SIBO: Why It Happens, Why It Returns and How I Approach It
SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, is bacteria growing in the part of the gut where there should be very few. In my experience it is rarely the real problem. It is what happens when something has disrupted the way digestion works, which is why it so often comes back.
How I think about SIBO
I had SIBO myself, and the antibiotics I was given made my gut worse. What helped was finding out why the bacteria were able to overgrow at all. The causes I see most are mold, dental issues, food poisoning, medication and stress.
Each of those weakens one or more of the body’s own defences: stomach acid, enzymes, bile, motility and the gut lining. So I work on two things together, the root cause and the part of digestion it has affected. Whether to take antibiotics is a decision for you and your doctor. These articles explain the rest.
Articles on SIBO
- SIBO
Why Does SIBO Keep Coming Back? The 5 Root Causes I See Most
Mold, dental issues, food poisoning, medication and stress, and how each one disrupts digestion.
Read the article - SIBO
SIBO Without Antibiotics? How a Low-Kill Approach Works
Rebuilding diversity, digestion and the nervous system instead of relying on killing bacteria.
Read the article - SIBO
Is a SIBO Breath Test Worth It? What Your Symptoms Already Tell You
What the test measures, what your symptoms already show, and what it cannot tell you.
Read the article
- Mold and SIBO: Why Mold Exposure Can Keep SIBO Coming Back
Mold toxins act like antibiotics and leave through the gut. What that means for SIBO.
- IBS Not Improving? Signs of Sluggish Bile and What Helps
What bile does for digestion, the signs it is struggling, and how I support it.
Questions I am often asked
What is SIBO?
SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: too many bacteria in the small intestine, where there should be very few. It commonly causes bloating, gas and changes in bowel habit.
Why does SIBO keep coming back?
In my experience it returns when the root cause is still there. If mold, a dental problem or constant stress keeps disrupting digestion, the conditions for overgrowth remain.
Can SIBO be dealt with without antibiotics?
Many people improve when the underlying causes are addressed. I cannot promise a result, and the decision about antibiotics is one for you and your doctor.
Find out which part of your digestion is letting SIBO in.
The free Gut Health Quiz shows which of the five pillars needs support. If you would like help finding your root cause, book a Root Cause Consultation.
Coming soon: The SIBO Recovery Protocol, my step-by-step guide for SIBO that keeps coming back.
I’m a coach, not a medical doctor. This page shares my experience and what I see with the clients I coach. It is for education only and is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Speak to your doctor before changing medication or if your symptoms are severe or new.