Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)

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What is Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)?

Why SIBO is more common than you think and what you need to know about testing and treatment

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth or SIBO is a condition where abnormally large numbers of bacteria (at least 100,000 bacteria per milliliter (ml) of fluid) are present in the small intestine.

SIBO is the most common cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and is associated with many other health conditions like:

  • Diabetes ( Disease where the body can’t regulate the amount of sugar in the blood)
  • Scleroderma (Autoimmune disorder that affect the skin and internal organs)
  • Crohn’s disease (Chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract)
  • Acne Rosacea (commonly caused by SIBO and another gut bacteria H.pylori)
  • Hypothyroidism (SIBO affects conversion of T4 to the active T3 in the gut)
  • Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Anxiety and Depression (the gut bacteria influence the brain’s neurotransmitters)

Believe it or not, your small intestine measures 21 feet in length and is part of the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) that connects the stomach to the colon.

Its main purpose is to digest and and absorb food into your body.

Your entire GI tract, including the small intestine – normally contain bacteria.

The number of bacteria is greatest inside the colon ( at least 1 trillion bacteria per ml of fluid).

In your small intestine, however the normal amount of bacteria is much lower (less than 10,000 bacteria per ml of fluid). It is when increased amounts of this bacteria occur that the problems of SIBO develop

SIBO symptoms

So what causes SIBO?

Your GI tract is a continuous muscular tube that transports digested food to your colon.
The coordinated activity between your stomach muscles and your small intestine propels food through your stomach, small intestine and into your colon.

These muscle reactions through your small intestine are not only critical for your digestion – but  “sweep” bacteria out of the small intestine. And help limit the numbers of bacteria in your small intestine.

Anything that interferes with this “muscle activity” in the small intestine allows bacteria to stay longer and multiply.


The lack of muscular activity can also allow bacteria to spread backward from your colon into your small intestine.

In other words, that potential 1 trillion of bacteria lurking in your colon moves into your small intestine.

And that’s how you get the abnormally high amounts of bacteria in your small intestine – SIBO. Other causes of SIBO can be food poisoning, gut infections and a diet high in refined carbohydrates.

To learn more – check out this quick overview video of SIBO – how it occurs and why it can cause so many other digestion and health problems.

Symptoms of SIBO include


Digestion Symptoms

  • Diarrhoea
  • Constipation
  • Alternating constipation and diarrhoea
  • Abdominal cramping
  • Bloating and/or wind
  • Burping and Acid Reflux/GORD
  • Food sensitivities
  • Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  • Liver cirrhosis
  • Diverticulitis
  • Inflammatory Bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis)

Associated Symptoms

  • Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – especially associated with diarrhoea dominant SIBO
  • Coeliac disease
  • Interstitial Cystitis
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Acne Rosacea
  • Diabetes
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Scleroderma
  • Chronic Prostatitis
  • Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatosis (NASH)Iron and B12 deficiency
  • Skin rashes

How to treat SIBO

The two most common methods of treatment for SIBO are oral antibiotics and natural antimicrobial herbs/ probiotics. Both have been proven to be effective but each has their advantages and disadvantages.
The antibiotics are best used for short-term treatment (2-4 weeks).  Studies show that they are not more effective than natural treatments, and the specific antibiotics that are used are hard to get and expensive, plus they don’t treat the underlying cause.
Anti-microbial herbs and Probiotics – This is my preferred method of treatment, the combination of products used addresses the bacteria overgrowth, breaks down the biofilm that “protects the bacteria, and focuses on improving motility to prevent reoccurrence
There is not one perfect protocol for everybody and this is going to vary according to your test results, your signs and symptoms, and any other health issues you have.
Diet is also very important part of the treatment plan.

Naturopathy Solutions

In the last 10 years, there’s been research that shows that a combination of dietary changes and anti-microbial herbal and
nutritional therapies can be more effective than most antibiotics – and equal to Rifaximin – one of the most expensive antibiotics available.

At Planet Naturopath we have developed an effective treatment strategy for treating SIBO,
the treatment varies depending on whether you have methane or hydrogen dominant SIBO.

But before you decide on treatment – naturopathic or conventional – you need to evidence if you have SIBO…


The best method to test for SIBO

At Planet Naturopath, we’ve found the most accurate way to diagnose SIBO is with a breath test. This test measures the hydrogen and methane gases from you breath every 20 minutes over a 3 hour period.

While there are several tests available to test SIBO, most aren’t as accurate and require a visit to a hospital or pathology centre with a minimum stay of 3 hours.

Planet Naturopath’s SIBO test consists of a simple home collection kit that you can do in the privacy and convenience of your own home.  Test kits can be shipped Worldwide.

All that’s required from you is to breath into the bag provided in your kit every 20 minutes.

For more details on the SIBO Breath Test click here.

To order your SIBO Breath Home Collection Test Kit today Click here.

Interested – but still not quite sure where to start?

Or if the SIBO Test is what you need?

Don’t worry. We have a no-risk solution that can help pinpoint the best testing options for your specific condition…we call it our:

Investigation Consultation

Where together we take a deep dive into your health history and discuss any current health issues or concerns you might have..

By the end of your 30 minute planning session you’ll know what your best testing options are. And we’ll help guide you to choose the right course of action for you.

So schedule your 30 minute in-depth Investigation Consultation today and discover the right testing option for you.

Act now and get the answers you need to put you on the right path towards a healthier and happier you.