There’s no set timeline for healing SIBO, as recovery depends on the severity of the condition, your overall health, and how consistently you follow your treatment plan. Most people begin to see improvement within a few months, while full recovery can take up to a year.
Lasting results come from addressing the root causes, such as poor gut motility, diet, and stress, rather than relying on antibiotics alone. Working with a Functional Medicine Practitioner at IBS Clinics provides the guidance and personalised support needed to rebuild a healthy microbiome and achieve long-term digestive balance. This can either be done via our private consultation process or through our new online course to resolve SIBO at home.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO, occurs when bacteria that normally live in the large intestine begin to multiply in the small intestine instead. This imbalance can cause a range of uncomfortable symptoms, including bloating, abdominal pain, wind, diarrhoea, constipation, and fatigue after eating. For many people, these symptoms can persist for years, often flaring up without a clear reason.
If you have ruled out other possible gut health conditions, such as IBD and coeliac disease, and are wondering whether SIBO could be the cause of your gut symptoms, you can order a quick and non-invasive SIBO test in the UK at IBS Clinics for a definitive answer.
It’s understandable if those living with SIBO want relief quickly. The condition can be frustrating, unpredictable, and disruptive. But true recovery rarely comes from a single course of treatment. Quick fixes, such as antibiotics, can sometimes offer short-term relief, yet without addressing what caused the imbalance in the first place, symptoms often return.
At IBS Clinics, we take a different approach. Led by a qualified nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner, our focus is on uncovering and addressing the root causes of SIBO through a holistic, evidence-based plan that supports lasting digestive health. Healing the gut takes time, consistency, and collaboration, but with the right framework and support, it’s absolutely achievable.
Understanding SIBO & Why It Happens
SIBO develops when bacteria that should stay in the large intestine begin to grow in the small intestine, where they don’t belong. The small intestine is designed to absorb nutrients, not host large colonies of bacteria. When this balance is disrupted, bacteria ferment food too early in the digestive process, leading to bloating, discomfort, and changes in bowel habits (1).
There are several reasons why this happens. One key factor is slow gut motility, where the muscles of the small intestine fail to move food along efficiently. This allows bacteria to linger and multiply. Research shows that normal intestinal movement acts as a defence mechanism against bacterial overgrowth, so when this process is impaired, SIBO can develop (2).
Low stomach acid is another contributor. Stomach acid helps to control bacterial levels in the upper digestive tract. When acid production is reduced (a condition known as hypochlorhydria) bacteria are more likely to survive and colonise the small intestine (3,4).
Other risk factors include stress, which can alter gut motility and immune function (5), and certain medications such as antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), or opioids. These drugs can change the gut’s natural environment, making bacterial overgrowth more likely (6,7). Dietary patterns also play a role: a diet high in refined carbohydrates and low in fibre can feed bacterial imbalance, while a history of gut infections or existing digestive disorders such as IBS may set the stage for SIBO to develop (1,2).
SIBO is rarely caused by one single issue. It usually develops when several factors combine to disturb the natural rhythm of the gut. Unless those underlying issues are identified and corrected, the bacterial overgrowth is likely to return even after a successful round of treatment.
The Myth of a Quick Fix
A specialised antibiotic called Rifaximin can temporarily reduce bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, and in some cases, can provide short-term relief from symptoms like bloating and discomfort. However, antibiotics rarely solve the problem completely as they do not correct the underlying causes that allowed the imbalance to occur in the first place, such as slow motility, low stomach acid, or microbiome disruption (1,2,8).
In the UK, many doctors are still unfamiliar with Rifaximin as a treatment option for SIBO, and it may not be routinely prescribed outside of specialist NHS gastroenterology departments. This can leave patients without clear guidance or follow-up support after treatment. For more about the limitations of NHS diagnosis and treatment of SIBO, take a look at our article SIBO NHS.
Even when antibiotics are effective, recurrence rates remain high. Studies show that around 40% of people experience SIBO again within nine months of antibiotic therapy (9). This happens because the deeper issues, like impaired digestion, stress, or dietary imbalance, have not been addressed.
Repeated or unnecessary antibiotic use can also make matters worse. Antibiotics can disrupt the gut microbiome, damaging the delicate balance of beneficial bacteria that protect against further overgrowth (10). This can create a cycle where symptoms improve temporarily but return stronger each time.
Functional medicine takes a different view. Rather than relying solely on medication, it looks at how to rebalance the gut by supporting healthy digestion, restoring motility, rebuilding the microbiome, and identifying lifestyle factors that keep symptoms from returning.
