IBS & Gut Issues Treatment in Greenville, SC
IBS and gut health treatment in Greenville, SC. Dr. Hendry's functional medicine and acupuncture approach heals the gut and resolves digestive symptoms. Call (864) 365-6156.
What Is IBS & Gut Issues?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) affects 10–15% of the global population and is characterized by recurring abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, or both) in the absence of structural gastrointestinal disease. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed and poorly treated gastrointestinal conditions in conventional medicine — because standard treatment manages symptoms rather than addressing the underlying dysfunction.
Common Symptoms
Root Causes: A Functional Medicine Perspective
IBS is now understood as a gut-brain axis disorder with multiple overlapping root causes. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) — where bacteria from the colon migrate into the small intestine — is found in up to 78% of IBS patients and drives the bloating, pain, and altered motility characteristic of IBS. Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) allows bacterial endotoxins to enter the bloodstream, triggering systemic and gut-localized inflammation.
Food sensitivities — particularly to fermentable carbohydrates (FODMAPs), gluten, and dairy — trigger IBS symptoms without causing the measurable damage seen in celiac disease. Enteric nervous system dysfunction — where the nerve network governing the gut is dysregulated — alters gut motility and pain sensitivity. Prior GI infections (post-infectious IBS), antibiotic use, and chronic stress all disrupt the gut microbiome in ways that perpetuate IBS.
Dr. Hendry's functional medicine approach tests for SIBO, intestinal permeability, food sensitivities, microbiome dysbiosis, and inflammatory markers to build a complete picture of each patient's gut dysfunction — rather than treating IBS as a single entity requiring a single solution.
How We Treat IBS & Gut Issues at IHP
Acupuncture for IBS is supported by multiple systematic reviews showing significant improvement in abdominal pain, bowel habits, and quality of life compared to sham acupuncture and standard care. Acupuncture regulates the enteric nervous system, reduces gut hypersensitivity, modulates the gut-brain axis, and reduces the stress-response amplification that worsens IBS.
Dr. Hendry's functional medicine protocol for IBS is individualized based on testing results: SIBO treatment (herbal antimicrobials or prescription antibiotics followed by microbiome restoration), low-FODMAP or specific elimination diet guidance, intestinal permeability healing (glutamine, zinc carnosine, collagen, and probiotics), and targeted supplementation for motility support. Chinese herbal medicine formulas — traditionally used for digestive conditions for thousands of years — address specific TCM patterns (Liver-Spleen disharmony, Damp-Heat, etc.) that correspond to distinct IBS presentations.
Dr. Hendry's Approach
Dr. Hendry's approach to IBS treats the gut as an ecosystem requiring restoration, not a set of symptoms requiring suppression. He provides detailed dietary guidance and systematic elimination/reintroduction protocols alongside acupuncture and supplementation, giving patients a clear roadmap for healing. Most patients see meaningful improvement within 8–12 weeks of a comprehensive gut restoration protocol.