11/08/2026
Let's talk SIBO!!
SIBO stands for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. It happens when there are too many bacteria or the wrong mix of bacteria in the small intestine. Normally, most gut bacteria live farther down in the large intestine.
When bacteria overgrow in the small intestine, they can ferment carbohydrates before your body has properly absorbed them. This can produce excess hydrogen or, when methane-producing organisms are involved, methane. The result can be bloating, pressure, excessive gas, abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea and/or constipation just to name a few.
Methane in particular is associated with slower intestinal transit and constipation; technically, methane-dominant cases are now often called intestinal methanogen overgrowth (IMO) rather than SIBO.
SIBO can also interfere with digestion and nutrient absorption. In more significant cases, it may contribute to deficiencies such as vitamin B12 and fat-soluble vitamins, unintended weight loss or fatty stools.
It can become a frustrating cycle too: impaired intestinal motility can predispose someone to overgrowth, while the resulting gas and digestive symptoms make the gut feel even more unsettled.
💭 A few important points: bloating alone doesn't mean SIBO, and SIBO isn't simply caused by eating sugar or having "bad bacteria."
Conditions or medications that alter gut motility or anatomy can increase the risk. Diagnosis is commonly investigated with hydrogen/methane breath testing, although testing has limitations and symptoms can overlap with IBS, constipation and other digestive conditions.
SIBO has become more and more common over the years and being common certainly doesn't mean it's normal, not in the slightest.
Colonics can assist with opening the detox pathways to help things move along faster whilst you work with a practitioner or are on antibiotics (we see this in the clinic often with clients) 💩✨️