Why Root Cause Plans Take Time
Recovering from SIBO isn’t a quick process because true healing means more than just getting rid of bacteria. It’s about retraining the gut, restoring balance, and giving your digestive system the support it needs to work properly again.
When the gut has been under strain for a long time, the muscles that move food through the intestines often need time to strengthen. The microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your gut) also needs to be gently rebuilt. Supporting digestion, improving motility, and calming inflammation all take consistency, not short bursts of treatment.
This process can take several months, sometimes longer, depending on the severity of your SIBO, your lifestyle, and how well your body responds. Progress isn’t always linear, as there can be small setbacks along the way. But every step helps your body move closer to lasting balance.
It’s natural to want fast results, especially when symptoms are uncomfortable. But patience really is key here. Addressing the root causes takes time, and the changes you make need to be sustainable. By committing to the process and making gradual adjustments, you give your gut the best chance to recover fully, not just for now, but for good.
What Happens If Root Causes Aren’t Addressed
When SIBO is treated only at the surface, it almost always comes back. Antibiotics or restrictive diets might calm symptoms for a while, but if the underlying issues that caused the imbalance remain, the relief is temporary.
Many people find themselves stuck in a cycle of improvement and relapse, feeling better for a few weeks or months, only for bloating, pain, or irregular digestion to return. Over time, this repeated flare-and-fix pattern can wear down the body and confidence alike.
Ignoring the root causes can also lead to other long-term problms. Persistent SIBO can make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients properly, sometimes resulting in fatigue, low energy, or deficiencies in vitamins such as B12 and iron. Ongoing inflammation may also affect the gut’s protective lining, leaving it more sensitive and reactive to certain foods.
Without addressing key factors such as gut motility, diet, and stress, the digestive system never fully recovers its rhythm. Each recurrence tends to become harder to manage because the gut microbiome becomes more fragile and less resilient.
The good news is that with the right guidance and a comprehensive, structured plan, this cycle can be broken. By addressing the root causes and not just the bacteria, long-term stability becomes possible.
What a Holistic Support Plan Looks Like
There’s no single support plan that works for every person with SIBO, because the condition itself can be caused and maintained by many different factors. What triggers overgrowth in one person might be completely different in another. That’s why a Functional Medicine approach focuses on personalisation. Each plan is designed around the individual, their symptoms, and the underlying causes uncovered during assessment.
While no two recovery journeys are identical, a typical SIBO support plan follows a structured sequence:
Step 1: Assessment and Testing
Your Functional Medicine Practitioner begins with a thorough review of your health history, diet, and lifestyle. Breath testing, stool analysis, and other laboratory assessments may be used to understand what’s happening in your gut. The goal is to identify the specific type of bacterial imbalance, along with any contributing factors such as stress, medication use, or previous infections.
Step 2: Clearing Bacterial Overgrowth Safely
This stage focuses on reducing the bacterial overgrowth while protecting the balance of beneficial microbes. Some people use herbal antimicrobials or specific dietary protocols rather than traditional antibiotics, depending on their unique situation and medical guidance. The emphasis is always on safety and long-term benefit, not quick suppression.
Step 3: Restoring Motility and Gut Barrier Function
Once the overgrowth has been reduced, attention shifts to helping the gut function properly again. This includes supporting the migrating motor complex (the wave-like motion that keeps food and bacteria moving through the intestines) and repairing the gut lining. Nutrients such as zinc, glutamine, and omega-3s, along with dietary fibre, can help strengthen this barrier and reduce inflammation.
Step 4: Rebuilding the Microbiome and Supporting Long-Term Digestive Health
Finally, the focus turns to rebuilding and maintaining a healthy microbiome. This involves reintroducing a balanced, varied diet, supporting good bacteria through targeted probiotics or fermented foods (if tolerated), and maintaining healthy digestion through stress management, movement, and adequate sleep.
A holistic plan may also include targeted supplements, nutritional adjustments, and gradual food reintroduction, always tailored to your tolerance and goals. Stress and sleep support are often built in too, as both play key roles in gut recovery.
This structured yet flexible process takes time, but it’s designed to create results that last. By addressing every part of the problem, rather than just one piece, you give your gut the best chance to heal and stay balanced for the long term.
How a Functional Medicine Practitioner Can Help
Recovering from SIBO can feel overwhelming at first, especially when symptoms fluctuate or previous treatments haven’t worked. A Functional Medicine Practitioner (FMP) provides the structure, insight, and support needed to make the process clearer and more manageable.
