Your Gut Affects Everything Else
Bloating by lunch, reflux at night, constipation that comes and goes, foods that never used to bother you. Gut problems get shrugged off, and they affect your energy, mood, skin, hormones and immune system. We test, find the cause and help your gut repair itself.
Not ready to book? Start with a free 15-minute call
What Is Functional Gut Health Care?
At the Osteopathic Center for Healing in Rockville, MD, Dr. Neil Spiegel, DO, MBA and Jennifer Gularson, PA-C, IFMCP find and treat the root causes of gut problems like bloating, reflux, constipation, SIBO, yeast overgrowth, parasites and leaky gut. We use GI-MAP and Genova GI Effects stool testing, SIBO breath testing, food sensitivity testing and blood work, then build a plan to clear infections, support digestion, rebuild good bacteria and repair the gut lining.
Can Gut Trouble Show Up Somewhere Else?
Some people with a gut imbalance never feel it in their stomach. It shows up somewhere else, and those problems get treated one at a time without anyone looking at the gut.
Skin
Eczema, acne, rosacea and rashes that keep coming back.
Mood and Focus
Anxiety, low mood and brain fog.
Hormones
Heavier PMS, hot flashes that worsen, and estrogen that's out of balance.
Immune System
You catch every cold, have seasonal allergies or deal with autoimmune flares.
Energy
You're tired even when you sleep, because your body isn't absorbing what you eat. Read about fatigue.
Food Reactions
You keep reacting to more foods over time.
How Do Your Gut and Brain Talk to Each Other?
Your gut has its own nervous system and is wired to your brain through the vagus nerve. Messages go both ways, so stress can upset your stomach and an inflamed gut can affect your mood and focus. Your gut also makes most of your body's serotonin, which is why we ask about sleep, stress and mood at a gut visit.
How Does Your Gut Affect Your Hormones?
Your gut bacteria help your body clear estrogen it has already used. When those bacteria are out of balance, some of that estrogen gets recycled back into your bloodstream, and this can make perimenopause symptoms, PMS and weight around the middle harder to manage. Some stool tests measure this (beta-glucuronidase), so if you're working on your hormones with us, your gut may be part of the plan.
Why Does Your Immune System Live in Your Gut?
Most of your immune tissue sits along your gut lining. A healthy lining lets nutrients through and keeps everything else out. When the lining is irritated or leaky, food particles and bacterial byproducts get through, your immune system reacts, and that low-grade inflammation can show up anywhere in your body.
What Throws Your Gut Off?
Is Reflux Always Too Much Acid?
A lot of people with heartburn have too little stomach acid. Without enough acid, food sits longer, pressure builds and acid ends up where it shouldn't be. Acid blockers can help in the short term, and if you've been on them for years, we'll look at why the reflux started.
Please don't stop a prescribed medication without talking to us first.
How Do We Test Your Gut?
We choose tests based on your symptoms and history, so not everyone needs the same panel.
Advanced Stool Testing
One at-home kit shows far more than a standard stool test. We use GI-MAP or Genova GI Effects, depending on what we're looking for. It can show:
Breath Testing for SIBO
An at-home test that measures the gases bacteria make in your small intestine, so we can see if SIBO is behind your bloating.
Food Sensitivity Testing
A blood test that looks at how your immune system reacts to specific foods. We often pair it with an elimination diet so you get the clearest picture.
Blood Work
Nutrient levels, inflammation, a celiac screen, thyroid and blood sugar.
An Elimination Diet
You remove common triggers for a short time, then add them back one at a time. It's still one of the clearest ways to find your food triggers.
How Do We Help Your Gut Heal?
Clear It Out
We remove trigger foods and treat any infections, parasites, yeast or overgrowth we find.
Support Digestion
We add stomach acid support or digestive enzymes if your body is low.
Rebuild Good Bacteria
We use the right probiotics, fiber and fermented foods for your results.
Repair the Lining
We give targeted nutrients to calm inflammation and strengthen the gut wall.
Make It Last
We work on sleep, stress and eating habits so your gut stays healthy.
What Healing Looks Like
Bloating and bathroom habits usually change first, sometimes within a few weeks. Energy, skin and mood often improve next. A full repair, especially after years of symptoms or a lot of antibiotics, can take a few months. We retest when it makes sense so you can see the progress on paper too.
When Should You Come In?
- Your symptoms have lasted more than a few weeks or keep coming back
- They started after antibiotics, an illness, travel or a stressful stretch
- You've been told your tests are normal and you still don't feel right
- You're managing other conditions and want to know if your gut is part of it
See a Doctor Right Away If
You have blood in your stool, black stools, unexplained weight loss, trouble swallowing or severe pain. Call your doctor or a GI specialist right away.
Who Will Help You Heal Your Gut?
Dr. Neil Spiegel, DO, MBA is an osteopathic physician who looks at how your whole body works together. Jennifer Gularson, PA-C, IFMCP is certified in functional medicine and has helped thousands of patients heal their gut.
Between them, they read your testing, connect it to your symptoms and build a plan you can follow.
Not ready to book? Start with a free 15-minute call
What Do People Ask About Gut Health?
Do I Need a Colonoscopy First?
Not usually. If your symptoms call for one, we'll tell you and refer you. Our testing looks at how your gut is working and how balanced your bacteria are, which a colonoscopy doesn't measure.
Is the Stool Test Done at Home?
Yes. You collect the sample at home and mail it to the lab. The SIBO breath test is done at home too.
What Is SIBO?
SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. Bacteria that belong in your large intestine grow in your small intestine instead, which causes bloating, gas and discomfort soon after eating. A breath test can show if you have it.
What Is Leaky Gut?
Leaky gut means the lining of your intestine has become more permeable than it should be. Particles that should stay in your gut get through, and your immune system reacts with inflammation. Stool testing can check markers linked to it.
Will I Have to Give Up Foods Forever?
Most people don't. An elimination diet is short, and many foods come back once your gut heals.
Should I Just Take a Probiotic?
Maybe. The right strain depends on what's going on, and some people feel worse on the wrong one. Testing takes out the guesswork.
How Long Does Gut Healing Take?
It depends on the cause. Many people notice changes in a few weeks, and a full repair can take a few months.
Does Insurance Cover Gut Testing?
We're out of network and give you a claim form to submit to your plan. Many of the labs we use bill your insurance directly for testing.
Can Gut Health Affect My Hormones?
Yes. Your gut helps clear used estrogen, so an imbalance can make hormone symptoms worse.
Your Gut Can Heal
Book a consult with Dr. Spiegel and Jennifer in Rockville, MD, and find out what's going on.
Not ready to book? Start with a free 15-minute call
Feeling worn out too? See how we treat fatigue.