Gut Health & Digestive Restoration

Functional Medicine for IBS, SIBO, Leaky Gut, Reflux, Bloating & Chronic Digestive Issues

Why Gut Health Matters

Your gut is the foundation of your entire physiology. When digestion, microbiome balance, motility, or intestinal integrity are disrupted, symptoms extend far beyond the stomach — affecting hormones, immunity, inflammation, metabolism, mood, neurological function, and overall energy.

At Denver Sports & Holistic Medicine, we provide root-cause, Functional & Integrative Medicine–based gastrointestinal care. Using advanced diagnostics, personalized nutrition, herbal medicine, acupuncture, nervous system regulation, and targeted supplementation, we identify the true drivers behind digestive symptoms and restore balance from the inside out.

Conditions Commonly Treated

• IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
• SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth)
• Leaky gut and intestinal permeability patterns
• Reflux, GERD, heartburn
• Bloating and abdominal distension
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Candida and fungal overgrowth patterns
• Parasites
• Chronic nausea or poor appetite
• Post-infectious IBS patterns
• Food sensitivities and intolerances
• Histamine intolerance / MCAS patterns
• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s support
• Digestive symptoms associated with chronic illness, mold, or inflammation

Gut symptoms are often the result of systemic imbalance — not just local digestive issues.

Our Integrative Approach to Gut Healing

Functional Testing to Identify the Root Cause

Advanced diagnostics can clarify why symptoms developed and what must be corrected for long-term progress:

• GI-MAP and comprehensive stool analysis
• SIBO breath testing
• Zonulin and intestinal permeability markers
• Organic Acids Test (OAT) for yeast metabolites and dysbiosis patterns
• Pancreatic enzyme and digestive capacity markers
• Food sensitivity testing
• Microbiome mapping
• Inflammatory markers (calprotectin, secretory IgA)

→ Advanced Functional Lab Testing

Microbiome Rebalancing & Pathogen Clearance

Gut healing begins with addressing the internal ecosystem.

We gently and strategically target:

• Dysbiosis
• SIBO / intestinal overgrowth
• Yeast & fungal overgrowth
• Parasites
• Low-grade chronic infections

Using evidence-based tools:

• Herbal antimicrobials and botanicals
• Biofilm support (when indicated)
• Targeted probiotics & prebiotics
• Anti-inflammatory, gut-healing nutrition
• Acupuncture for motility, inflammation & vagal tone

Leaky Gut Repair & Inflammation Reduction

Intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”) drives systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, hormone imbalance, and skin issues.

We support repair using:

• L-glutamine & mucosal healing nutrients
• Zinc carnosine
• Collagen & amino acids
• Anti-inflammatory botanicals
• Microbiome rebalancing protocols
• Food sensitivity elimination

Once the gut lining heals, symptoms across the entire body improve.

Motility & Digestive Strength Optimization

Your gut cannot heal if motility is sluggish, inconsistent, or dysregulated.

We address:

• Vagus nerve dysfunction
• Post-infection motility disorders
• Chronic constipation or slow transit
• Stress-induced GI symptoms

Treatments include:

• Acupuncture
• Nervous system regulation
• Prokinetic support
• Breathwork & vagal retraining
• Bioenergetic therapies

→ Bioenergetic & Nervous System Therapies

Detoxification & Liver Support for Gut Balance

The liver and gut work together. When detox pathways are overwhelmed, digestive symptoms become persistent and harder to resolve.

Common contributors may include:

• Mold toxicity
• Lyme & co-infections
• Heavy metals
• Environmental toxins
• Endocrine disruptors

→ Detoxification & Environmental Medicine

Hormone–Gut Axis Balancing

Hormonal fluctuations directly impact:

• Bloating
• Motility
• Microbiome diversity
• Inflammation
• Stress resilience

Balancing hormones often improves chronic digestive patterns.

→ Hormone & Metabolic Optimization

Nutrition & Lifestyle Personalization

Your nutrition plan is customized to your physiology and diagnosis. Options include:

• Anti-inflammatory gut-healing protocols
• Low FODMAP (when indicated)
• Anti-candida / anti-microbial diets
• Histamine-friendly nutrition
• Blood sugar stabilization
• Stress and sleep optimization

Nutrition becomes a powerful therapeutic tool when matched to your biology.

Common Symptoms of Gut Imbalance

• Bloating (post-meal or constant)
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Gas, burping, indigestion
• Nausea or early fullness
• Reflux or burning
• Food sensitivities
• Brain fog, fatigue, irritability
• Skin issues (eczema, acne, hives, psoriasis)
• Hormonal symptoms
• Autoimmune activation

Gut Health Impacts Every System

When the gut heals, patients commonly experience improvements in:

• Energy
• Mood
• Stress resilience
• Cognitive clarity
• Immune balance
• Skin
• Hormone regulation
• Inflammation

Gut health is foundational medicine.

Begin Your Gut Healing Journey

You don’t have to live with discomfort after meals, unpredictable digestion, or symptoms that no provider has been able to explain. Your gut holds the key to your energy, hormones, immune function, and long-term resilience — and with the right evaluation, the path forward becomes clear.

