IBS and the Functional Medicine Approach: Stop Chasing Symptoms and Start Healing the Gut

If you’ve been living with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), you know how disruptive it can be. One day it’s gas and bloating. The next, it’s urgent diarrhea or stubborn constipation. You may have been told it’s “just IBS,” handed a medication, or advised to “eat more fiber” with little improvement.

Here’s what we believe in functional medicine:

IBS is not a diagnosis—it’s a symptom of deeper imbalances that need to be uncovered and addressed.

Functional medicine moves beyond symptom management. Instead of asking, What drug can we use to manage IBS?, we ask, Why is your gut inflamed, overreactive, or dysfunctional in the first place?

What Is IBS?

IBS is a functional gastrointestinal disorder—meaning there’s no obvious structural damage seen on colonoscopy or imaging, but gut function is impaired. IBS affects up to 15% of the population and is often diagnosed after ruling everything else out.

Common IBS symptoms include:

Bloating and gas
Abdominal pain or cramping
Constipation (IBS-C), diarrhea (IBS-D), or both (IBS-M)
Mucus in the stool
Incomplete evacuation
Food sensitivities or post-meal discomfort

These symptoms often come and go but can significantly impact daily life and mental well-being.

➡️ Related blog: The Gut-Immune-Hormone Connection

The Functional Medicine Perspective on IBS

From a functional medicine standpoint, IBS is not just a “gut problem.” It’s often the end result of multiple upstream issues, such as:

Gut dysbiosis (imbalanced bacteria or yeast overgrowth)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability)
Food sensitivities (gluten, dairy, eggs, FODMAPs)
Chronic stress and nervous system imbalance
Post-infectious IBS after food poisoning or illness
Poor bile acid metabolism or enzyme deficiencies

5 Common Root Causes We Evaluate in IBS Patients

🔹 1. SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)

Many patients with IBS symptoms actually have SIBO, a condition where bacteria that belong in the large intestine migrate to the small intestine and ferment food, causing gas, bloating, diarrhea, and nutrient malabsorption.

We use lactulose or glucose breath testing to diagnose SIBO and treat it with:

Targeted herbal antimicrobials or antibiotics
Prokinetics
Elemental or low-FODMAP diets during treatment

🔹 2. Leaky Gut and Food Sensitivities

When the gut lining becomes permeable due to inflammation, infections, or stress, it can trigger immune responses to foods that were once well tolerated.

This often leads to:

Gas and bloating
Fatigue after eating
Brain fog
Skin flare-ups

We may run a food sensitivity panel or recommend a short-term elimination diet to identify and remove triggers.

➡️ Related blog: Chronic Fatigue and the Functional Approach

🔹 3. Gut Dysbiosis and Candida Overgrowth

An imbalance between good and bad bacteria—or overgrowth of yeast like candida—can cause IBS-like symptoms. This often follows antibiotic use, steroid use, or long-term processed diets.

We evaluate gut microbiome health using a GI-MAP stool test and create personalized protocols to:

Remove pathogens
Rebuild the gut lining
Rebalance the microbiome

🔹 4. Stress and Nervous System Dysfunction

The gut-brain axis plays a major role in IBS. Many patients with IBS have a history of trauma, anxiety, or chronic stress that disrupts vagus nerve tone and gut motility.

We support nervous system healing with:

Breathwork and vagus nerve stimulation
Adaptogens like ashwagandha or holy basil
Red light therapy and mindfulness tools

➡️ Related blog: What Is Functional Medicine?

🔹 5. Hormonal Imbalances

Women with IBS often notice their symptoms fluctuate with their cycle. That’s because estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol all affect gut motility and inflammation.

We may run a DUTCH hormone panel to evaluate:

Estrogen dominance
Low progesterone
Cortisol rhythm and adrenal health

Supporting hormonal balance can greatly reduce bloating, cramping, and irregularity—especially in perimenopausal women.

➡️ Related blog: Hot Flashes and Hormone Imbalance

A Patient Success Story

A 32-year-old woman came to our clinic with a 7-year history of IBS-D. She had seen multiple gastroenterologists and tried antispasmodics, fiber, and low-FODMAP diets, but still dealt with daily bloating and urgent diarrhea.

Her GI-MAP revealed:

H. pylori
Candida overgrowth
Low beneficial bacteria
Elevated inflammatory markers

We created a 3-phase gut healing plan that included:

Eradicating pathogens
Gut lining repair
Microbiome support and nervous system retraining

Within 3 months, her urgency and bloating were 90% resolved—and for the first time in years, she could eat without fear.

Final Thoughts: You Deserve More Than a Diagnosis

If you’ve been told you “just have IBS” and need to learn to live with it, know this: There is more that can be done.

IBS is not a dead end. It’s a signal from your body that something deeper is off—and functional medicine can help you find and fix it.

Ready to Get to the Root of Your IBS?

We offer telehealth consultations and advanced gut testing to help you understand what’s driving your symptoms—and finally get lasting relief.

📞 Call 314-842-1441 or schedule your virtual consult today

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