Can IBS be cured?: A Functional Medicine Insight

Are you exhausted dealing with constant digestive issues? Whether it’s diarrhea, constipation, or embarrassing gas, you just want it to be fixed already. It’s been years of dealing with this, and you just want to know, “Can IBS be cured, or do I have to live with this forever?”

Well, today, I’m shedding some light on IBS. There is hope for you. You don’t have to let IBS impact your quality of life any longer.

You can find relief from your IBS symptoms and ensure your IBS doesn’t come back. The key lies in getting to the ROOT cause of these gastrointestinal issues. But it requires you to take action and take control of your health by changing your lifestyle habits.

In this article, I’m sharing how a Functional Medicine provider approaches IBS treatment, what’s causing your IBS, and the action steps required to address them. The functional medicine approach to IBS can give you long-lasting results. Your IBS symptoms CAN be resolved!

What is IBS, really?

IBS stands for irritable bowel syndrome. While it’s not life-threatening, it does cause individuals pain, discomfort, and symptoms that impact the quality of their life…maybe you can relate. If IBS is left untreated, it can manifest into more serious conditions and chronic diseases.

Irritable bowel syndrome impacts up to 15% of the population and is the second leading reason for people to miss work, behind the common cold! 

You could have issues with either diarrhea (IBS-D) or with constipation (IBS-C), or you struggle with both. However, studies have shown that most people (80%) with IBS struggle with diarrhea-related IBS.

Unfortunately, many conventional doctors tell patients that IBS is something they will just have to learn how to live with and may offer prescription medication to mask the symptoms. However, this never truly treats IBS, and patients continue to struggle with pain and nagging symptoms.

“Do I have IBS?”: Top Symptoms Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

You may have IBS if you experience:

  • Diarrhea
  • Constipation
  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Indigestion
  • Anxiety/ Depression

Can IBS be “cured” or resolved?

As a functional medicine doctor, I have helped clients who have suffered for years with IBS symptoms finally find relief and experience normal and healthy bowel movements and digestion. 

And if you’re a person who deals with IBS on a daily basis, you know just how life-changing this could be! You could quite literally gain your life back and enjoy it to its fullest! 

Natural Treatment for IBS…Find the Root Cause of Your IBS!

Here’s the approach that works for irritable bowel syndrome….getting to the root cause of your IBS and addressing those imbalances or dysfunctions. This could be from various factors including, dysbiosis of the gut, food sensitivities, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), or a combination of them.

Dysbiosis and IBS

Dysbiosis is when your gut microbiome is imbalanced. Typically, your gut is comprised of beneficial and harmful bugs. However, when your bad bugs flourish and/or there are not enough good bugs, that’s when issues arise. Sometimes all kinds of bacteria can be wiped out from your gut due to certain lifestyle and environmental factors (like taking antibiotics!). 

Your gut can impact numerous other bodily systems like your mental state, your immune system, and your digestion. With dysbiosis, you may experience anything from skin issues, fatigue, mood issues, menstrual irregularities, digestive issues to achy joints and inflammation. So, getting your gut back into a state of balance will be a main priority if you have an imbalanced gut.

SIBO and IBS

SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) is when bacteria starts to overgrow into your small intestine, where it’s not supposed to be. These bacteria then feed off of the food you consume, causing byproducts of gas that cause you that intense bloating and pain. 

SIBO is extremely common in patients with IBS. In fact, SIBO has been shown to be in almost 80% of IBS patients! SIBO patients often tend to burp a lot, experience feeling extremely full after a normal size meal, experience gas, and have symptoms arise after eating fermented foods and probiotics.

This is why it’s important to work with a functional medicine provider. Many people think taking probiotics will help their gut health. However, depending on your underlying issues, probiotics could actually make things worse by encouraging more growth in your small intestine- not what we want!

Underlying Food Sensitivities and IBS

While food sensitivities are different from allergies and intolerances, they can still cause major symptoms for individuals. Food sensitivities are so common that 1 in 5 people may have them. 

These can cause symptoms that arise hours or even days after consuming a particular food. One side effect of food sensitivities is inflammation, especially in the gut. This can cause digestive issues like IBS symptoms and even long-term health problems.

Functional Testing for IBS

The best way to investigate the underlying reason(s) for your IBS is by using Functional lab testing. This way, you know exactly what you are dealing with and can embrace personalized protocols that focus on addressing your specific overgrowth or lack of beneficial bacteria. 

Stool Testing

At-home stool testing can give you and your provider an insight into if your IBS is caused by dysbiosis. It can test for specific beneficial and harmful bacteria levels in your gut. From there, protocols can be designed to focus on certain foods and supplements.

SIBO At-Home Breath Testing

This specialized test can determine if SIBO is at the root of your IBS symptoms. Knowing if it is SIBO can help your providers create a personalized IBS treatment plan that is focused on herbs, supplements, and foods that will target to eliminate the overgrowth. We will also investigate what caused the overgrowth in the first place to avoid future overgrowths in the future.

Food Sensitivity Testing

High-quality food sensitivity tests can help IBS patients determine if the foods they are eating contribute to their gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.

Many people have a sensitivity to eggs, dairy, sugar, and/or gluten. But be aware that even “healthy” foods, like lemon or apples, could still be causing an immune response, contributing to your gut inflammation.

If you are reading this, wondering, “Can IBS be cured?,”please know that there is hope to finding relief for your IBS symptoms. You don’t have to continue struggling with emergency bathroom runs and stomach pains the rest of your life. 

Make An Appointment with an IBS Specialist: Annapolis, Maryland Functional Medicine Doctor

If you are struggling with IBS symptoms and are ready to take control of your health and life, I’m here to help. I’m Dr. Skye Stewart, a Functional Medicine Provider located in Annapolis, Maryland. 

I use Functional Medicine lab testing and analysis, supplementation, and lifestyle recommendations to get to the root cause of your IBS symptoms. Together we will investigate what is causing you to feel less than optimal and address it at its source. This way, you never have to ask yourself again, “Can IBS be cured?” Schedule a FREE 10-minute consult to get started!