Your FMP’s role begins with understanding your unique situation. Through personalised testing and a detailed review of your health history, they identify what’s driving your SIBO, whether that’s slow motility, low stomach acid, stress, diet, or a combination of factors. From there, they create a tailored, evidence-based plan that addresses these root causes and adapts as your body heals.
A key part of this approach is education. Your practitioner helps you understand the triggers behind your symptoms so you can make informed choices day to day. They also provide accountability, checking in regularly to review progress and adjust your plan when needed. This ensures that you never feel lost or unsure about the next step.
Recovery is very much a partnership. The practitioner brings medical and nutritional expertise, while you bring consistency, honesty, and a willingness to make changes. When both sides work together, results can be profound, not only easing digestive symptoms, but also improving energy, mood, and overall wellbeing.
At IBS Clinics, our qualified nutritionists and Functional Medicine Practitioners guide you through each stage of this process, offering expert support and practical advice to help you achieve lasting digestive health.
What to Expect During Recovery: Milestones Along the Way
Recovering from SIBO is a gradual process, and it’s completely normal to experience ups and downs along the way. Progress isn’t always linear. There may be moments where symptoms return or motivation dips. What matters most is consistency, self-awareness, and honest communication with your Functional Medicine Practitioner (FMP). Each stage of recovery brings its own focus, milestones, and challenges.
Early Stage: Identifying Triggers and Starting the Gut Reset
This first stage is all about discovery. You and your FMP work together to uncover what’s driving your symptoms and begin resetting the gut through dietary adjustments and targeted support plans. It can be exciting to start fresh, but also overwhelming as new routines are introduced.
Common challenges here include information overload, adjusting to dietary restrictions, or second-guessing whether symptoms are improving. Some people slip up by making too many changes at once or expecting immediate results. The key is to take it step by step and to be open with your FMP if you’re struggling to stay consistent. Identifying your potential weaknesses early on, such as difficulty managing stress, meal planning, or remembering supplements, allows your practitioner to help you find realistic solutions.
Middle Stage: Gradual Symptom Reduction and Improved Digestion
During this stage, you’ll likely begin to notice improvements like less bloating, steadier energy, and more predictable digestion. However, this is also where people often hit a plateau or start to relax their efforts too soon. A few missed supplements, skipped meals, or reintroduced trigger foods can quickly bring symptoms back.
If you notice setbacks, don’t be discouraged. This is your body’s way of giving feedback. Communicate honestly with your practitioner about what’s happening. They can help you pinpoint whether it’s a natural part of the adjustment phase or something that needs a tweak in your plan. Regular check-ins and self-reflection can make a huge difference here, helping you recognise patterns and stay accountable.
Later Stage: Stabilisation and Rebuilding Resilience
By the time you reach this stage, your gut is stronger and your confidence is growing. You’ll begin to reintroduce a wider variety of foods, focus on maintaining healthy digestion, and rebuild your microbiome. This is where the long-term work happens, creating habits that support your health well beyond recovery.
The main challenge here is consistency. Once symptoms ease, it’s easy to fall back into old habits or skip the routines that helped you heal. Checking in with your FMP periodically, even after major improvements, keeps you on track and helps you stay mindful of what your gut needs. Alternatively, you may like to consolidate your learning by completing our online course to resolve SIBO at home for good.
Recovery is about partnership. Your FMP provides the guidance, but your honesty and commitment drive the progress. By identifying your weak points early, checking in regularly, and communicating openly about what’s working and what’s not, you’ll give yourself the best chance of achieving lasting results.
How Long Does It Usually Take to Heal SIBO?
The honest answer is that there’s no single timeline for SIBO recovery. For some people, noticeable improvements can happen within a few months, while for others, the process may take closer to a year. It depends on the severity of the overgrowth, how long you’ve had symptoms, your general health, and how consistently you can follow your plan.
SIBO recovery isn’t just about clearing bacteria; it’s about rebuilding a healthy, balanced digestive system. That means restoring gut motility, supporting your microbiome, improving diet, managing stress, and allowing your body time to repair. Each of these steps takes patience and consistency.
What matters most is progress, not speed. Quick results often come from treatments that only target the surface, and as many people discover, that usually leads to relapse. Sustainable improvement comes from making lifestyle changes that support your gut long term, such as eating mindfully, reducing stress, staying hydrated, and prioritising good sleep.
It’s better to think of SIBO recovery as a journey rather than a single event. With the right guidance and steady effort, you can expect gradual, lasting improvement and a far lower chance of recurrence.
What Life Can Look Like After Healing
Life after SIBO recovery can feel lighter, calmer, and more predictable. The changes are often gradual but deeply noticeable. As your gut begins to function as it should, digestion becomes smoother and symptoms like bloating, cramping, and fatigue begin to fade into the background.
