SIBO: An Emotional and Mechanical Battle for Energy

SIBO: An Emotional and Mechanical Battle for Energy

Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is often reduced to a purely mechanical issue—an imbalance of bacteria in the wrong place, leading to bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, and malabsorption. However, emerging research and clinical insights suggest that SIBO is just as much an emotional issue as a mechanical one. 

Throughout my work with SIBO, I emphasise that digestion is an energy-driven process, deeply connected to stress, nervous system regulation, and emotional well-being. Coupled with the insights from GI EcologiX testing, it becomes clear that SIBO is not just about bacteria but the body's ability to generate, distribute, and maintain energy efficiently.

The Mechanical Side of SIBO: The Energy Drain

Digestion is an energy-intensive process. The gut lining constantly regenerates, the migrating motor complex (MMC) sweeps food remnants and bacteria down the digestive tract, and digestive secretions must be produced in response to food intake. When this process is compromised, bacteria proliferate in the small intestine, leading to fermentation, gas production, and inflammation.

Addressing SIBO requires optimising digestive capacity through enzyme support, bile acid regulation, and probiotics. GI EcologiX testing further reveals whether bile flow is sluggish, stomach acid is low, or if pathogenic bacteria are contributing to dysfunction. Mechanically, this paints a clear picture: if the gut lacks the energy to perform these functions, SIBO becomes a chronic issue.

The Emotional Component: Stress, Nervous System & Gut-Brain Axis

However, digestion is not just physical; it is deeply tied to our emotional state. The gut-brain axis connects the digestive tract to the central nervous system, meaning that stress, anxiety, and unresolved trauma can significantly impact gut motility and function. Stress is one of the most significant contributors to digestive disorders, as it impairs the MMC, reduces stomach acid, and alters gut motility—all of which create an environment conducive to bacterial overgrowth.

Stress also depletes the body's energy reserves. Chronic stress diverts energy away from digestion towards the "fight or flight" response, leaving the gut under-resourced. If digestion requires energy and stress depletes energy, then SIBO is, at its core, an energy issue. This explains why some people cannot overcome SIBO with antibiotics or diet alone; unless the nervous system is regulated and stress is managed, the body remains in a state of depletion.

Healing SIBO: A Whole-Body Approach

To truly heal SIBO, both mechanical and emotional factors must be addressed:

• Support digestion: Use some of the following, such as pancreatic enzymes, HCl, extrinsic factor, MMC help, ox bile, Swedish bitters, and bile salts, to enhance the nutrient breakdown and absorption.
• Regulate stress: Incorporate meditation, breathwork, and movement practices like yoga or walking to activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
• Restore gut motility: Prokinetic agents and nervous system regulation can help reactivate the MMC.
• Personalised testing: GI EcologiX testing helps identify the root causes of dysfunction, ensuring a targeted approach.

Ultimately, SIBO is not just a problem of bacterial overgrowth—it is a sign that the body is struggling to generate and allocate energy. Actual resolution remains elusive until both the mechanical and emotional components are addressed.

by Hannah Richards