SIBO
Treat SIBO at the root cause, not just the symptoms
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) refers to an elevated presence of bacteria in the small bowel — an overgrowth of diverse bacterial types typically found in the colon, rather than a single bacterial strain.
The excessive bacterial population in SIBO can disrupt the proper digestion of food and absorption of nutrients, largely due to harm inflicted on the mucosal lining. That mucosal damage can in turn lead to leaky gut (intestinal permeability), which may contribute to food allergies, food intolerances and overall inflammation.
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SIBO symptoms
Because the overgrowth interferes with digestion and nutrient absorption, SIBO can produce symptoms both in the gut and well beyond it. Most people experience a cluster of these rather than all of them:
Common symptoms
- Bloating and abdominal distension
- Excess wind and belching
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Diarrhoea, constipation or both
- Nausea
- Acid reflux and indigestion
- Feeling full quickly after eating
- Fatigue and low energy
- Brain fog and poor concentration
- Food intolerances that seem to be increasing
- Nutrient deficiencies such as iron or B12
- Unintentional weight loss
Often associated with
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Chronic fatigue
- Rosacea
- Cystitis and interstitial bladder pain
- Restless legs
- Fibromyalgia
Symptoms alone can't confirm SIBO — they overlap with several other digestive conditions. Breath testing alongside a detailed case history is how we establish whether SIBO is present and which type it is.
SIBO risk factors
A number of underlying factors can allow bacteria to overgrow in the small intestine. Identifying which apply to you is central to treating SIBO properly and preventing it returning:
How we help
In conventional treatment, antibiotics are often the first intervention — yet studies indicate that around half of patients experience recurrence within 6 to 12 months. In clinic we prefer herbal antimicrobials, which have shown more favourable outcomes. Addressing the overgrowth is only one part of a full treatment plan.
Integrative nutrition approach
There are a number of nutritional interventions with sound scientific evidence to help treat SIBO. Each approach has its own nuances, depends on the individual, and takes your test results into account to determine the best strategy.
SIBO breath testing
The preferred method for SIBO testing is the gold-standard breath test, measuring hydrogen and methane gases after a 24-hour preparation diet and an overnight fast. NHS testing uses the same procedure but requires gastroenterologist involvement, which can extend the process over several months.
Supplements and probiotics
We advise on the appropriate supplements, such as probiotics and prebiotics, at the optimal stages within your treatment regimen.
Herbal antimicrobials
Rather than relying on antibiotics — which often result in further complications — our methodology uses specific antimicrobial herbs for a designated duration, targeting the bacteria in the small intestine.
Why gut motility matters
One critical aspect that demands investigation is gut motility. Research reveals that people with SIBO frequently exhibit delays in small bowel transit time — the duration it takes for substances to travel through the small bowel.
By providing additional support for motility and addressing other crucial aspects of the digestive tract, we have achieved notably high remission rates for SIBO.
A personalised protocol
Given the complexities inherent in this condition, a thorough examination of medical history is essential for understanding potential underlying dysfunctions.
Our team of SIBO experts is available to guide and support you throughout your treatment, crafting personalised protocols tailored to your unique circumstances.
We can help you optimise your health so you can feel your best again
Our approach is designed to find and address what's really driving your SIBO. This care may be right for you if you:
Have bloating that worsens through the day or after meals
Have been diagnosed with IBS that hasn't responded to treatment
Have had SIBO before and it keeps coming back
Want to get to the root cause rather than repeat courses of antibiotics
Feel more comfortable and confident in your body
Ongoing SIBO symptoms can affect how you feel day to day. We work with you to ease symptoms, address the underlying drivers and support lasting remission.
Explore care optionsSee what our clients have to say
Real stories from people we've helped.
I can't put into words how grateful I am to Rob for the support and help I received to fix my digestive issues. After 10 years of going to traditional doctors, he is the only professional to help me recover my life back. Before seeing Rob, I had struggled with periods of inflammation, major fatigue, and weight gain. Rob ran some tests on me, which apparently are not available through the NHS, and found a pathogenic yeast. No doctor, dietician or gastro even mentioned a stool test. I was put on a relatively strict treatment plan and within 2 weeks started to feel better. I actually feel like myself again and doing activities that I just couldn't do for years. I have recommended The Integrative Nutrition Clinic to all my friends and family. He is the best out there when it comes to digestive health!
I have had a fantastic experience with Rob. He is unbelievably knowledgeable, open, warm and easy to get on with. His knowledge of the GI tract is incredible and was able to give me a completely different perspective on what has been causing my issues. I had a GI issue that my conventional GP was treating but it simply wasn't getting any better after 9 months. After working with Rob for 3 weeks, my issues started to resolve by making subtle changes to my morning routine. Not only that, he is working with me to optimise my overall health and vitality to make sure it doesn't happen again.
I have been working with Mr Staunton for a number of months. He works diligently to understand the root cause of what caused the issue in the first place and conducts comprehensive testing to methodically go over all possible causes. He is results-driven and is able to turn the complex into easily digestible information. Results came after 4 weeks and since then, I have kept on improving. The difference between how I was feeling before and today is simply incredible.