IBS is short for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, a widespread condition involving recurrent abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation, often associated with stress, depression, anxiety, or previous intestinal infection.

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Recent studies by Dr. Pimentel at Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles shows that:

• 84% of people diagnosed with IBS have SIBO
• Food poisoning is a common cause for SIBO
• Too much stress, hypothyroid, diabetes, stomach acid blockers, surgery and overconsumption of carbohydrates can also result in SIBO.

Despite these findings, IBS is most often contributed to simply stress or anxiety, which can be factors but do not appear to be the leading cause of IBS. Because IBS is attributed to often misattributed to mear anxiety, it is then treated with psychotherapy or antidepressants. Because the root cause of IBS is not addressed, these treatments seldom work.

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) occurs when bacteria that normally grow in other parts of the gut start growing in the small intestine. That causes stomach pain, diarrhea and other symptoms commonly associated with IBS.

SIBO is the result of changes in the composition of gut flora. Dysbiosis becomes established and symptoms develop secondary to the byproducts of bacterial digestion and reproduction. These byproducts then cause irritation of the intestinal mucosa which leads to activation of the immune system. Some of these immune cells start attacking components of the intestinal brush border, particularly the nervous system in the intestinal wall that controls the contractions that propel food down the intestines. The contractions then become altered allowing the bacteria to sit for longer periods of time in the gut, these allow them safe harbor to reproduce further altering the intestinal mucosa. Eventually, the bacteria migrate from the large intestine to the small intestine, they interfere with normal digestions and nutrient absorption. They also produce large amounts of gas that can further impair digestive function by causing bloating, distention of the intestinal wall and further impairment of the intestinal nervous system. All of these lead to the typical symptoms of IBS.

These digestive abnormalities can lead to leaky gut, which can trigger or exacerbate a variety of diagnoses like headaches, insomnia, body aches, fibromyalgia, rosacea and the like.

Eliminating the bacteria can end this vicious cycle.

If you have or currently are suffering from any of these conditions than you are at greater risk of SIBO:

• Crohn’s disease
• Restless leg syndrome
• Rosacea
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Interstitial cystitis
• Chronic prostatitis
• Fatty liver
• Hypothyroidism

A medically and nutritionally supervised dietary regimen is important to maintaining adequate nutritional intake, correcting nutrient deficiencies (particularly B12 and fat-soluble vitamins), and maximizing adequate digestion. This prevents overfeeding the microbes which cause SIBO.

If diagnosed with SIBO, there are several dietary regimens that can help. We often recommend a hypoallergenic, anti-inflammatory and cleansing diet that is customized to each individual’s lifestyle, needs, and condition. The Specific Carbohydrate Diet, FODMAP diet and a combination of the two, among others. These diets seek to decrease the availability of complex carbohydrates to bacteria so they cannot reproduce.

To be effective a dietary regimen must be customized; there is no one “diet” that is perfect for everyone. We recommend eliminating all common food allergens from your diets such as dairy, eggs, wheat and night-shade vegetables first and will make additional recommendation beyond that.

Diet is also an important factor in curing SIBO because a number of patients cannot take antibiotics; others have previously received antibiotic treatment and wish to prevent recurrence.

To test for SIBO we use something called the SIBO breath test. This breath test is simple, safe and an effective tool to diagnose SIBO. Test kits are available at the Akasha Center. You can either follow the instructions and do the test at home or have it done at Akasha if you need nursing support.

Yes. For more information on our SIBO individual or group treatment plan options, schedule your FREE Consultation with us now.

At Akasha Center, we are dedicated to providing the best in Integrative Health. Our practitioners have a combined experience of over 80 years and have helped countless patients feel better through taking the time to better understand each patient as an individual. Be sure to learn more about our doctor’s who provide SIBO Testing and Treatment.

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