IBS Treatment in Lindenhurst, NY | Naturopathic Doctor
Naturopathic IBS Treatment in Lindenhurst, NY
Have you left doctors appointments on Long Island looking for digestive relief, only to be sent home with a handout on a diet you've already tried and a vague diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with no real explanation for why your symptoms are happening?
If so, you're not alone. This happens far too often in the healthcare system, and IBS is one of the most common examples. As a naturopathic doctor serving clients throughout Lindenhurst and Suffolk County, NY, I've talked to so many people who've had this exact experience after receiving an IBS diagnosis. The conversation around IBS is usually limited, leaving patients with more questions than answers.
You probably realized that medications are fine for temporary relief, but what about the long term solution? You don’t want to be tied down to rely on MiraLAX forever. This is exactly where naturopathic medicine shines.
As a naturopathic doctor, I've seen how much can be done for someone struggling with IBS. In fact, I hosted a full webinar on IBS and the naturopathic treatment targets we use, get the replay here.
A diagnosis of IBS isn't an endpoint. There is almost always a root cause that can be uncovered through targeted testing, like a comprehensive stool analysis or a SIBO breath test. Want to learn more about SIBO? Check out the blog post here.
Lab Testing for IBS: What We Look For
Getting a good symptom picture is vital for IBS and then a comprehensive stool test is usually my go-to. So what does that testing usually reveal in someone with IBS?
Dysbiosis in IBS
Dysbiosis is one of the most common findings on a comprehensive stool test, like the GI Map, when someone is having bloating and/or issues with bowel movements. Dysbiosis is a term for an imbalance in the gut flora, and it shows up in a few different forms:
Overgrowth: normal flora grows in excess
Displacement: the normal flora moves away from where it should be (large intestine) and takes over in another place like the small intestine, a hallmark of SIBO
Pathogenic: non-beneficial species taking over, stealing nutrients from healthy flora
Addressing the dysbiosis is important because a lack of beneficial bacteria can cause a disruption in your gut barrier. The bacteria are also important for producing nutrients like vitamin K, B5, and B12. Dysbiosis has also been linked to cardiovascular disease and type 1 diabetes (Tang & Hazen, 2014, Scott, et. al., 2017).
Inflammation in IBS
Another key marker I look at on stool analysis is inflammation. A healthy balance of gut microbes helps moderate inflammation. Without that balance, inflammation tends to increase. Chronic inflammation raises the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, autoimmune disorders, and leaky gut (Weiss, 2017). Leaky gut, in turn, can trigger a whole additional set of symptoms: headaches, joint pain, brain fog, asthma, autoimmune flare-ups, and nutrient deficiencies.
The Gut-Nervous System Connection
I always check in on my clients' nervous systems, because IBS symptoms so often show up alongside sleep issues, anxiety, or depression. As a culture, we've become disconnected from what we eat. Part of my work as a naturopathic doctor is helping clients reconnect with their food and their bodies. Once we master those basics, we move into protocols that reduce dysbiosis and calm inflammation.
I take a whole-person approach: how are the digestive, nervous, and endocrine systems functioning together? Your gut has far more influence over your body than most people realize. Did you know the gut produces roughly 400x more melatonin than the pineal gland, once thought to be melatonin's biggest source? The gut is also a major production site for neurotransmitters like serotonin (Bubenik, 2002).
Most importantly, when it comes to treatment, starting at the basics is always the right first move, especially when it comes to treatments for IBS. If your body's fundamental needs aren't being met, whether that's missing nutrients, a lack of felt safety, or an excess of stress on the body, any healing protocol will be an uphill battle. Removing the obstacles standing in the way of healing is a critical step in getting your body back to baseline function.
Frequently Asked Questions About IBS
Is IBS a lifelong condition?
Not necessarily. While IBS is often presented as something you simply manage forever, many patients see significant, lasting improvement once the underlying root cause — often dysbiosis, SIBO, or chronic inflammation — is identified and treated.
What tests help diagnose the root cause of IBS?
A comprehensive stool analysis and a SIBO breath test are two of the most useful tools for uncovering what's actually driving IBS symptoms, rather than just naming the symptom pattern.
Can naturopathic medicine really help with IBS?
Yes. Naturopathic treatment for IBS focuses on identifying and correcting root causes — gut flora imbalances, inflammation, and nervous system dysregulation — rather than only managing symptoms.
Do you work with patients outside of Lindenhurst?
Yes, I work with clients throughout Suffolk County and Long Island virtually.
Dr. Alyssa
Naturopathic Doctor serving Lindenhurst, NY and the greater Long Island area
Ready to find the root cause of your IBS?
Book a free discovery call or learn more about Holistic Gut Healing services.
Sources:
Bubenik GA. Gastrointestinal melatonin: localization, function, and clinical relevance. Dig Dis Sci. 2002 Oct;47(10):2336-48. doi: 10.1023/a:1020107915919. PMID: 12395907.
Scott FW et al (2017) Where genes meet environment-integrating the role of gut luminal contents, immunity and pancreas in type 1 diabetes. Transl Res 179:183–198
Tang WH, Hazen SL (2014) The contributory role of gut microbiota in cardiovascular disease. J Clin Invest 124(10):4204–4211
Weiss GA, Hennet T. Mechanisms and consequences of intestinal dysbiosis. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2017 Aug;74(16):2959-2977. doi: 10.1007/s00018-017-2509-x. Epub 2017 Mar 28. PMID: 28352996.
