Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re not feeling like the best version of you. Maybe you:

• Struggle with bloating, cramping, or urgent bathroom trips that disrupt your day
• Have persistent diarrhea or constipation (or alternate between the two)
• Avoid certain foods, but still feel awful after eating
• Have been told “it’s just IBS” and sent on your way
• Are frustrated by quick fixes that never seem to work
• Worry that you’ll never get to the root of what’s really going on
• Are tired of guessing, Googling, and managing symptoms without real answers

If you’re anything like me, or the thousands of people I have supported over the last decade, conventional medicine has offered you very little hope!

You may have heard that these symptoms are “normal” or “just in your head,” but let me clarify: They are not “normal.” They are common.

Just because they are common, it does not mean that they are normal!

I want to assure you that you are not crazy, the symptoms are not just “in your head,” and you’ve come to the right place.

My story with IBS starts with ramen noodles covered in soy sauce. I was a graduate student, and this was my go-to meal to fuel my late-night study sessions. 

This particular night, I went to bed around 2 a.m., feeling very confident about my ability to “ace” the exam I had been studying for all day and evening.

But alas my plans were foiled, as I was awakened around 4 a.m. with the worst kind of stomach cramping. I crawled out of bed and nearly doubled over in pain, before I made my way to the bathroom and experienced an excruciating bout of explosive diarrhea.

It was the first of many that late night, and I was still running back and forth between the bathroom and my bed when it came time to drive to my exam.

I apologize for the TMI (too much information) here, but you did express interest in a book about IBS, so I imagine you already had an idea I may be using some potty language. 🙂

I thought my digestive distress would be a one-time thing, perhaps due to food poisoning, but unfortunately, the symptoms kept coming back, and I started regularly struggling with digestive issues.

Soon thereafter, I was diagnosed with IBS.

I was given a prescription for Levsin® (hyoscyamine), an antispasmodic, anticholinergic drug that works by blocking the effects of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to slow down digestive secretions and gut motility to reduce explosive stools. At first, I was excited as it seemed to work... But unfortunately, I soon realized this old school drug had many side effects.

While I no longer experienced diarrhea with this medication, I did start experiencing constipation. I also experienced dry eyes, dry mouth, and dizziness that impacted my everyday life.

And so began my journey of digging for the root cause of my digestive issues. For me, that looked like removing certain foods from my diet, resolving a gut infection, and addressing my thyroid health (I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s a few years after my initial IBS diagnosis).

Along the way, I learned that what’s often labeled as “IBS” is often a sign of something deeper. Your symptoms may be caused by a different medically identifiable, treatable, and often testable condition, such as celiac disease, SIBO, or IBD. 

In other cases, your symptoms may be caused by conditions that have not yet been recognized by conventional medicine but are largely known in functional medicine and natural medicine circles, such as enzyme deficiencies, protozoal infections, and bacterial imbalance in the gut.

I hope that this book helps you recognize various triggers, so you can find the most helpful approach to help you heal and say goodbye to your digestive symptoms and potentially even prevent or reverse an autoimmune diagnosis. 

I’m so glad that you are here, and I hope this book helps you on your healing journey!

Inside this book, you’ll discover how to:

• Understand what normal digestion really looks like
• Identify potential root causes behind IBS symptoms
• Explore testing options – from gluten intolerance and SIBO to enzyme function and triggering infections
• Remove reactive foods and triggers with targeted nutrition strategies 
• Restore microbial balance
• Rebuild digestive function with tailored supplements and lifestyle shifts
• Manage symptoms gently while you work toward lasting healing

Furthermore, because all disease begins in the gut, this book will teach you how to get not just IBS into remission, but the guidance in this book will also provide solutions to various additional chronic health conditions, including Hashimoto’s and autoimmune disease. 

There are three parts in this book: Understanding IBS and the Root Cause Approach, The Root Causes, and Creating Your Healing Plan.

You’ll walk away with a new understanding of the driving factors behind IBS, a healing roadmap, and protocols for specific symptoms you may be experiencing, so that you can start feeling better now.

The root causes we’ll explore include:

• Dietary Triggers
• Digestion and Digestive Enzymes
• Depletions
• Deficiency of Beneficial Bacteria, Excess Pathogenic Bacteria
• Intestinal Permeability
• Intestinal Overgrowth
• Gut Infections
• Alterations in Stress Hormones
• Thyroid Hormones and Autoimmunity
• Inflammation and IBD
• Toxins and Chemical Triggers

I also include extensive solution guides for specific symptoms, including acid reflux, bloating, cramping, stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea, plus guides on how to do an elimination diet, how to decode your poop, and the tests that will be most helpful in identifying your unique root causes.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by conflicting advice, endless food restrictions, or vague diagnoses, IBS: Finding and Treating the Root Cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome is the clarity you’ve been searching for. This isn’t just another book about managing IBS – it’s a practical, empowering roadmap that helps you understand your body and work with it to heal from the inside out.

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been struggling for years, this book will walk you through the exact steps to identify what’s driving your symptoms and how to address those root causes with confidence. You'll learn how to work smarter, not harder, using the latest research and real-world strategies that actually make a difference.

This is more than symptom relief. It’s about reclaiming your energy, your confidence, and your life.