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Gut health & IBS

IBS, bloating and gut problems: finding out why

If you've been told you have IBS, or that your gut symptoms are "just stress", there is usually more to find. I use detailed stool, breath and food-sensitivity testing to understand what is driving your symptoms, then build a plan to settle them.

Book a free discovery call

Free, no obligation. First consultation £354, including a health coaching session. See fees

20+ years in clinical practiceIFM Certified PractitionerBritish Acupuncture Council member

Woman holding her stomach in discomfort from bloating and IBS symptoms

The short answer

Can functional medicine help with IBS and bloating?

Often, yes. An IBS diagnosis describes your symptoms but doesn't explain them. Charmaine Shepherd, an IFM Certified functional medicine practitioner in Edinburgh, uses stool, breath and food-sensitivity testing to look for causes such as gut bacteria imbalance, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), low stomach acid or food reactions, then builds a plan to settle them.

WhoCharmaine Shepherd, IFM Certified functional medicine practitioner, 20+ years in clinical practice
Where4 Albyn Place, Edinburgh EH2 4NG, or online by video
CostFree 20-minute discovery call. Initial consultation £354, return visits £264
ReferralNot needed. You can book directly

Is this you?

Do these gut symptoms sound familiar?

Bloating, especially after meals
Constipation, diarrhoea, or both
Wind, cramping or abdominal pain
Reflux, heartburn or indigestion
Reacting to more and more foods
An IBS diagnosis with no clear cause
Fatigue, brain fog or skin flares alongside gut symptoms
Symptoms after antibiotics, a stomach bug or a stressful period

If any symptoms are sudden or severe, contact your GP, call NHS 24 on 111, or call 999 in an emergency.

Is IBS a diagnosis or a description?

An IBS diagnosis usually means other conditions have been ruled out. It describes your symptoms, but it rarely tells you why they are happening, so treatment often stops at managing them.

In practice, gut symptoms tend to have identifiable drivers: an imbalance in gut bacteria (dysbiosis), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), yeast or parasites, low stomach acid or digestive enzymes, inflammation, food sensitivities, or a gut-brain connection stuck on high alert.

Your gut also affects much more than digestion. It shapes your immune system, how your body handles hormones, your mood and even your skin. That is why I often start here, even when the main concern is something else.

Looking for the cause

What causes IBS-type gut symptoms?

Most people have more than one contributing factor. The aim is to find yours, so treatment targets the cause rather than just the symptoms.

Gut bacteria imbalance

Too few helpful bacteria, or too many unhelpful ones, can cause bloating, irregular bowels and inflammation.

SIBO & overgrowth

Bacteria growing in the small intestine, where they shouldn't be, often cause bloating soon after eating.

Digestive function

Low stomach acid, enzymes or bile make food harder to break down and absorb.

Food sensitivities

Immune reactions to foods can drive gut symptoms, joint pain, rashes and brain fog.

Gut-brain stress loop

A nervous system stuck on high alert changes how your gut moves and how sensitive it feels.

Inflammation & leaky gut

A weakened gut lining can let in substances that keep inflammation going around the body.

How I investigate

Which tests can find the cause of gut symptoms?

Testing is chosen around your history, not ordered by default. Common options include:

Comprehensive stool analysise.g. GI Effects or CDSA: gut bacteria, yeast, parasites, digestion, absorption and inflammation markers
Breath testingfor SIBO and H. pylori
Calprotectin and gut immunologyto check for gut inflammation and immune activity
Food sensitivity panelsIgG and IgE food panels, or coeliac screening where relevant
Nutrient testingB12, iron, vitamin D and other nutrients that gut problems can deplete

Tests are priced separately and always agreed with you first. Bring any recent NHS or private results to your consultation. See all laboratory tests

How it works

How does working with Charmaine work?

Free discovery call

Free · up to 20 minutes

Tell me what’s going on and find out whether my approach is right for you.

Initial consultation

£354 · includes health coaching

A detailed look at your history, symptoms and lifestyle, with tests recommended only where they will help.

Your plan & follow-up

Return visits £264

A written plan covering nutrition, lifestyle and targeted supplements, reviewed as your results and symptoms change.

In person at 4 Albyn Place, Edinburgh, or online by video. See all fees

Case study

Hormonal Imbalance and Fatigue Resolved Through Gut Health

1 min readRead →

A patient story

When the gut was behind the hormones

A 42-year-old woman had been told for three years that her results were normal. Stool testing found gut bacteria imbalance and raised beta-glucuronidase, which affects how the body clears oestrogen. After three months of gut-focused treatment, her cycles were regular, her energy had returned and her hair loss had improved.

Read the full case study →

Everyone is different, and results vary from person to person.

Free PDF guide

The missing link: your gut and perimenopause

How your gut could be driving bloating, brain fog, anxiety and other perimenopause symptoms.

A symptom checklist you can tick through
What the 2026 study of 964 women found
Five ways oestrogen and the gut affect each other
Practical first steps, and when to look further

Questions

Questions about gut health and IBS

Can’t see your question? Book a free call or ring the clinic on 0131 235 1232.

See also: All laboratory tests · Health coaching

Do you test for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)?

Yes. Breath testing for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) can be arranged as part of your plan if your symptoms and history suggest it, for example bloating that starts soon after eating.

I've already had a colonoscopy and it was clear. Can you still help?

Very often, yes. A clear colonoscopy is reassuring because it rules out serious disease, but it doesn't look at gut bacteria, digestion or food sensitivities, which is where functional testing helps.

Will I have to follow a very restrictive diet?

Not usually for long. Some people benefit from a short elimination or low-FODMAP phase, but the aim is to widen your diet as your gut recovers, not narrow it.

Can I do this online?

Yes. Consultations work well by video, and stool and breath test kits are posted to your home.

Do I need a GP referral?

No. You can book directly. I'm always happy to work alongside your GP and any specialist you are seeing.