Ready to identify the root cause of your digestive symptoms and restore balance from the inside out?

Related Services

→ Advanced Functional Lab Testing
→ Detoxification & Environmental Medicine
→ Immune Health & Autoimmune Support

Frequently Asked Questions About Gut Health, IBS & SIBO

1. What causes IBS, SIBO, or chronic bloating?

Common underlying causes include dysbiosis, food sensitivities, low stomach acid, leaky gut, stress, vagus nerve dysfunction, impaired motility, chronic infections, mold exposure, and inflammatory triggers. Targeted functional testing can help clarify likely root causes and guide a personalized plan.

2. What is the difference between SIBO and IBS?

SIBO is a specific condition involving bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine.
IBS is a broader diagnosis describing digestive symptoms without identifying the cause.
Many IBS cases are actually undiagnosed SIBO — which is why testing is so important.

3. Can gut issues cause fatigue, anxiety, or brain fog?

Yes. The gut-brain axis directly affects mood, cognition, energy, and emotional regulation through the vagus nerve, inflammatory pathways, neurotransmitter production, and metabolic function. Treating the gut often improves neurological and mood-related symptoms.

4. How long does it take to heal the gut?

Many patients notice improvement within several weeks, while more complex cases may require several months.
More complex cases — such as recurring SIBO, mold-related digestive issues, chronic infections, or autoimmune gut patterns — may require deeper healing over several months.

5. Do you treat Candida or fungal overgrowth?

Yes. We use functional testing to confirm overgrowth and create targeted antifungal herbal protocols paired with dietary adjustments, microbiome restoration, and inflammation reduction.

6. Can you help with reflux or GERD without medication?

Often, yes. Reflux is frequently caused by factors such as low stomach acid, microbial imbalance, poor motility, delayed stomach emptying, or dietary triggers. Addressing the root cause can significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms without long-term medication.

7. Do you offer telemedicine for GI issues?

Yes. Functional gut evaluation, advanced testing, and personalized treatment planning are fully available via telemedicine, making care accessible no matter where you live.

8. Why do gut symptoms keep coming back after treatment?

Recurring symptoms often indicate that an upstream driver was missed or not fully addressed. Common reasons include unresolved motility issues, ongoing stress or nervous system dysregulation, hidden infections, mold exposure, food reactions, or inadequate microbiome restoration. Sustainable gut healing requires addressing both triggers and terrain.

9. Is SIBO caused by stress or the nervous system?

Yes. The nervous system plays a critical role in gut motility and digestion. Chronic stress, vagus nerve dysfunction, and sympathetic dominance can slow motility, impair digestive secretions, and increase the risk of bacterial overgrowth. Nervous system regulation is often essential for lasting SIBO resolution.

10. Can mold exposure affect gut health?

Yes. Mold toxins can disrupt the gut lining, alter the microbiome, impair immune tolerance, and worsen inflammation. In some patients, mold exposure is a primary driver of chronic bloating, food reactions, and treatment-resistant GI symptoms.

11. Do gut issues affect hormone balance?

Yes. The gut plays a major role in hormone metabolism, estrogen clearance, thyroid conversion, cortisol regulation, and blood sugar stability. Gut dysfunction can contribute to PMS, irregular cycles, perimenopause symptoms, fatigue, and metabolic imbalance.

12. Do I need antibiotics to treat SIBO or gut infections?

No. Antibiotics are not required and are generally avoided in our approach. They can significantly disrupt beneficial gut bacteria, weaken microbiome diversity, and increase the risk of recurrence and long-term digestive dysfunction.

Treatment is individualized and focuses on addressing the root causes of overgrowth rather than suppressing microbes indiscriminately. This typically includes targeted herbal antimicrobials, dietary strategies, motility support, nervous system regulation, and microbiome rebuilding. The goal is to restore balance, resilience, and proper gut function without creating further disruption.

13. How do you prevent gut treatment from worsening symptoms?

Treatment is paced and sequenced carefully. We prioritize nervous system regulation and digestive support before introducing antimicrobial or antifungal therapies. This minimizes die-off reactions, flares, and setbacks while improving tolerance.

14. Can gut healing improve food sensitivities?

Yes. Many food sensitivities are driven by intestinal permeability, immune activation, and microbiome imbalance rather than permanent intolerance. As the gut lining heals and immune regulation improves, food tolerance often expands.

15. What role does the microbiome play in immune and inflammatory conditions?

The gut microbiome helps regulate immune balance and inflammatory signaling. When the microbiome is disrupted, immune activation and chronic inflammation are more likely. Supporting microbiome health can improve immune resilience and reduce inflammatory symptoms.

16. Can gut dysfunction contribute to skin conditions like eczema or acne?

Yes. Gut dysfunction can increase systemic inflammation, alter immune responses, and impair nutrient absorption, all of which may contribute to inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and hives. Improving gut health often supports clearer, more stable skin.

17. How does intestinal permeability affect chronic illness and inflammation?

Increased intestinal permeability allows inflammatory compounds and immune triggers to enter circulation, contributing to systemic inflammation and multi-system symptoms involving the gut, skin, hormones, joints, and nervous system.