IBS Specialist New Zealand
Finally find the root cause - and actually heal
Why you've been told "it's just IBS"
You know the drill: bloating after every meal, alternating between constipation and diarrhoea, planning your day around bathroom access, avoiding social events because you can't predict how your gut will behave.
You've tried the low-FODMAP diet. Bought probiotics from the chemist. Cut out gluten, dairy, and half the foods you used to enjoy.
Maybe your GP gave you antispasmodics or told you to "reduce stress."
Find the Root Cause + Heal
But nothing actually fixes it. The symptoms keep coming back. Here's what your doctor probably didn't tell you: IBS is almost always driven by identifiable bacterial imbalances - SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), IMO (methane-producing organisms), dysbiosis (pathogenic bacteria, parasites and/or fungi causing inflammation), or (even leading to) intestinal permeability (leaky gut).
Standard medical tests don't look at your microbiome. That's why these root causes go undetected - and untreated. We use research-grade testing to see exactly what's happening in your gut. Then the naturopath creates a targeted protocol to address YOUR specific imbalances - not a generic IBS
The Truth About IBS: It's Not a Diagnosis, It's a Label
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is what doctors call your symptoms when standard tests can't find a structural cause. Your GP runs blood work, stool cultures, maybe an endoscopy - and when nothing shows up, you're told "you have IBS." But here's what that actually means: Your gut is irritated and behaving abnormally, but standard testing doesn't look at your microbiome - where the vast majority of IBS causes are found.
Think of this analogy: If your car's engine light is on, but a mechanic only checks the bodywork and tyres, they might say "nothing's wrong structurally - you just have an an angry engine." That doesn't mean there's no problem. It means they didn't look in the right place.
Why standard IBS treatment doesn't work
What your GP typically recommends:
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Low-FODMAP diet (restrict fermentable carbohydrates),
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Antispasmodics (reduce cramping),
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Laxatives or anti-diarrhoeals (manage symptoms).
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"Reduce stress" (vague advice with no practical plan).
The problem: These approaches treat symptoms, not causes.
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The low-FODMAP diet starves bacteria (good and bad) but doesn't restore balance.
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Antispasmodics don't fix bacterial overgrowth.
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Stress management helps, but it doesn't address the infections driving your symptoms.
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It's like taking painkillers for a broken arm. Yes, the pain reduces - but the bone is still broken.
This is why IBS becomes a chronic condition people "manage" for years or decades. They're treating symptoms, not the bacterial imbalances causing them.
rootcauses your GP isn't testing for
Root Cause #1:SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
What it is:
Bacteria that belong in your large intestine migrate into your small intestine. When you eat, these bacteria ferment your food before your body can absorb nutrients - producing hydrogen gas, methane, or hydrogen sulfide.
Common symptoms:
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Bloating that gets worse throughout the day
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Bloating within 30-90 minutes of eating
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Worse with carbohydrates, fibre, or "healthy" foods
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Diarrhoea or loose stools (IBS-D)
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Brain fog and fatigue after meals
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Nutrient deficiencies despite eating well
Why standard testing misses it:
Stool tests look at your large intestine, not your small intestine. Breath tests can suggest SIBO but have high false-negative rates (up to 40%) and don't tell you which bacteria are overgrowing.
Root Cause #2:IMO (Intestinal Methane Overgrowth)
What it is:
Not bacteria, but archaea—commonly Methanobrevibacter smithii—that produce methane gas. Methane doesn't just cause bloating; it slows gut motility, creating a vicious cycle: slow transit → more fermentation → more methane → slower transit.
Common symptoms:
Common symptoms:
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Severe, visible bloating (looking pregnant
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Chronic constipation (IBS-C)
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Feeling "full" or "heavy" even after small
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Bloating that doesn't improve with dietary
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Weight gain or difficulty losing weight
Why it's often missed:
Standard antimicrobials that work for bacterial SIBO don't work for methaneproducing archaea. If no one tests for methane or identifies the specific organisms involved, treatment fails.
Root Cause #3:Dysbiosis (Microbiome Imbalance)
What it is:
Your gut microbiome is out of balance—protective bacteria may be depleted, and potentially inflammatory or pathobiont bacteria (like Protebacteria or Bacteridetes) have overgrown. Some of these bacteria produce inflammatory compounds (like lipopolysaccharides, or LPS) that contribute to an inflamed gut lining and trigger immune responses.
Common symptoms:
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Bloating with pain, cramping, or a "sore" abdomen
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Symptoms beyond the gut (skin issues, joint pain, brain fog, anxiety)
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History of antibiotics, food poisoning, or gastro infections
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Unpredictable symptoms (sometimes certain foods, sometimes random)
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IBS-M (mixed symptoms—both diarrhoea and constipation)
Root Cause #4:Intestinal Permeability (Leaky Gut)
What it is:
Your gut lining becomes compromised (often due to chronic inflammation, pathogenic bacteria, or depletion of protective bacteria like Akkermansiamuciniphila). Undigested food particles and bacterial toxins leak into your bloodstream, triggering immune activation and systemic inflammation.
Common symptoms:
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Bloating that feels like inflammation/swelling (not just gas)
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Growing list of food sensitivities (reacting to more and more foods)
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Symptoms beyond digestion (fatigue, headaches, anxiety, skin reactions)
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History of chronic stress, NSAID use, or autoimmune conditions
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Bloating even with small amounts of food
Why it's missed:
Standard blood tests don't measure gut permeability. Your GP might run inflammation markers (CRP, ESR), but these are often "normal" in early-stage leaky gut because the inflammation is localised and low-grade. Bloating that feels like inflammation/swelling (not just gas). Growing list of food sensitivities (reacting to more and more foods).
