SIBO Testing Melbourne
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Understand Your Symptoms & Restore Your Gut
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) can cause bloating, pain and unpredictable digestion.
I’m a Melbourne naturopath specialising in SIBO, IBS and chronic bloating — helping people worldwide find clarity and long-term relief.
What Is SIBO?
SIBO occurs when bacteria overgrow in the small intestine, causing fermentation, gas production and digestive symptoms.
Bacteria have many roles in our health and are vital for keeping us alive and healthy. One thing that they can produce is gas, as a by-product of fermenting the food we eat such as garlic, legumes and apples.
It is these gasses that are being produced too much and in the wrong place that can cause your bloating, burping, farting, distention and a change in bowel movement. It's important to understand that these bacteria are naturally occurring and generally aren't an issue. It's just for those with SIBO, they have migrated up to your small intestine that this causes a problem.
A similar condition, SIFO (Small Intestinal Fungal Overgrowth), occurs when yeast or fungus over grow in this area.
If you’ve tried low FODMAP, probiotics, restrictive diets, or supplements without improvement, SIBO may be the missing link.
What Are the Types of SIBO?
Each requires a different support strategy.
Hydrogen SIBO
Often linked to diarrhoea, urgency and fast motility.
Intestinal Methane Overgrowth (IMO)
Associated with constipation, incomplete evacuation and slow motility. Formally known as methane SIBO
Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) SIBO
Can cause rotten-egg gas, abdominal pain and systemic symptoms.
What Causes SIBO?
SIBO is rarely random. It develops when something affects the movement, environment or function of the digestive system.
Common underlying drivers include:
• slow motility (food moves too slowly)
• food poisoning or gut infections
• low stomach acid
• gallbladder or bile flow issues
• adhesions or abdominal surgeries
• stress-related nerve dysfunction• medications such as PPIs
• mould exposure
• chronic constipation
• post-viral dysmotility
Understanding which drivers apply to you is essential, otherwise relapse is almost guaranteed.This is why SIBO needs structured, step-by-step support, not random supplements or guesswork.
What Are the Symptoms of SIBO?
• Bloating
• Distension
• Gas
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhoea, constipation or both
• Reflux
• Food intolerances
• Nausea
• Fatigue
How Is SIBO Diagnosed?
SIBO is identified using a non-invasive breath test.
The test uses a fermentable sugar solution (usually lactulose — sometimes glucose or fructose) to measure hydrogen and methane gas levels as bacteria ferment the solution inside your small intestine.
What the SIBO breath test can show:
• whether SIBO is present
• what type of SIBO you have
• how severe the overgrowth is
• whether methane-producing organisms are involved
• how quickly fermentation is occurring
What SIBO breath tests cannot detect:
• SIFO (fungal overgrowth)
• parasite infections
• large intestinal microbiome details
• digestive enzyme function
• inflammation
This is why interpretation and clinical context are essential.
Inside Bloated to Body Confident, you’ll learn:
• how SIBO testing works
• when breath testing is appropriate
• when other tests are needed
• how to interpret results
• how to map symptoms to SIBO types
How Do You Treat SIBO?
SIBO treatment has two key phases:
1. Reduce the Overgrowth
Depending on the SIBO type, this may involve:
• herbal antimicrobials and antifungals (if SIFO is present)
• pro-kinetics (motility support)
• specific nutrition strategies
• binders and biofilm disruptors
• occasionally antibiotics when appropriate
2. Address the Root Causes
Otherwise relapse is common. This may include supporting:
• motility
• stomach acid, digestive enzyme support and bile flow
• vagus nerve tone, gut-brain connection and stress + nervous system
• adhesions or structural factors
• infections
Why You Shouldn’t Treat SIBO Alone
Because SIBO has multiple subtypes, layers and causes, it requires correct sequencing — the right treatment, in the right order.
Working with a trained practitioner ensures:.
✓ The right test is used
Breath test selection matters (lactulose vs glucose vs fructose, hydrogen vs methane).
✓ Your SIBO type is understood
Hydrogen, methane, hydrogen sulphide, or combined SIBO each require different treatments.
✓ Treatment is personalised
Some cases need herbal antimicrobials.
Some need motility support.
Some need fungal treatment (SIFO).
Some need digestive support.
✓ The root cause is addressed
SIBO relapse rates are high when the drivers aren’t fixed.
✓ You avoid mistakes that worsen symptoms
The wrong diet, supplement or antimicrobial can sometimes make symptoms worse.
And because SIBO is complex, support should feel structured, calm, and grounded — not confusing or overwhelming.
This is exactly why I created:.