Imagine waking up with steady energy, no longer worrying about which foods might upset your stomach. You can enjoy breakfast without discomfort, and make it through your workday without that heavy, sluggish feeling that used to appear after lunch. By evening, you still have energy for a walk, to cook dinner, or to spend time with family, rather than collapsing from exhaustion or abdominal pain.
Social life becomes easier, too. You can say yes to a meal out without scanning the menu in panic or wondering whether you’ll have to make an excuse to leave early. Holidays, travel, and events start to feel enjoyable again because your body feels more predictable and resilient.
Many people also find emotional shifts alongside the physical recovery. With fewer symptoms to manage, mental fog begins to lift, anxiety around eating reduces, and sleep becomes deeper. You may notice your skin looking clearer, your mood feeling steadier, and your sense of control returning.
This is what a healthy gut allows: more space for living, rather than managing symptoms. While there will still be the occasional off day, you’ll know how to support your digestion and get back on track quickly. That’s the lasting benefit of a holistic, Functional Medicine approach: freedom, confidence, and comfort in your own body.
Next Steps
If you’re feeling frustrated by slow progress or repeated flare-ups, remember that healing from SIBO is not about speed but sustainability. True recovery takes time, consistency, and the right support. Every small change you make helps rebuild balance in your gut and moves you closer to lasting relief.
You don’t have to navigate this journey alone. Working with a qualified nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner gives you structure, accountability, and personalised guidance at every stage. Together, you can uncover what’s driving your symptoms and build a clear, realistic plan for long-term digestive health.
Book an initial consultation with a qualified nutritionist and Functional Medicine Practitioner at IBS Clinics to discuss the suitable options for beginning a lasting SIBO recovery.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for SIBO. But with the right guidance, healing is absolutely possible. The most effective path is one that looks beyond symptoms to uncover and address the real causes of imbalance. Recovery takes time, patience, and consistent effort, but the rewards are lasting: a calmer gut, renewed energy, and confidence in your body again.
At IBS Clinics, our approach is evidence-based, holistic, and completely tailored to you. By combining nutritional science with functional medicine principles, we help you understand your triggers, restore balance, and build long-term digestive resilience.
If you’re ready to move past short-term fixes and begin a structured, supported journey to lasting gut health, whether through private consultation or our online course, we’re here to help every step of the way.
References
- Rezaie A, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: Comprehensive Review of Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2020. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7386065/
- Quigley EMM, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth—Pathophysiology and Its Emerging Role in Gut Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2022. https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085%2822%2900357-2/fulltext
- Dukowicz AC, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth: A Comprehensive Review. Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 2007. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3099351/
- Zhong L, et al. Potential Role of Hypochlorhydria in the Development of Duodenal Dysbiosis. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9062108/
- Mosińska P, et al. Personality, Anxiety, and Stress in Patients with Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9819554/
- Ghoshal UC, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: The Missing Link. JGH Open. 2020. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jgh3.12045
- Quigley EMM, et al. StatPearls: Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Updated 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546634/
- Quigley EMM, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth—Pathophysiology and Its Emerging Role in Gut Disorders. Gastroenterology. 2022. https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085%2822%2900357-2/fulltext
- Lauritano EC, et al. Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth Recurrence After Antibiotic Therapy. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2008. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18371136/
- Ramirez J, Guarner F, Bustos Fernandez L, Maruy A, Sdepanian VL, Cohen H. Antibiotics as Major Disruptors of Gut Microbiota. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2020 Nov 24;10:572912. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.572912. PMID: 33330122; PMCID: PMC7732679.. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7732679/
Author – Tracey Randell
At IBS Clinics, Tracey Randell, a renowned Nutritional Therapist and one of the few IFM Certified Practitioners in the UK, extends her specialised knowledge and unique approach to managing and treating IBS and other gut-related conditions effectively.
Tracey’s profound understanding of Functional Medicine allows her to connect the dots for complex health conditions, identifying and addressing the root causes to curate personalised and comprehensive health plans for her patients. Her holistic approach focuses on resolving underlying imbalances and optimising gut health, enabling the body to correct other issues and attain overall well-being.
At IBS Clinics, we are dedicated to being your partner in navigating your gut-related health concerns, offering expert care and individualised treatment plans to alleviate your IBS symptoms and enhance your quality of life.
You can read more about Tracey on our About page here.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The products and methods mentioned are not a substitute for professional medical advice from a trained healthcare specialist. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Use of the information and products discussed is at your own risk.
