LISTEN TO THE PODCAST – Also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts
When I first learned about hypothyroidism in pharmacy school, it seemed simple: take one medication, and you’re done. But after living with Hashimoto’s, I realized the gut plays a much bigger role than I was ever taught. One common issue I’ve seen again and again in my Hashimoto’s clients is SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth), and today’s episode unpacks the “why” behind it all.
In this episode, I interview Dr. Rajsree Nambudripad, who is board-certified in internal medicine and integrative holistic medicine, and founder of OC Integrative Medicine in Orange County, California. After personally overcoming SIBO herself, she’s developed a proven four-phase protocol to address it from the root.
We talk about the connections between SIBO and Hashimoto’s, the difference between low and high stomach acid, the role of thyroid hormones in motility, and why you can’t fix SIBO with antibiotics or elimination diets alone.
If you’ve felt trapped by bloating, food fears, or “IBS” symptoms that never quite resolve, this episode will give you clarity and hope.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
- Why so many thyroid patients have SIBO. Up to 50% of people with hypothyroidism test positive for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Slower gut motility, low stomach acid, and reduced bile and enzyme output make it easier for bacteria to overgrow in the small intestine – and this is why so many thyroid patients struggle with bloating, reflux, and food reactions.
- How SIBO mimics other gut issues. Bloating, food sensitivities, histamine intolerance, and acid reflux often stem from SIBO, but the underlying issue isn’t “too much acid” or “bad foods” – it’s misplaced bacteria in the small intestine damaging enzymes and inhibiting absorption.
- Dr. Rajsree’s four-step SIBO protocol. Discover the clear, phased protocol that supports motility, reduces gas and irritation, calms inflammation, and gently clears the overgrowth without overwhelming your system.
- Why conventional SIBO treatments fall short. Antibiotics and low-FODMAP diets may help temporarily, but without fixing motility and healing the gut lining, symptoms almost always return. A comprehensive approach reduces relapse and supports long-term gut health.
- The thyroid-SIBO connection. Low T3 slows the migrating motor complex, the gut’s natural “cleaning wave.” Fine-tuning thyroid medication or even adding a small amount of T3 support can improve motility and make SIBO recovery easier and more effective.
- Why reflux is often caused by too little stomach acid, not too much: Many people with Hashimoto’s actually have low stomach acid levels. Acid-suppressing medications can worsen nutrient deficiencies and create the perfect conditions for SIBO. Supporting digestion with betaine HCl and enzymes often reduces bloating and reflux far more effectively than PPIs.
I’ve got a new book coming out!
Gut issues are so common in autoimmunity and Hashimoto’s, and through my healing journey, I’ve learned so much about healing the gut that I decided to write a book about it! My new book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, is a comprehensive guide that reveals how irritable bowel syndrome is often a catch-all diagnosis that overlooks treatable root causes. It offers a step-by-step approach to help readers understand what’s really driving gut symptoms, and how to create a personalized plan to restore gut health and overall wellness. The book is available for preorder here and will be released on March 17, 2026!
Guest Resources / Connect with Dr. Rajsree Nambudripad
- Check out Dr. Rajsree’s Herbal Protocol for SIBO on YouTube
- Get Dr. Rajsree’s Herbal Protocol for SIBO – Use code SIBO15 to get 15% off your order!
- Learn more at the OC Integrative Medicine website
- Follow Dr. Nambudripad on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
Supplements We Discussed
- OC Integrative Medicine Motility Activator – Ginger and artichoke blend supporting gut “cleaning waves.”
- Magnesium – For relaxation, bowel regularity, and motility. Consider Rootcology Magnesium Citrate Powder or OC Integrative Medicine Essential Magnesium.
- Digestive Enzymes + Betaine HCl with Pepsin – To restore proper stomach acid and digestion. Consider Rootcology Betaine with Pepsin, or OC Integrative Medicine Digestive Enzyme Pro and Betaine & Pepsin.
- Spore-based Probiotics with IgG – Reduce inflammation and rebalance gut immunity. Consider Rootcology Spore Flora or OC Integrative Medicine Spore Probiotics IgG.
- Herbal Antimicrobials – Consider berberine, oregano oil, and allicin for bacterial and fungal overgrowths. Consider Rootcology’s Berberine, Oil of Oregano, and Garlic Oil. You may also consider OC Integrative Medicine Berberine Pro, Oregano Oil, and Allicidin.
- Butyrate – Supports gut lining repair and immune balance. Consider Rootcology Butyrate Balance.
- S. Boulardii – Antifungal probiotic that helps balance the microbiome – consider Rootcology S. Boulardii.
Other Tools and Resources
- SIBO 3-Hour Lactulose Breath Test – Detects hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen sulfide SIBO types.
- Genova GI Effects Comprehensive Stool Profile – To assess microbiome diversity, inflammation, and pathogens.
- Low-FODMAP & Low-Lectin Diet (temporary) – For short-term symptom relief while treating root causes.
- Meal Spacing (4 to 5 hours) – Supports the migrating motor complex and prevents relapse.
- Aloe vera and DGL licorice – For reflux and gut lining support. Consider Rootcology Aloe, Rootcology HP Restore, Rootcology Gut R&R, and DGL Plus from Pure Encapsulations.
- Prokinetics – Ginger-based options to maintain long-term results.
