoms usually occur with and/or straight after high carbohydrate foods and can occur with nausea and burping and burning, and is exacerbated by spicy foods. I treat SIBO using naturopathic principles such as do no harm; harness ing the healing power of nature; teaching you with each treatment; treating the whole person (as body systems are interconnected); and preventing. I use targeted herbal medicine, pre-biotics, pro-biotics and microbiome restoration methods in a step by step approach to treat bacterial overgrowth, to ensure the underlying cause for your SIBO isn’t neglected, and retest. SIBO treatment is a journey, not a quick fix, are you ready to begin your journey today?
SIBO is a common gut condition in clinic. This small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO) is where they really shouldn’t be, as usually bile acids would keep them in check [1]. SIBO symptoms usually occur with and/or straight after high carbohydrate foods (hot chips) and can occur with nausea and reflux (burping and burning) exacerbated by spicy foods.
There are a few types of SIBO termed hydrogen, hydrogen sulfide or methane dominant, or fungal type, and each is associated with different symptoms [2]:-
· Bloating •. Diarrhoea
· Weight loss • Constipation
· Flatulence • Abdominal pain
· Weight loss • Tenderness
· Fat in the stool
What sets the stage for bacterial over-growth in the small intestine?
Common causal factors that are strong pain killers, proton-pump inhibitors, colon removal, and gastric bypass. SIBO is associated with a range of malabsorption and leaky gut conditions as well as liver damage[3].
Common functional issues that may also contribute to SIBO such as: -
· low stomach acid; pancreatic/enzyme insufficiency; and hay fever.
· small intestinal obstructions; open/keyhole surgery such as abdominal or female reproductive organs; a lazy (ileocecal) valve [4]
· reduced bowel flow.
· post infection (contaminated water).
Treating the cause
Naturopaths believe in working progressively to treat the cause, and following a therapeutic order, as below.
Establish conditions for health.
a. Reduce the SIBO symptoms using diet in the short-term (a restrictive diet will not heal the bacterial overgrowth), and long term restriction is not advisable[5]. This means lowering FODmaps or high carbohydrates in your diet, that cause bloating, diarrhoea or constipation in SIBO. Protein and fats are key, at this stage.
b. Remove the overgrowth from microbiome testing (such as GI map), and/or SIBO testing. Herbal anti-microbial/fungal treatment may last up to 60 days and is targeted towards specific overgrowths and may involve rotating treatment and enzymes that bust biofilms [6] .
Healing Power of Nature
We recognise the body’s innate power to heal itself. Whole plant herbal tinctures are preferred, as selected plant fractions (essential oils) can wipe-out the good and the bad bacteria.
Do no harm
Naturopaths do the most natural, least amount of harm possible.
Restore vital force: Stimulate the body to heal its microbiome
We also believe in treating the whole person, not just the part that is under-functioning.
Use Flower Essences to restore emotional balance, reduce stress: access to green/blue space, exercise and sunlight.
Tonify weakened systems & Improve tissue/organ structural integrity
Doctor as Teacher
Naturopaths believe in listening to your symptoms, working with you to teach you how to heal yourself over time.
Work with a practitioner to custom design your treatment.
Depending upon the SIBO type, I might add a range of digestion and gut/microbiome support, and then reintroduce FODMAPs and fibre back slowly. Antibiotic treatment may reduce the small intestinal bacteria, but often not the cause, and patients often relapse back. Herbal medicine can be more effective at treating SIBO [7].
Address pathology
I use targeted herbal medicine, prebiotics, probiotics and microbiome restoration methods to treat bacterial overgrowth, to ensure the underlying cause for your SIBO isn’t neglected, and retest.
Prevention
The aim is life balance, to get well and stay well!.
SIBO treatment is a journey, not a quick fix, are you ready to begin your journey? book an appointment today here.
References
[1] El Aidy,, van den Bogert, & Kleerebezem (2015). The small intestine microbiota, nutritional modulation and relevance for health. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 32.
[2] Grace., Shaw, Whelan, & Andreyev (2013). Review article: small intestinal bacterial overgrowth--prevalence, clinical features, current and developing diagnostic tests, and treatment. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 38(7).
[3] Woodhouse, Patel, Singanayagam, & Shawcross (2018). Review article: the gut microbiome as a therapeutic target in the pathogenesis and treatment of chronic liver disease. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 47(2).
[4] Petrone, Sarkisyan, Fernández, Coloma, Akopian, Ortega, & Kaufman (2011). Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms and a history of previous abdominal surgery. Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960), 146(4).
[5] Heiman & Greenway, (2016). A healthy gastrointestinal microbiome is dependent on dietary diversity. Molecular Metabolism, 5(5).
[6] Potera (2010). Antibiotic resistance: biofilm dispersing agent rejuvenates older antibiotics. Environmental Health Perspectives, 118(7).
[7] Chedid, Dhalla, Clarke, Roland, Dunbar, Koh, … Mullin. (2014). Herbaltherapy Is equivalent to rifaximin for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Global Advances in Health and Medicine, 3(3), 16.