Gut Health & Digestive Disorders

Why gut health matters beyond digestion

The gastrointestinal system is the most complex organ system in the body after the brain — and in many ways, it is inseparable from it. The gut microbiome influences immune function, inflammatory status, mood and neurotransmitter production, skin health, hormonal regulation, and energy metabolism.[1] Persistent gut dysfunction rarely stays contained to the gut.

Despite this, many people with chronic digestive complaints are given a functional diagnosis (IBS being the most common) without meaningful investigation into what is actually driving their symptoms. An integrative approach to gut health starts with proper assessment.

Common presentations Dr Reece Yeo works with

• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — diarrhoea-predominant, constipation-predominant, or mixed
• Bloating, distension, and excessive wind
• Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO)
• Food intolerances and sensitivities
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) — supportive care alongside specialist management
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD/GERD)
• Constipation and sluggish motility
• Dysbiosis and candida overgrowth
• Intestinal permeability ("leaky gut")
• Nausea and appetite disturbance

Functional medicine investigation

SIBO testing

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is a common and frequently missed driver of bloating, distension, and altered bowel habits. Hydrogen and methane breath testing can identify SIBO with good clinical accuracy. Treatment involves antimicrobial therapy (herbal or pharmaceutical), dietary modification, and addressing the underlying motility or structural factors that allowed SIBO to develop.

Comprehensive stool analysis

Advanced stool testing provides a detailed picture of the gut microbiome, markers of intestinal inflammation, digestive enzyme function, and the presence of pathogens, parasites, or opportunistic organisms. This is a far more informative investigation than standard stool culture.

Food sensitivity and allergy testing

True IgE-mediated food allergies are relatively uncommon. Far more prevalent are delayed IgG-mediated food sensitivities and non-immunological food intolerances (such as fructose malabsorption, lactose intolerance, and histamine intolerance). Dr Reece Yeo uses a combination of testing and structured elimination protocols to identify and manage these.

Intestinal permeability

Increased intestinal permeability — colloquially known as "leaky gut" — allows bacterial toxins and partially digested food particles to enter the systemic circulation, triggering widespread inflammation. This is increasingly linked to autoimmune conditions, skin disorders, neurological symptoms, and chronic fatigue. Specific testing and targeted support with glutamine, zinc, and specific probiotics can support mucosal repair.

Classical Chinese medicine for digestive disorders

Chinese medicine has a sophisticated and well-developed clinical framework for digestive disorders built on two thousand years of clinical observation. Patterns of Spleen Qi Deficiency, Liver-Spleen disharmony, Damp-Heat, Cold-Damp, and Stomach Yin Deficiency each carry specific symptom profiles and respond to specific classical herbal formulas. Acupuncture is commonly used for motility disorders, nausea, pain, and stress-related gut dysfunction.

The diet-gut relationship

Diet is often the most powerful therapeutic lever in gut health. Dr Reece Yeo works with you on evidence-informed dietary approaches — which may include low-FODMAP protocols, specific carbohydrate diets, anti-inflammatory eating, or targeted elimination and reintroduction — as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. The goal is to identify your individual dietary triggers, support the gut lining, and work towards a diet that is both therapeutic and sustainable long-term.