Rational Wellness Episode 011: Irritable Bowel Syndrome with Dr. Ben Weitz

Dr. Ben Weitz answers a question from a listener who was told by her doctor that because she had a negative blood test that her Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) was caused by stress. Just because the IBS Chek Test is negative does not mean that you don’t have Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).  Not that the the IBS Check test is not a useful test, but it only rules out autoimmune origin to IBS.  It measures antibodies to Cytolethal Distending Toxin and Vinculin.  But even if this test is negative, you can still have SIBO induced IBS.  A lactulose hydrogen, methane breath test is really the definitive test to look for SIBO.  There are very few cases of IBS that are caused by stress.  In fact, if you consider the stress response evolutionarily, which is really the fight-or-flight response, if you were being chased by a saber-toothed tiger in prehistoric times, it would make no sense that you would have to suddenly have a bowel movement.  That certainly would not enhance your likelihood of survival.

While many doctors still consider IBS to be a condition of unknown origin with no way to get rid of it, there is growing evidence that most cases of IBS are caused by SIBO.  And many cases of SIBO can be eradicated with proper treatment.  That treatment involves either specific antibiotics (such as Rifaximin or Rifaximin plus Neomycin, etc.) or natural anti-microbials (such as orgenao oil, berberine, allicin from garlic, neem, etc.) along with agents to restore bowel motility.  In addition, a specific diet is often helpful to be followed for a period of time during active treatment or for a time after.

Dr. Weitz is available for nutritional consultations to help you with IBS and other digestive disorders  310-395-3111.