IBS vs. SIBO: How Pulse Diagnosis in London Provides a Clearer Health Assessment
For many Londoners, bloating, gas, cramps, and unpredictable bowel habits are a constant frustration. Doctors often label it as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) — but what if the problem is actually Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)?
The two conditions share nearly identical symptoms, yet require very different treatment approaches. Misdiagnosis can leave patients stuck in cycles of restrictive diets, antibiotics, or endless probiotics with little improvement.
This is where George’s world-leading pulse diagnosis offers a different perspective — one that detects functional imbalances in the digestive system long before conventional tests give clarity.
IBS vs. SIBO: What’s the Difference?
IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) → a functional gut disorder with symptoms like bloating, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain, often without clear structural cause.
SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) → an overgrowth of bacteria in the small intestine that interferes with digestion, nutrient absorption, and can cause similar symptoms.
Both conditions can lead to fatigue, food sensitivities, skin problems, and brain fog. The key difference lies in what drives the imbalance — and that’s where accurate assessment becomes crucial.
Why Conventional Testing Falls Short
Standard medical tests for SIBO include breath tests, which often produce false positives or false negatives. IBS, meanwhile, is usually a diagnosis of exclusion — meaning it’s labelled only after other conditions are ruled out and therefore is really a general description rather than a specific condition - it has not been diagnosed specifically at all.
This leaves many patients in limbo: living with symptoms but without certainty, trying one treatment after another without lasting relief.
How Pulse Diagnosis Detects Digestive Imbalances
Pulse diagnosis, a cornerstone of Chinese medicine, provides real-time insights into gut function.
George can detect subtle differences in:
The small intestine’s filtration system, revealing microbial (bacterial and yeast) imbalances, gut permeability or inflammation.
The large intestine’s movement, lining condition and peristaltic strength, showing whether elimination is sluggish or overactive.
The liver’s role in digestion, highlighting whether stress, nutrient absorption and bile flow are affecting the gut.
The immune response in the gut lining, often linked to food sensitivities and inflammation.
Unlike conventional tests, pulse diagnosis doesn’t just label the problem — it shows the underlying pattern of dysfunction unique to each patient.
Acupuncture’s Role in IBS & SIBO
Once the imbalance is identified, acupuncture helps the body restore balance naturally. Treatments may:
Reduce gut inflammation → calming the intestinal lining.
Improve motility → regulating bowel movements, whether sluggish or overactive.
Rebalance gut-immune interaction → easing sensitivities and reactions to foods.
Strengthen digestion → supporting absorption and energy production.
Calm stress pathways → reducing the mind–gut feedback loop that worsens symptoms.
A London patient had been told she had IBS for nearly a decade. Her bloating and discomfort worsened after meals, and every diet she tried seemed to backfire.
During her first consultation, George’s pulse diagnosis showed clear bacterial imbalance in end of the small intestine, combined with weakness in her digestive processing and nutrient absorption. This pointed to SIBO (rather than IBS which is not an actual, treatable condition).
Through a combination of intensive acupuncture treatment, diet adjustments and stress management to reduce overgrowth, her symptoms reduced within the first week and resolved within 3 weeks. She not only regained comfort after meals but also noticed her energy, period pain and concentration improving — outcomes she hadn’t experienced with years of IBS-focused treatment.
IBS and SIBO may look the same on the surface, but the right diagnosis makes all the difference, as sometimes the condition may instead be Candida yeast overgrowth, inflammation from sensitivities to specific foods. Conventional tests often miss the subtleties — leaving patients confused and untreated.
George’s pulse diagnosis and acupuncture approach provide clarity, precision, and a natural pathway to restoring digestive health.
If you’ve been living with “IBS” or suspect SIBO, don’t stay stuck in cycles of guessing.
Book your consultation with George today and discover what your pulse reveals about your digestive health.
#IBS #SIBO #AcupunctureLondon #PulseDiagnosis #DigestiveHealth
