Bloating, IBS & gut issues that won’t settle?

Yes. A naturopath takes a root-cause approach to IBS, looking beyond symptom management to identify drivers like gut dysbiosis, food sensitivities, SIBO, stress, or gut-brain axis disruption. Treatment is personalised and may include dietary changes, herbal medicine, and targeted supplementation.

IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a diagnosis of exclusion — a collection of symptoms without a single identified cause. SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) is a specific condition where bacteria overpopulate the small intestine. SIBO can cause IBS-like symptoms, and testing can determine whether it's a factor for you.

Most clients start with an initial consultation, followed by 2–4 follow-up appointments depending on the complexity of the case. Functional testing may be recommended to get clearer answers faster.

Yes. Wholme offers gut health consultations fully online via Zoom, available to women across Australia. In-person appointments are also available at our Frenchs Forest clinic in Sydney's Northern Beaches.

Depending on your symptoms, testing may include a comprehensive stool analysis, breath testing for SIBO, food sensitivity testing, or organic acids testing. Your naturopath will recommend only the tests that are genuinely useful for your situation.

Yes - and this connection is one of the most under appreciated aspects of digestive health. Your gut produces around 90% of your body's serotonin and plays a central role in oestrogen metabolism through a process involving gut bacteria called the estrobolome. When the gut microbiome is disrupted, it can contribute to hormonal imbalances, PMS, perimenopausal symptoms, acne, and low mood. Addressing gut health is often a core part of supporting hormones and skin - not a separate issue.

Bloating has many potential causes - bacterial overgrowth (including SIBO), food intolerances, sluggish motility, low stomach acid, dysbiosis, or stress-driven nervous system changes affecting digestion. A naturopath identifies which of these is most likely driving your symptoms through history-taking and, where appropriate, functional testing. Treatment is targeted to the cause rather than applying a blanket approach, which is why it tends to be more effective for people who've tried elimination diets or probiotics without lasting results.

Yes. Naturopathic gut health care draws on both traditional herbal medicine and contemporary clinical research. Approaches like low-FODMAP dietary modification, specific probiotic strains for IBS and SIBO, herbal antimicrobials, and digestive enzymes all have supporting clinical evidence. At Wholme, treatment recommendations are informed by current research alongside your individual presentation - not a one-size protocol.

A gut health naturopath takes a root-cause approach to digestive complaints, investigating the underlying drivers of symptoms like bloating, constipation, IBS, reflux and food sensitivities rather than managing them in isolation. Using functional gut testing, dietary assessment and targeted natural therapies, the goal is to restore how your gut actually functions, not just reduce symptoms temporarily.

A microbiome test analyses the unique bacterial makeup of your gut from a simple at-home stool sample. Your results show which beneficial bacteria you have, which are missing or out of balance, and how your gut environment may be contributing to symptoms like bloating, irregular bowels, fatigue or digestive discomfort. We then review your results together and build a personalised plan, which may include targeted probiotics, dietary changes and evidence-based supplements.