Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (adjunctive care)
Also known as: SIBO, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, bloating and gas after meals
SIBO is excessive bacteria in the small intestine, causing bloating, wind, cramps and altered bowel habit; it is diagnosed with breath testing and treated with targeted antibiotics or diet under medical guidance. Chinese medicine reads it as spleen deficiency with damp and food stagnation, sometimes with liver constraint, and treats digestion, movement and the gut-liver axis.
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Lifestyle & Diet
- •Follow the breath test and medical treatment plan; SIBO often relapses without treating the cause.
- •Eat slowly and regularly; avoid grazing all day.
- •Keep a food-symptom diary before excluding foods.
- •Treat constipation and slow gut movement actively.
Cautions & Contraindications
- •Do not self-treat with repeated antibiotic courses.[]
- •Check for structural causes (adhesions, diverticula) before long-term herbal therapy.[]
When to reassess or seek care again
Review at 4–6 weeks: bloating score, stool pattern, diet diary. Repeat breath testing only under medical guidance.
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Sources & Further Reading
Clinical guidance, red flags and safety notes on this page draw on the following current sources alongside the classical references above.
- NICE · 2024
- Healthdirect Australia · 2024
- National Library of Medicine · 2024
Educational reference for licensed practitioners. Not a substitute for individual clinical assessment. Refer to conventional care for any red-flag or undiagnosed presentation.