Root Cause IBS Care
Functional Medicine Treatment for IBS: Finding What's Actually Driving Your Symptoms
IBS is often diagnosed after other conditions are ruled out, then managed with dietary restriction or medication for symptom relief alone. Functional medicine treatment for IBS investigates the specific driver behind your symptoms, whether that is bacterial overgrowth, food reactivity, or gut motility. Julie McDonald, MMS, PA-C, FMACP, sees patients in-person in Marquette, MI and virtually in Michigan through the 12-Week Reset. The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on.
Trusted & loved by our patients.
Years of clinical experience
Beyond a Diagnosis of Exclusion
IBS Treatment That Looks for the Underlying Driver
An IBS diagnosis confirms a symptom pattern, but it does not explain why the pattern exists. Functional medicine treatment for IBS tests for common underlying drivers, including SIBO, food sensitivities, and dysbiosis, combined with genetic testing. Available in Marquette, Michigan and through fully virtual consultations in Michigan.
- Comprehensive stool testing for infection, dysbiosis, and inflammatory markers
- SIBO breath testing, since it underlies a significant portion of IBS cases
- Personalized dietary and gut-repair protocol
Is This Right for You
Functional Medicine Treatment for IBS Is for People Who Want More Than Symptom Management
Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea
This unpredictable pattern often points to an underlying motility or bacterial imbalance. See our chronic diarrhea page for the diarrhea-predominant pattern.
Told to 'Just Manage Your Stress'
Stress can worsen gut symptoms, but it is rarely the sole cause. Functional testing looks for physiological drivers alongside stress.
Bloating Tied to Specific Foods
Consistent reactions to certain foods often point to an identifiable, testable cause rather than a permanent sensitivity.
Symptoms That Flare Without a Clear Pattern
Unpredictable flares are frustrating precisely because the underlying trigger hasn't been identified yet.
Anxiety Alongside Digestive Symptoms
The gut-brain connection is well established. Addressing gut function often improves both digestive and mood symptoms together.
Remote Patients Seeking Expert IBS Care
We offer complete virtual IBS care in Michigan. Test kits are mailed directly to you, with results reviewed via telehealth.
Over 22 years of medical experience ★★★★★
The Monarch FM Process
How We Approach Functional Medicine Treatment for IBS at Monarch FM
IBS is a description of symptoms, not a root cause. Our process tests for the specific drivers most commonly underlying an IBS diagnosis, then builds a protocol around what we actually find in your case.
- 22 Years of Clinical Experience
- MMS | PA-C | FMACP Certified Provider
- In-Person in Marquette, MI | Virtual in Michigan
Comprehensive Gut and Genetic Testing
We evaluate stool markers, SIBO breath testing, and genetic testing to identify the specific pattern behind your IBS diagnosis.
Identifying Your Trigger Pattern
Julie McDonald reviews your results against your symptom history to determine whether SIBO, food reactivity, or gut barrier dysfunction is the primary driver.
Personalized Dietary and Repair Protocol
Your protocol is built around your specific triggers, not a generic low FODMAP handout, and includes gut repair support alongside dietary guidance.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustment
We track symptom patterns and adjust your protocol as your gut function improves, rather than leaving you on a restrictive diet indefinitely.
Why Monarch Functional Medicine
IBS Is a Description, Not a Diagnosis. Let's Find the Actual Cause.
Most patients who come to Monarch Functional Medicine for IBS have already tried elimination diets with limited lasting success. Related pages include broader gut health, SIBO, leaky gut, and chronic diarrhea.
Questions & Answers
Frequently Asked Questions
What is IBS?
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a diagnosis describing a pattern of abdominal pain along with altered bowel habits, constipation, diarrhea, or both, once other conditions have been ruled out through standard testing. It is a description of symptoms rather than an explanation of their cause. At Monarch Functional Medicine, we test for the specific underlying drivers, including SIBO and food reactivity, available in Marquette, Michigan and virtually in Michigan.
Is IBS just caused by stress?
Stress can worsen gut symptoms through the gut-brain axis, but it is rarely the complete explanation. A substantial number of IBS cases involve identifiable physiological drivers such as small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, food sensitivities, or prior gut infections that standard workups do not routinely test for.
Can functional medicine find what's causing my IBS?
In many cases, yes. Functional medicine testing for IBS looks specifically for SIBO, dysbiosis, food sensitivities, and intestinal permeability, factors a standard IBS workup does not typically evaluate. Identifying the specific driver allows for a targeted protocol instead of general symptom management.
Can IBS be treated virtually?
Yes. Monarch Functional Medicine offers complete virtual IBS care in Michigan. Stool and breath test kits are mailed directly to you, with consultations and protocol reviews conducted via telehealth.
How long does IBS treatment take to work?
Many patients notice improved regularity and reduced bloating within 4 to 8 weeks of starting a personalized protocol, with continued improvement through the 12-Week Reset (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on), as the underlying driver is addressed.
Do I need a referral for IBS treatment?
No referral is required. You can book a free 15-minute strategy call directly to discuss your symptoms and testing options.
What does IBS treatment cost?
Care begins through the 12-Week Energy, Hormone and Metabolism Reset (The 12 Week Reset is our foundational program, and where every patient begins. Comprehensive bloodwork (including hormones) and genetic testing give us a clear picture of what’s driving how you feel — so we can build your specific plan across Nutrition, Sleep, Stress, Supplements, and Mindfulness, the foundation functional medicine builds on), priced at $849 paid in full or three payments of $297, with stool and breath testing available as needed.
What qualifies Julie McDonald to treat IBS?
Julie McDonald holds a Master of Medical Science (MMS), is a board-certified PA-C with the FMACP designation, and has 22 years of clinical experience, with gut health among her core areas of focus. Learn more on the About Us page.
Patient Results
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The Monarch FM Standard
Clinical Expertise. Advanced Testing. A Protocol Built for You.
Julie McDonald is a MMS, PA-C, and FMACP with 22 years across Emergency, Family, and Internal Medicine. Monarch Functional Medicine runs the labs most providers never order, interprets them through a functional medicine lens, and builds a protocol specific to your biology. Learn more about Julie or book a free strategy call today.
Ready to Start
IBS Is a Label. Let's Find What's Actually Behind It.
Functional medicine treatment for IBS at Monarch FM tests for the specific driver behind your symptoms, then builds a protocol around it. See us in person in Marquette, MI or work with us virtually from anywhere in Michigan.
Join hundreds of patients who have reclaimed their energy, hormones, and health.
