Understanding IBS: A Naturopathic Perspective on Gut Health
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common yet often misunderstood condition that affects approximately 10–12% of New Zealanders. It’s especially prevalent among women and those aged 20 to 50, though in clinic I see a wide range of individuals, including men and older clients who have been navigating gut health challenges for decades.
IBS is characterised by ongoing abdominal pain and altered stool form or frequency. In practice I see constipation, diarrhea or a mix, pain, bloating, fatigue, and food sensitivities.I often see these symptoms alongside skin conditions like eczema, or struggles with anxiety, sleep and brain fog. IBS is increasingly recognised in the scientific community not just as a digestive issue, but as a condition involving the gut–brain axis, the communication network between your gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.
So What Does a Diagnosis of IBS Actually Mean?
IBS is what we call a diagnosis of exclusion. That means it’s typically given only after other conditions, such as coeliac disease, Crohn’s, ulcerative colitis, or gastrointestinal infections, have been ruled out. While this process is clinically important, it doesn’t offer much by way of resolution, strategy, or hope.
For many of my clients, the diagnosis feels vague and like a door slamming in their face. It doesn’t explain why symptoms are happening, only that no structural disease has been found. In some cases, people are sent away with generic dietary advice or a prescription for antidepressants, without deeper investigation or support. But the reality is they’ve been dealing with their symptoms for years. They know that specific things cause them to feel unwell, and finding these triggers and removing them is the only strategy they have to deal with the symptoms. Often it occupies a huge amount of mental energy, and I see it limit peoples with ever shrinking boundaries, that exclude social events, work opportunities, travel, and freedom.
What the Latest Research Is Telling Us
Recent studies are shedding light on the complexity of IBS. A 2025 review in Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology describes IBS as a multifactorial condition involving:
Gut microbiome imbalance (dysbiosis)
Visceral hypersensitivity (heightened pain response in the gut)
Immune system activation
Central nervous system dysregulation
Seeing this understanding in the medical literature is a breath of fresh air. In naturopathic care, we don’t treat IBS as a fixed diagnosis. Instead, we explore what’s driving your symptoms, because they will be different for each client. Whether it’s stress, food sensitivities, microbiome imbalance, hormonal shifts, or nervous system strain, we will direct your care from multiple directions.
Most of my clients with an IBS diagnosis have worked with numerous health professionals and been on a long journey that led them to their current point of self management. They've usually spent long hours on the internet, in articles, forums and various sales pages for the perfect protocol. When I’m working with a client with IBS I see the diagnosis as a starting point for understanding what the body is trying to communicate.
Taking time in our first consultation to understand the complexity of what is happening, to identify patterns and to build a strategy together is the foundation for results
These are some of the ways I support clients navigating IBS in my clinic:
Prescription herbal medicine and nutriceuticals to improve the gut integrity and mucosal lining.
Gut–brain regulation with adaptogenic and nervine herbal medicines alongside nervous system regulation techniques.
Microbiome support using research informed, targeted prebiotics, probiotics.
Nutritional repletion to restore key cofactors for healing, digestion and nervous system function.
Phased dietary support, including elimination and reintroduction plans that rebuild tolerance without long-term restriction.
Focus on root cause understanding of what optimal digestion looks like and needs.
While IBS doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all cure, clients typically experience significant relief within weeks of starting a personalised naturopathic Treatment Plan. Improvements in bloating, bowel regularity, and energy are common, especially when emotional wellbeing is supported alongside physical healing.
At New Leaf Health Clinic, we combine naturopathy, nutrition, and herbal medicine to help you feel comfortable, confident, and in control of your digestion again. Whether you’ve been recently diagnosed or have been living with symptoms for years, we’re here to listen, investigate, and guide you toward lasting relief.
