For many people, persistent digestive symptoms can feel confusing, frustrating, and deeply disruptive to daily life. Bloating that appears soon after meals, unpredictable bowel habits, abdominal discomfort, fatigue, or skin flare-ups often signal that something deeper is happening within the gut. SIBO testing offers clarity when symptoms and health concerns don’t quite add up.
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth, or SIBO, occurs when bacteria that normally reside in the large intestine migrate into the small intestine, where they don’t belong. These bacteria ferment carbohydrates too early in digestion, producing gases that disrupt gut function, damage the intestinal lining, and interfere with nutrient absorption. SIBO testing helps us identify whether this imbalance is contributing to your health concerns and guides a more precise, personalised path forward.
You may consider SIBO testing if you experience ongoing bloating, gas, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhoea, or alternating bowel habits that haven’t resolved with dietary changes alone. Many people with irritable bowel syndrome, unexplained food reactions, reflux, fatigue, acne, rosacea, or nutrient deficiencies discover SIBO is part of the bigger picture and can often be the root cause.
Testing can also be valuable if symptoms worsen after eating, particularly carbohydrate-rich meals, or if you feel distended despite eating “cleanly.” SIBO is commonly associated with gut motility issues, post-infectious digestive changes, hormonal shifts, stress, and conditions affecting the gut–brain axis. At Floralia, we always assess whether testing is appropriate for you, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
We work with reputable laboratories that provide clinically validated breath testing, designed to be completed comfortably at home. These tests offer non-invasive insight into bacterial activity within the small intestine.
The hydrogen and methane breath test is the gold standard for identifying SIBO. After consuming a specific test substrate, breath samples are collected at regular intervals over several hours. The test measures hydrogen and methane gases produced by bacteria fermenting carbohydrates in the small intestine.
Hydrogen-dominant SIBO is often linked with diarrhoea and bloating, while methane-dominant patterns are more commonly associated with constipation and slowed gut motility. Identifying gas patterns helps us tailor treatment with far greater accuracy.
Both lactulose and glucose are used as substrates in SIBO breath testing, and each provides slightly different insights. Lactulose travels through the entire small intestine and into the colon, allowing us to assess bacterial activity along the full length of the gut. Glucose is absorbed earlier, offering a more specific snapshot of bacterial overgrowth in the upper small intestine. The lactulose hydrogen breath test is commonly used to diagnose SIBO, however your clinician will recommend the most appropriate option based on your symptoms, bowel patterns, and clinical history.
Alongside breath testing, we consider the broader digestive picture. This includes evaluating gut motility, stomach acid production, bile flow, pancreatic enzyme output, stress patterns, and nervous system regulation. SIBO rarely exists in isolation, and addressing the underlying drivers is key to long-term resolution.
At Floralia Wellness, testing is never used in isolation or without purpose. We begin with a thorough consultation to understand things like your symptoms, diet, medical history, stress load, and gut health timeline so that we can get a more well rounded view of what you are experiencing. If SIBO testing is appropriate, our clinicians will organise a referral and guide you through the process.
Generally the test kit is delivered to your home directly from the laboratory with clear instructions on how to perform the test. We ensure you feel confident preparing for and completing the test, understanding that digestive testing can feel vulnerable for many patients.
Once your results are returned, we schedule a follow-up consultation to review them together. We take time to explain what the results mean in plain, easy to understand language, so that you have actionable steps to take moving forward.
If SIBO is identified, your practitioner will design a personalised treatment plan that may include herbal antimicrobials, nutritional support, motility agents, gut-healing strategies, and dietary guidance. Just as importantly, we address the why behind the overgrowth, supporting nervous system regulation, digestive function, and long-term gut resilience to reduce recurrence.
Our clinicians are experienced in interpreting functional gut testing and supporting complex digestive presentations. We combine clinical training with compassion, ensuring you feel heard, understood, and gently guided throughout your healing journey.
The cost of SIBO testing varies depending on the laboratory and test type. Your clinician will always explain why testing is being recommended, outline all associated costs, and ensure you feel comfortable before proceeding.
Consultation fees are separate from testing costs. Private health rebates may apply to consultations, depending on your policy and your clinicians qualifications. We believe transparency and choice are essential parts of ethical, supportive care.