Symptoms beyond digestion (fatigue, headaches, anxiety, skin reactions). History of chronic stress, NSAID use, or autoimmune conditions. Bloating even with small amounts of food.
Post-infectious IBS -when it started with food poisoning.
Many of our clients can pinpoint exactly when their IBS began: "I got food poisoning on holiday two years ago, and my gut has never been the same." This is called PI-IBS (post-infectious IBS), and it's more common than most doctors realise. How Infections Trigger Long-Term IBS: Bacterial or parasitic infections (like Salmonella, Campylobacter, Giardia, Blastocystis) can:
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Damage your gut lining,
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Trigger chronic low-grade inflammation,
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Alter your microbiome (beneficial bacteria get wiped out, pathogenic species take over),
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Create a hyper-reactive gut state (increased nerve sensitivity).
Even after the acute infection clears, the damage persists. Your gut lining may remain compromised, your microbiome may stay out of balance, and your gut becomes hyper-sensitive—reacting to foods that never bothered you before.
Risk Factors for Developing Post-Infectious IBS:
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Severity and duration of the initial infection
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Antibiotic use (which further disrupts your microbiome)
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History of stress or trauma
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Pre-existing gut issues
The good news: PI-IBS is treatable. Metagenomic testing can identify lingering pathogens, measure the damage to your microbiome, and reveal which protective bacteria need to be restored.
Targeted plan based on YOUR specific test results (not generic templates)
Your protocol is built specifically for your gut ecosystem and may include:
You receive a comprehensive consultation explaining everything in plain English - no medical jargon.
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Many clients notice initial improvements within 2-4 weeks as your protocol rebalances your gut.
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Targeted antimicrobials (for overgrowth or infections).
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Gut lining repair (if permeability is present).
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Beneficial bacteria restoration.
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Strategic nutrition plan (temporary modifications, not forever).
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Nervous system support (stress, sleep, lifestyle).
Monitor: Ongoing Support Until You're Healed
3-6 months of expert guidance(we don't abandon you with a protocol that doesn't work)
We track your progress and adjust your plan as you heal:
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Follow-up consultations at key milestones
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Protocol adjustments based on your progress
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Email support between sessions
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Guided food reintroductions as your gut heals
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Retest at 3-4 months to confirm healing at the microbial level
Our goal: Lasting resolution, not lifelong symptom management.
So you can:
✓ Eat diverse foods without fear
✓ Have predictable, comfortable digestion
✓ Stop planning your life around bathroom access
✓ Feel energised and confident in your body
You May Benefit If You've Been Diagnosed With:IBS Subtypes:Related Conditions:Conditions That Co-Occur with IBS:IBS-D (diarrhoea-dominant)IBS-C (constipation-dominant)IBS-M (mixed/alternating)•••SIBO or IMO (confirmed or suspected)Histamine intolerance (food reactions, flushing, headaches)Post-infectious IBS (gut never recovered after food poisoning)Multiple food sensitivitiesLeaky gut or intestinal permeability
Who should work with an IBS specialist?
You're an ideal candidate if:
You're an ideal candidate
if:
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You've been diagnosed with
IBS but treatments aren't working
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You've tried the low-FODMAP
diet and it helped temporarily
but isn't sustainable
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You've had IBS for months or
years without understanding the root cause
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Your symptoms started after
food poisoning, antibiotics, or
overseas travel (post - infectious IBS)
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Standard tests showed
"nothing wrong" but you're still suffering.
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You have IBS plus other
symptoms (skin issues, anxiety, fatigue, brain fog, hormone issues)
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You're tired of managing
symptoms and ready to heal the root cause
You may not need a specialist support if:
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Your symptoms are mild and
occasional (not chronic)
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You haven't tried basic dietary
changes yet (we can guide you
during your free call)
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You're looking for a quick fix
(healing takes 3-6 months of
commitment)
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You're not ready to follow a
protocol (testing without action
won't help)
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Not sure if IBS specialist
support is right for you?
-
Book a free 15-minute evaluation
call - we'll give you honest guidance even if testing isn't the next step.
You May Benefit If You've Been Diagnosed With:
IBS Sub types:
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IBS-D (diarrhoea-dominant)
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IBS-C (constipation-dominant)
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IBS-M (mixed/alternating)
Related Conditions:
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SIBO or IMO (confirmed or suspected)
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Histamine intolerance (food reactions, flushing, headaches)
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Post-infectious IBS (gut never recovered after food poisoning)
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Multiple food sensitivities
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Leaky gut or intestinal permeability
Conditions That Co-Occur with IBS:
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Anxiety and depression (gut-brain connection)
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Skin conditions (eczema, acne, rosacea, psoriasis)
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Hormone issues (endometriosis, PCOS, irregular cycles)
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Autoimmune conditions (Hashimoto's, rheumatoid arthritis)
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Chronic fatigue or fibromyalgia
Stop managing IBS. Start healing it.
You've Tried Everything:
✗ Low-FODMAP diet (helped temporarily, not sustainable)
✗ Probiotics from the chemist (made bloating worse)
✗ Cut out gluten, dairy, and half your favourite foods.
✗ Antispasmodics and anti-diarrhoea (symptom Band-Aids)
✗ "Reduce stress" advice (vague, unhelpful)
✗ Seen multiple GPs and specialists who say "it's just IBS"
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