Do you suffer from…
- Nausea?
- Bloating after meals?
- Diarrhoea or constipation?
Hi, we are a Naturopathy clinic located in Melbourne. We specialise in helping people suffering with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), yeast overgrowth, parasite infections, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and digestive problems.
"Helena's evidence-based approach is rigorous and effective. She is very thorough and incredibly knowledgeable in complimentary medicine. I have had results with her over a period of a few months that doctors and specialists were unable to achieve with fifteen years of treatment and thousands of dollars spent. I wish I'd been referred to her a long time ago, and would encourage anyone to make an appointment. My experience with her has totally changed my view of naturopathy, and I hope she will be a part of my health journey for many years to come. She's extraordinary." ~ Denby
What is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth?
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) refers to a condition in which abnormally large numbers of bacteria are present in the small intestine and the types of bacteria in the small intestine more closely resemble the bacteria of the large intestine. Unlike the large intestine, which is rich with bacteria, the small intestine usually has less than 104 organisms per millilitre of fluid. Likewise, the types of bacteria within the small intestine are different than the types of bacteria within the large intestine.
SIBO is associated with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Flora overgrowth may break down bile acids, necessary for absorption of fats, thus reducing absorption of fats and fat soluble vitamins A, D, E and K. In severe cases, bacteria may damage the small intestinal wall, thus impairing carbohydrate and protein absorption, resulting in malnutrition. Anaemia may also develop, when bacteria interfere with B12 reabsorption.
What Are SIBO Signs and Symptoms?
- Abdominal bloating or cramping, worse after meals or drinks
- Excessive flatulence
- Chronic diarrhoea or constipation
- Intolerance to high FODMAP foods
- Reflux, nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Malabsorption and excessive fat in stools (steatorrhea)
- Low iron and B12 deficiency
What Factors Contribute To SIBO Developing?
- Low stomach acid (hypochlorhydria)
- Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Medications such as nexium
- Food poisoning
- Disordered motility of the small intestine
- Small intestinal obstruction or scarring, as can be found in Crohn’s Disease or post-intestinal surgery
- Diabetes mellitus
- Scleroderma (hardening of the skin)
- Coeliac Disease
- Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis)
- Immunosuppressant medications
- Removal of the ileocecal valve that separates the small intestine and the large intestine
- Neurological conditions
How Do You Get SIBO?
Ordinarily bacteria are moved out of the small intestine into the large intestine via a series of wave-like muscle contractions (peristalsis). The ileocecal valve that separates the two intestines prevents movement of bacteria from the large intestine back into the small intestine. However, disruptions in intestinal motility or physical disturbances inhibit this natural defensive pattern and bacteria begin to accumulate in the small intestine.
SIBO Treatments
SIBO can become persistent, and is certainly something you want to treat immediately. When SIBO occurs, this affects your digestive function and can lead to ‘Leaky Gut Syndrome’, which causes food intolerances, auto-immune diseases and many other seemingly unrelated health conditions. SIBO also causes you to react to certain FODMAP foods due to the fermentation and gas that is produced from the bacteria when you ingest these foods. Generally, the FODMAP Diet should only be followed for a maximum of 4 months and the root cause addressed during this period. Ideally high FODMAP foods should not be eliminated long term from your diet as you are in fact starving your beneficial bacteria from these prebiotic foods.
During your initial consultation our Naturopaths take a detailed case history, run various in-house tests and can request a food intolerances test, breath tests, blood tests or comprehensive digestive stool analysis if they think these are relevant for you. Once we have received all your test results back we will put you on a specific treatment plan and diet, so that you will be able to introduce foods back into your diet, heal your gut and energised again.
Would you like to…
- Feel energised?
- Be able to introduce various foods into your diet and not react?
- Have a flat tummy?
If you are looking to get on top of SIBO once and for all, we would love to help you out. Book an appointment today!