- Podcast episode 68: Remission of SIBO, Crohn’s, IBS, and IBD in Just Weeks with Debbie Steinbock
- NAET (Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques) – A non-invasive technique that reverses allergies by using acupressure (gentle pressure on acupuncture points) in conjunction with exposure to one’s allergen. (Read more about NAET in this article.)
Books and Articles About Gut & Thyroid Health
- IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome by Dr. Izabella Wentz. Many people with thyroid disease and Hashimoto’s also have gut issues such as SIBO and IBS, which can be root causes and symptoms of autoimmunity. This comprehensive guide dives deep into how irritable bowel syndrome is often a catch-all diagnosis that overlooks treatable root causes. It offers a step-by-step approach to help readers understand what’s really driving gut symptoms, and how to create a personalized plan to restore gut health and overall wellness. The book is available for preorder now and will be released on March 17th, 2026!
- Say Good-Bye to Illness: NAET – A Revolutionary Treatment for Allergies and Allergy-Related Conditions – Book by Devi S. Nambudripad
- Could SIBO Be Preventing Your Remission from Hashimoto’s?
- Got Acid Reflux? And Hashimoto’s?
- The Low FODMAP Diet for SIBO, IBS and Hashimoto’s
- Studies on Magnesium and Thyroid Health
- Solutions for Constipation Relief
- Gut Microbiome Dysbiosis and Hashimoto’s
- The Fundamental Gut Health Protocol
- The Best Probiotics for Hashimoto’s
- Using S. Boulardii for Hashimoto’s
- How to Use the GI-MAP Test to Find Your Root Cause
- How Betaine with Pepsin Can Help with Hashimoto’s
- 6 Root Causes Behind Leaky Gut and Autoimmunity
- How Aloe Vera Supports Thyroid Health
Get the Full Episode Transcript
Let’s Connect!
- Follow me on Instagram: @izabellawentzpharmd
- Get my FREE weekly thyroid & gut health newsletter: Sign up here
- Subscribe & Review: If you loved this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate it on Spotify!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments! 🙂
About Our Host
Dr. Izabella Wentz
Dr. Izabella Wentz is a compassionate, innovative, solution-focused integrative pharmacist dedicated to finding the root causes of chronic health conditions. Her passion stems from her own diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 2009, following a decade of debilitating symptoms.
Dr. Izabella Wentz has written several best-selling books, including the New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis: Lifestyle Interventions for Finding and Treating the Root Cause, the protocol-based #1 New York Times bestseller Hashimoto’s Protocol: A 90-Day Plan for Reversing Thyroid Symptoms and Getting Your Life Back, the Wall Street Journal bestseller Hashimoto’s Food Pharmacology: Nutrition Protocols and Healing Recipes to Take Charge of Your Thyroid Health, and Adrenal Transformation Protocol. Her latest book, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, will be released on March 17, 2026, and is available for pre-order here.
Thyroid Pharmacist Blog
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Rootcology
About Our Guest
Dr. Rajsree Nambudripad, MD is a practicing physician and founder of OC Integrative Medicine in Fullerton, California. She is board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Integrative/Holistic Medicine.
Dr. Nambudripad graduated at the top of her class from Northeastern Ohio Medical University, and completed her prestigious Internal Medicine residency at Northwestern University in Chicago. Her advanced training includes conventional gastroenterology at UC Irvine and functional gastroenterology through the Institute for Functional Medicine.
As a passionate advocate for preventative medicine, Dr. Nambudripad empowers her patients to optimize their health through tailored dietary changes, targeted nutritional supplementation, hormone optimization, and sustainable lifestyle habits. Her unique blend of cutting-edge science and holistic strategies has made her a sought-after expert in her field.
A committed educator, Dr. Nambudripad shares her knowledge with a global audience through her growing YouTube channel, which now reaches over 2 million subscribers. She has also been featured as a trusted leader and consultant in major health publications, including USNews & World Report, Orange Coast Magazine, Healthline, and Spectrum TV News. Dr. Nambudripad is a firm believer in using “food as medicine,” and loves inspiring patients and followers with practical, healthy food ideas to transform their well-being.
In recognition of her excellence, Dr. Nambudripad was honored with the Physicians of Excellence Award by the Orange County Medical Association in 2024 and 2025. Her practice has also been celebrated as a top medical clinic in Fullerton, California, for the past five consecutive years.
I love all the info you educate with! Thank you! I feel a bit overwhelmed by it, not knowing where to start with healing my gut, what do do to start. I have a long stort but the short of it is I was diagnosed with Barretts Disease about 6 mos ago and placed on Omeprazole. I feel this may be the wring course. I don’t know where to go or what to do to figure this out. I do have Hashis/hypothyroidism and ss much as I’ve told my doctor I am still abnormal, she is not doing enough to help. Can you guide me in the right direction?
Hi Maria, I’m sorry you’re feeling overwhelmed, many people with Hashimoto’s feel this way at first. While I can’t give medical advice, I can share resources that outline the common first steps I see many people take, such as identifying food triggers, supporting digestion, and addressing nutrient deficiencies. You also may want to consider working with a practitioner familiar with Hashimoto’s and gut health for more personalized guidance. If you’d like, I can share my gut-healing starter resources and practitioner directory. Here are a couple articles that I hope are helpful as well:
THE MANY FACES OF HASHIMOTO’S
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/the-many-faces-of-hashimotos/
WHERE DO I START WITH HASHIMOTO’S?
https://thyroidpharmacist.com/articles/where-do-i-start-with-hashimotos/