At Floralia, we understand how deeply digestive symptoms can affect your quality of life, confidence, and relationship with food. Our approach blends evidence-based functional medicine with warmth, patience, and respect for your individual story.
We don’t rush to protocols or rigid rules. Instead, we listen, investigate carefully, and create treatment plans that support your body’s natural rhythms and capacity to heal. You are never reduced to a diagnosis. You are supported as a whole person.
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A SIBO test is a non-invasive test designed to detect small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, a condition where bacteria accumulate in the small intestine instead of remaining in the large intestine. This bacterial overgrowth can disrupt digestion, nutrient absorption, and gut motility, contributing to unwanted digestive symptoms. At Floralia Wellness, we use SIBO testing that our Perth patients trust to help uncover the root cause of persistent digestive disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and guide personalised, effective management pathways.
The SIBO breath test measures gases produced when bacteria ferment a test sugar in the gut. By analysing breath hydrogen, methane gas, and sometimes hydrogen sulphide, the test reveals whether fermentation is occurring too early in digestion, a hallmark of intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). Different gas patterns are linked to symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, bloating, or brain fog. These insights help us understand how bacterial activity is affecting digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall gut health, allowing us to develop a more accurate diagnosis and tailored care.
SIBO can present with a wide range of digestive and systemic symptoms. Common signs include bloating, abdominal cramping, excess gas, constipation or diarrhoea, and food sensitivities. Many patients also experience fatigue, brain fog, nutrient deficiencies, or worsening IBS symptoms. Because SIBO affects digestion and malabsorption, it may also contribute to skin disorders, leaky gut, or immune-related health issues. If symptoms typically worsen after eating or persist despite dietary changes, SIBO testing can provide a more accurate diagnosis as to whether the
The SIBO test is completed comfortably at home using a simple test kit. After a short preparation phase, you consume a specific food source such as lactulose or glucose. You then collect timed breath samples over several hours, which are sent to the laboratory for analysis. The test measures hydrogen and methane produced by bacteria in the gut. We guide many patients throughout Australia through each step, ensuring the process feels clear, supported, and stress-free.
Yes, often a short preparatory diet before a SIBO breath test improves accuracy. This diet helps reduce background fermentation in the gut, allowing the test to clearly identify abnormal gas production from bacterial overgrowth. We provide simple, clear instructions outlining what foods to eat and avoid, along with timing guidance. We understand this can feel daunting, but we are here to support you along the way.
Certain supplements and medications, including probiotics, antibiotics, and some digestive aids, need to be paused before SIBO testing to prevent false or misleading results. These substances can temporarily alter gut bacteria and gas production. Your practitioner will carefully review your current supplements and medications and advise exactly what to stop and when. Our aim is always to support accurate testing while ensuring your safety, comfort, and confidence throughout the process.
Results typically return within one to two weeks after the laboratory receives your samples. Once your SIBO breath results are ready, we schedule a follow-up consultation to review them together. During this appointment, your clinician explains the findings in clear, compassionate language and connects them with your symptoms, digestion patterns, and overall health picture. This conversation forms the foundation for a personalised treatment plan designed to support long-term gut balance and wellbeing.
If your test kit indicates small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, we create a personalised treatment plan tailored to your gas pattern, symptoms, and underlying drivers. Treatment may include herbal antimicrobials, nutritional support, motility aids, gut-healing strategies, and dietary guidance. Just as importantly, we address the root causes, such as stress, gut motility issues, or prior infections, to reduce recurrence. Our goal is not just symptom relief, but restoring digestive resilience and optimal health.
SIBO can recur if underlying factors such as impaired gut motility, stress, or digestive dysfunction aren’t addressed. That’s why our approach goes beyond clearing bacterial overgrowth. We support long-term gut function by strengthening digestion, calming the nervous system, improving nutrient absorption, and addressing contributing health issues. With ongoing care and guidance, many patients experience lasting improvements and feel more confident navigating food, digestion, and daily life.
Yes. We partner with reputable laboratories to ensure reliable testing and clear interpretation. From deciding whether testing is appropriate, to guiding preparation, reviewing results, and supporting treatment, our Perth clinic provides compassionate, evidence-based care every step of the way. We’re here to help you feel heard, supported, and empowered on your gut healing journey.



