Root-Cause Naturopathic Support for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Irritable Bowel Syndrome affects approximately 11% of the global population — yet it remains one of the most mismanaged conditions in conventional medicine. Being told to 'reduce stress' or 'avoid trigger foods' with no further investigation leaves most IBS patients managing symptoms indefinitely without ever understanding why they're happening. IBS is not a diagnosis that means 'nothing is wrong' — it means upon imagining that there is no visible structural damage, yet the underlying cause has not yet been identified. SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth), gut dysbiosis, food sensitivities, Histamine intolerance, impaired gut motility, nervous system dysregulation, and Cortisol imbalance are all clinically established drivers of IBS symptoms.
At Dr. Lana Wellness, we investigate all of these systematically using functional stool testing, breath testing, and food sensitivity panels to uncover deeper truths. From there, we build a personalized, root-cause protocol to address IBS naturally & holistically.
What Is IBS?
IBS-C (Constipation-Predominant): Characterized by infrequent, difficult bowel movements and bloating. Strongly associated with methane-producing organisms that slow gut motility, as seen with SIBO.
IBS-D (Diarrhea-Predominant): Frequent loose stools, urgency, and abdominal cramping — often linked to hydrogen-producing SIBO, bile acid malabsorption, or food sensitivities.
IBS-M (Mixed): Alternating constipation and diarrhea, frequently reflecting fluctuating bacterial populations or unaddressed food triggers or a dysregulated nervous system.
Post-Infectious IBS: Symptoms that began after a gastrointestinal infection, often reflecting lasting damage to gut nerve signaling and the migrating motor complex.
Why IBS Is Rarely 'Just Stress'
SIBO & IBS: Research suggests a substantial proportion of IBS cases involve underlying bacterial overgrowth — which is why breath testing is a standard part of our evaluation.
Gut Dysbiosis & IBS: Reduced microbial diversity and altered bacterial populations directly affect gut motility, gas production, and visceral sensitivity.
Food Sensitivities & IBS: Delayed immune reactions to everyday foods can produce classic IBS symptoms and are frequently missed without structured elimination testing.
The Gut-Brain Axis & IBS: IBS involves genuine dysfunction in gut-brain signaling, which is why stress reliably worsens symptoms and why nervous system regulation is clinically relevant.
How We Assess IBS Naturopathically
Functional Stool Analysis: Identifies dysbiosis, pathogens, Inflammation markers, and digestive insufficiency that may be driving your specific IBS pattern.
Breath Testing for SIBO / SIMO: Measures hydrogen and methane production to identify bacterial or methanogen overgrowth — the most commonly missed cause of IBS.
Cortisol & Stress Markers: Assessing HPA axis function reveals whether nervous system dysregulation is a primary driver of your symptom pattern.
Food Sensitivity Analysis: Guides a targeted elimination protocol rather than the guesswork of removing foods one at a time indefinitely.
Our Naturopathic IBS Protocol
Targeted Nutrition (Low-FODMAP, SCD aka - specific carbohydrate diet, orAnti-Inflammatory): Dietary approach is selected based on your test results and symptom pattern, always as a time-limited tool rather than a permanent restriction.
Gut Microbiome Restoration: After addressing overgrowths, rebuilding beneficial populations and microbial diversity is what prevents symptoms from returning.
Targeted Supplementation: Digestive enzymes, prokinetics, specific probiotic strains, and gut-lining support selected according to your IBS subtype and findings.
Acupuncture for IBS: Acupuncture regulates gut motility through the vagus nerve, reduces visceral hypersensitivity, and lowers the stress reactivity that drives flares.
Nervous System & Stress Support: Because the gut-brain axis is genuinely involved in IBS, calming nervous system hyperarousal is a therapeutic intervention rather than lifestyle advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common cause of IBS?
IBS does not have a single cause — it is a symptom cluster with multiple potential drivers. The most commonly identified in our practice are SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which drives bloating, gas, and altered bowel habits), gut dysbiosis (imbalanced microbiome), food sensitivities (especially to dairy, gluten, eggs and high-FODMAP foods), Histamine intolerance, and gut-brain axis dysregulation driven by chronic stress and Cortisol imbalance. Identifying which combination is present is the key to effective and long-lasting treatment.
What is the low-FODMAP diet and does it cure IBS?
The low-FODMAP diet eliminates fermentable carbohydrates that are rapidly broken down by gut bacteria, producing gas and drawing water into the intestine — directly driving bloating, cramping, and altered bowel habits. It is a diagnostic and symptomatic tool, not a cure. It works best as a temporary elimination phase (4–6 weeks) to identify trigger foods, followed by careful reintroduction and longer-term dietary personalization. On its own, it does not address the underlying dysbiosis or SIBO that is often driving FODMAP sensitivity.
How is SIBO connected to IBS?
Research suggests that up to 70% of IBS cases may involve an underlying SIBO component — specifically hydrogen or methane-producing bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine. SIBO produces fermented gases that cause bloating, distension, altered motility, and gut-brain signaling disruption. A lactulose breath test can identify hydrogen and methane SIBO; treatment requires targeted antimicrobials and dietary changes.
Does acupuncture help with IBS?
Yes — acupuncture has well-documented benefits for IBS including reduction in abdominal pain, bloating frequency, and bowel habit irregularity. It works by modulating gut motility via the vagus nerve, reducing visceral hypersensitivity (the amplified pain perception common in IBS), lowering Cortisol, and calming the sympathetic nervous system that drives many IBS flares. We often combine acupuncture with naturopathic and nutritional care for significantly better outcomes than either modality alone.