The parasite cleanse trend, and why testing should come before treating By Rohan Smith · Functional & Nutritional Medicine, Adelaide · Published June 1, 2026 Quick Answer Empirical herbal parasite cleanses have taken off through TikTok and wellness influencer content over the past year. The pattern in clinic is consistent. A parent or adult arrives…
Is Your SIBO Breath Test Reliable? Why Standard Testing May Miss the Mark in IBS — Over half of SIBO cases are missed by standard breath testing. Why the test is unreliable in IBS, and what a comprehensive assessment actually involves.
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer The gut–brain axis is a bidirectional communication network linking the enteric nervous system with the central nervous system. Research by Emeran Mayer and colleagues suggests that the gut microbiome—comprising trillions of microorganisms—may influence mood regulation through immune signalling, short-chain fatty acid production, vagus…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder affecting up to 11% of the global population, characterised by abdominal pain, bloating, and altered bowel habits. Dietary strategies such as the low FODMAP protocol, individualised fibre adjustment, and trigger-food identification can significantly reduce…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Antibiotics can significantly reduce beneficial gut bacteria alongside harmful organisms, leading to a state known as dysbiosis. Research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Dethlefsen and Relman, 2011) found that the human distal gut microbiota may show incomplete recovery…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) is an IgE-mediated Type I hypersensitivity reaction in which mast cells degranulate upon re-exposure to inhaled allergens such as ryegrass pollen, releasing histamine and inflammatory mediators that cause sneezing, nasal congestion, and itching. A functional medicine approach may target…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer The gut-skin axis links intestinal microbiome health to visible skin ageing through three interconnected pathways: systemic inflammation, immune dysregulation, and impaired nutrient absorption. Disruptions in gut barrier integrity may increase circulating lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Histamine intolerance results from insufficient diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme activity, which may allow dietary and endogenous histamine to accumulate and trigger multi-system symptoms affecting the skin, gut, respiratory tract, and hormonal balance. Reduced DAO activity is commonly associated with AOC1 gene polymorphisms, intestinal…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) is a digestive condition where excess bacteria colonise the small intestine, leading to fermentation, gas production, and impaired nutrient absorption. Effective long-term management may involve lactulose or glucose breath testing to identify hydrogen- or methane-dominant patterns, targeted antimicrobial…
Author: Rohan Smith | Functional Medicine Practitioner | Adelaide, SA Quick Answer Akkermansia muciniphila is a mucin-degrading gut bacterium that may support intestinal barrier integrity, help regulate systemic inflammation, and improve metabolic markers including insulin sensitivity and glucose homeostasis. Research published in journals such as Nature Medicine and Gut has associated higher Akkermansia abundance with…
