Natural Remedies for SIBO

Alternatives to Antibiotics for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth

Olive leaf extract

Verywell / Anastasia Tretiak

Bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine (SIBO) is usually treated with antibiotics, but some alternative healthcare practitioners also recommend trying natural remedies such as a low carbohydrate diet, herbal remedies, and probiotics.

This article will discuss bacterial overgrowth and natural ways to treat it. It also provides a brief overview of the causes of bacterial overgrowth as well as the symptoms you may experience.

What Is SIBO?

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is a condition that may affect a person for years without causing obvious symptoms. The condition is associated with chronic digestive problems. Some people are told they have irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) instead of bacterial overgrowth.

The small intestine normally contains relatively small numbers of bacteria. However, some alternative medicine healthcare providers believe that certain things may cause too much bacteria to grow inside you, such as:

  • Decreased motility (movement) in the small intestine caused by excess dietary sugar, chronic stress, and conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and scleroderma
  • Hypochlorhydria caused by a decreased amount of stomach acid in the body
  • Structural abnormalities in the small intestine caused by gastric bypass surgery, small intestinal diverticula, intestinal obstruction, and Crohn's disease fistula (a connection between the intestine and the skin or body cavity)

Other possible causes include immune deficiency, a lack of pancreatic enzymes, stress, insufficient dietary fiber, and certain medications such as steroids, antibiotics, and birth control pills.

Symptoms

Having too much bacteria in the small intestine may make it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients. It may lead to problems digesting and absorbing fat and carbohydrates. This results in carbohydrate fermentation in the intestines and the following:

According to alternative medicine healthcare providers, sweets and starchy foods cause the worst symptoms.

Toxic metabolic substances produced by bacteria may injure cells inside the intestine and interfere with absorption. This results in nutrient deficiencies, food allergies and intolerances, and impaired digestive enzyme activity.

If you are experiencing symptoms, talk with your healthcare provider. Some conditions can look like SIBO, so it is important not to self-diagnose. If you try to self-treat, delay, or avoid going to a healthcare provider, you can harm your health.

How to Treat SIBO Naturally

Due to a lack of research, not much is known about this condition. While some healthcare providers may prescribe antimicrobial drugs, not all of them recognize the condition.

Alternative healthcare practitioners recommend a range of lifestyle changes and remedies for treating SIBO.

Follow a Low Carbohydrate Diet

During treatment, alternative medicine healthcare providers usually recommend going on a diet that limits the amount of sweet and starchy foods you eat. One such diet is the Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD).

This diet restricts grains, starchy vegetables, and some legumes. It was created to treat digestive disorders such as bacterial overgrowth, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis.

Take Herbal Supplements

Enteric-coated peppermint oil is one of the more common supplements for small intestine bacterial overgrowth. The course of treatment is usually one to six months.

A typical dose of enteric-coated peppermint oil is one to two capsules three times a day. It should be taken in between meals with a glass of water.

Side effects can include:

  • Heartburn
  • Rectal burning
  • Minty burping

Other herbal antimicrobials used to treat bacterial overgrowth may include:

Can apple cider vinegar get rid of SIBO?

Some people recommend apple cider vinegar as a natural remedy for SIBO. To date, however, there is little scientific evidence that this remedy is effective.

Take Probiotics

Adding back good bacteria is considered important in the treatment of SIBO. The good bacteria present in probiotics are intended to replace the ones that cause SIBO. Some recommended probiotics include:

  • Lactobacillus plantarum 
  • Lactobacillus GG
  • Bacillus indicus
  • Lactobacillus casei
  • Saccharomyces boulardii
  • Bifidus lactis 

Take Digestive Enzymes

These supplements can support the body's digestive enzymes until function is restored. They should be taken before meals. 

Digestive enzymes may be prescribed or purchased over the counter. They might contain the following ingredients:

  • Amylase
  • Lipase
  • Protease
  • Lactase

Eat Medium-Chain Triglycerides

Medium-chain triglycerides are fats that are absorbed directly without the need for digestive enzymes. These fats are often recommended for people with bacterial overgrowth or any type of malabsorption. Some examples include:

  • Coconut oil
  • Dairy fat
  • Palm oil

Take Nutritional Supplements

People with bacterial overgrowth are usually deficient in certain vitamins such as B12, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, and vitamins A, D, E, and K.

What antibiotics treat SIBO?

SIBO can be treated with Xifaxan (rifaximin), a broad-spectrum antibiotic that is often used for bacterial infections in the gastrointestinal tract.

Medical treatment of SIBO will also address underlying medical conditions and nutritional deficiencies.

Summary

Bacterial overgrowth is a condition that may be present for a long time before causing any symptoms. When they appear, symptoms may include gas, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Sticking to a low-carb diet as well as taking probiotics and herbal supplements may help with this problem. Some people experience relief when they follow a specific carbohydrate diet.

Since many people with bacterial overgrowth have vitamin deficiencies, a healthcare provider may recommend that you supplement your diet with vitamin B12, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and copper, as well as vitamins A, D, E, and K.

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Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Cathy Wong

By Cathy Wong
Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health.