Functional medicine care
Gut Health
What is gut health care with Dr. Christine Maren?
Gut health affects far more than digestion. It shapes hormones, thyroid function, immunity, mood and weight. Dr. Christine Maren uses advanced stool, breath and lab testing to find what is behind bloating, IBS, reflux or irregular bowels, then builds a step-by-step plan to rebalance the microbiome, repair the gut lining and keep results lasting.
IBS is often a label, not an answer. Our practice looks for the specific reasons your gut is struggling and connects it with your hormones, thyroid and immune health instead of treating digestion in isolation.
What are signs your gut needs support?
- Bloating, gas or abdominal pain
- Constipation, diarrhea or both
- Reflux or heartburn
- Food sensitivities that keep growing
- Skin issues like acne or eczema
- Fatigue and brain fog after meals
- Hormone or thyroid symptoms that will not settle
- IBS that is not getting better
Recognize yourself here? These symptoms are common, but they are not something you simply have to live with.
How does Dr. Maren heal the gut?
Test, do not guess
Comprehensive stool analysis, SIBO breath testing and labs reveal infections, overgrowth, inflammation and digestive function.
Remove what is harming
Address overgrowth, infections and dietary triggers with targeted, evidence-informed protocols.
Restore and repair
Rebuild digestion, rebalance the microbiome with the right probiotics and fiber, and support the gut lining.
Protect the gains
Look at stress, sleep, motility and hormones so symptoms do not return once treatment ends.
Learn more about gut health
Dr. Maren has written and spoken extensively on this topic. Start with these articles, guides and podcasts.
- How to heal your gut 101
- Gut health foundations
- IBS not going away? 5 reasons you cannot heal
- Gut health and menopause
- The thyroid gut connection
- How to choose the right probiotic
- Why stress and the HPA axis matter for gut health
Related services
Gut Health FAQs
What causes chronic bloating?
Common causes include small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), low stomach acid or digestive enzymes, food sensitivities, slow motility, gut infections and hormonal shifts. Testing helps pinpoint which apply to you.
What is SIBO and how is it tested?
SIBO is small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, where bacteria that belong in the colon build up in the small intestine and cause bloating, gas and changes in bowel habits. It is diagnosed with a breath test that measures hydrogen and methane gases.
Why is my IBS not getting better?
IBS often persists when an underlying cause such as SIBO, a gut infection, poor motility, stress or a food trigger has not been found. A root-cause workup looks for these drivers rather than only managing symptoms.
How are gut health and hormones connected?
The gut microbiome helps metabolize and clear estrogen, influences thyroid hormone conversion and affects inflammation. Gut imbalances can worsen PMS, perimenopause and thyroid symptoms, and hormone shifts can change the gut.
How long does it take to heal the gut?
Many patients notice changes within weeks, while a full gut healing plan typically runs three to six months depending on what testing shows and how long symptoms have been present.
Do I need a stool test?
A comprehensive stool test is helpful when symptoms are persistent or complex. It shows digestion, inflammation, microbiome balance and possible infections, which guides a precise plan instead of trial and error.
The path to vibrant health starts here
We see patients virtually in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan and Texas. Start with a brief application so we can understand your goals.