IBS Naturopath - Irritable Bowel Syndrome

​A medically diagnosed condition, IBS is a functional digestive disorder affecting @ 11% of the population.  Diagnosis normally occurs after testing has ruled out other conditions, and your symptoms are contained within the IBS criteria.  IBS has no medically recognised effective treatment.

Naturopathically, IBS is not seen as a single condition.  Rather it is viewed as an umbrella term that encompasses a cluster of related conditions, that simply present with similar symptoms.  These conditions can and often have a vastly differing set of causes​

The key to IBS is to improve the function of the gut


​How well your digestive tract is breaking down and absorbing the food you eat.

Once you get digestive function optimized,
many of the unwelcome symptoms cease, and more foods can be tolerated.  

The more varied and unprocessed our diet is, the healthier we will be. 
However many people do not experience this due to poor gut function.
Ideally we are not removing more and more foods, or whole food groups over time.

Firstly we want to do all we can to ensure a well functioning gut, then assess any residual problems.​

​Here in clinic at SmartGENES, we look to unpack these causes by focusing on lifestyle, functional and ​nutritional factors that impact gut function.  Some of these factors include:
​
Lifestyle
Stress
​Anxiety
Sleep Disturbances
Physical Inactivity
Functional
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
GI parasitic infections
Pancreatic enzyme insufficency
Bile acid insufficiency
Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria)
Genetic Factors
​Nutritional
Food sensitivities
Non-Celiac Gluten Intolerance
Vitamin D deficiency
​Poor dietary choices

IBS Testing Options

There are a number of testing options available for Gut Health.  For the most part these are sent away to labs overseas as they are unavailable in New Zealand.  A consultation is always recommended prior to testing, in order to determine which test is right for you. 
​
​Some of the more popular tests include:
​

Complete Microbiome Mapping (GI Map)

DNA analysis of the gut microbiome
Stool Test Kit    - $660.00

Food Intolerance Panels

Blood spot IgG + IgA to 96 foods     - $466.75
Blood spot IgG + IgA to 144 foods    - $813.95

Allergy Panels

IgE to 27 foods                            - $379.50
IgE to 50 inhalant allergens    - $395.95
IgE to 15 moulds                         - $214.75

SIBO Testing

Hydrogen and Methane breath test for 
Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth    - $227.55

Intestinal Permeability

Lactulose/Mannitol urine collection      - $197.95
We believe that Naturopathic Medicine
​has a great deal to offer in IBS by restoring gut function and managing unwelcome symptoms effectively.
Our focus is on functional improvement, dietary triggers, and management of symptoms.
​
IBS Digestive Drops
IBS Digestive Drops