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1670 ROUTE 34 N. 3R FLOOR SUITE 3C WALL • NJ 07727
732 268-7663
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Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Successfully diagnose and treat your IBS with a personalized, root-cause approach.

Addressing IBS and Gut Health

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common but complex gastrointestinal disorder that affects millions of people, causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and gas. IBS can severely impact your physical, emotional, and mental well-being, as its symptoms often interfere with your daily life. At Michael Rothman MD, we treat IBS using a holistic, metabolically directed approach that targets the underlying metabolic imbalances contributing to your digestive issues.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), image of a woman holding her stomach.
With his extensive expertise in both traditional and alternative medicine, Dr. Michael Rothman focuses on natural, non-toxic therapies to restore your gut health and improve your overall well-being. Rather than simply managing your symptoms, our approach is designed to address the root causes of your IBS, such as poor digestion, dysbiosis (gut flora imbalance), autonomic dysfunction, metabolic imbalances, environmental illness, hormonal imbalances and food sensitivities.

Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

If you are experiencing symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and are seeking effective, metabolically directed treatments, contact us online or call (732) 268-7663 for a consultation with Dr. Rothman.

What are the Symptoms of IBS?

The symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can vary from person to person, but the most common include:

  • Abdominal Pain and Cramping: Often associated with bowel movements, this discomfort can range from mild to severe.
  • Bloating: A sensation of fullness or swelling in your abdomen, often accompanied by visible distension.
  • Constipation: Difficulty in passing stools, with infrequent or hard bowel movements (often referred to as IBS-C).
  • Diarrhea: Frequent, loose, or watery stools, often referred to as IBS-D.
  • Alternating Constipation and Diarrhea: Many people experience a mix of both, known as IBS-M.
  • Gas and Excessive Flatulence: Increased gas production that leads to discomfort
  • Mucus in Stools:  Clear, white, or yellowish gel-like substance noticed within or coating your stool.
  • Urgent Need to Defecate: A sudden, uncontrollable urge to have a bowel movement.
  • Feeling of Incomplete Evacuation: The sensation that you haven’t completely emptied your bowels.
  • Nausea: Some individuals experience nausea, often related to digestive upset.


Stress, specific foods, or hormonal changes often trigger or worsen these symptoms. Due to the complexity of diagnosing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), with its overlapping symptoms and potential for comorbid conditions such as food sensitivities, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic imbalances, hormonal imbalance and environmental illness, it is essential to consult a knowledgeable doctor for an accurate diagnosis. IBS can be challenging to manage without addressing the root causes. A holistic, metabolically directed treatment approach can help restore your gut health, alleviate symptoms, and improve your overall well-being.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), image of a person making food on a cutting board.

Our Functional and Metabolic Medicine Approach to IBS

At Michael Rothman MD, we understand the significant impact that metabolic imbalances have on your digestive health and overall well-being. Our approach to treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) involves a comprehensive, metabolically directed method to identify and address the root causes of your symptoms, such as gut dysbiosis, food intolerances, and autonomic dysfunction.

Diagnostic Methods Used:

  • Comprehensive evaluation of your dietary habits, environmental exposures, and stress levels
  • In-clinic metabolic testing to determine your acid-base balance, anabolic/catabolic, and autonomic nervous system balance.  
  • Comprehensive Stool tests to identify abnormal bowel flora growth, parasites and other stealth organisms, inflammatory markers, and other factors contributing to your symptoms. 
  • Blood tests to identify your nutritional deficiencies, thyroid status, hormone levels, inflammatory markers, genetic predispositions, hidden infections and  other root causes of your symptoms. 
  • In some cases, imaging, like CT scans and ultrasound may be used to identify any structural abnormalities contributing to your IBS symptoms.
  • Other functional tests like SIBO breath tests, heavy metal testing, and mycotoxin testing.

Potential Treatment Options:

  • Lifestyle modifications to enhance your digestive health.
  • Personalized dietary modifications to reduce chronic inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, metabolic imbalance, hormonal imbalance, environmental illness, bacterial overgrowth, and nutrient deficiencies. 
  • Utilization of foods and supplements to normalize your liver, gallbladder, or digestive function
  • Foods and supplements to improve your digestion and reduce your inflammation.
  • Metabolic therapy
  • Identify and address the underlying environmental issues that are stressing your body.
  • Probiotics to restore the normal population of your gut flora.
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Why Choose Functional and Metabolic Medicine for IBS?

Functional and metabolic medicine takes a unique approach to treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) compared to traditional medical practices. Rather than just managing symptoms, this approach seeks to identify and address the root causes of your IBS, such as metabolic imbalances, gut dysbiosis,hormone imbalances, environmental illness, stealth organisms and food sensitivities. This comprehensive method examines the interactions between your diet, stress levels, lifestyle, and environment, all of which influence your digestive health.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), image of a man holding his stomach.
With a functional and metabolic medicine approach, we create personalized treatment plans tailored to your specific needs. By focusing on optimizing gut health through dietary modifications, stress reduction, and lifestyle changes and reduction of your overall toxic load we aim to restore balance to your digestive system naturally. This holistic approach alleviates IBS symptoms and  promotes long-term wellness and gut function, ensuring you achieve a sustainable return to health.
Choosing functional and metabolic medicine for IBS means committing to a deeper, more personalized level of care that addresses the underlying causes and helps restore your digestive health from the inside out.

Ready to Take Control of Your Health?

If you are experiencing symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and are seeking effective, metabolically directed treatments, contact us online or call (732) 268-7663 for a consultation with Dr. Rothman.

Meet Dr. Michael Rothman:
Holistic Health and Metabolic Medicine Expert

Dr. Michael Rothman is a Functional and Metabolic Medicine Specialist with over two decades of holistic practice. Drawing on his personal experience with Crohn’s disease, he is passionate about utilizing metabolically directed functional medicine to address complex health conditions, like IBS. Dr. Rothman’s comprehensive method considers dietary habits, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors to identify and treat the metabolic imbalances at the root of health issues.

Certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, he also holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and previously in Emergency Medicine. His unique approach integrates knowledge from nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, and physics, alongside extensive training in environmental illness, medical acupuncture, naturopathy, Reiki, qigong, and oriental martial arts. Patients can expect a thorough, individualized approach aimed at restoring and maintaining lasting well-being.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some risk factors for IBS?
Numerous risk factors can increase your likelihood of developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). These include having a family history of IBS, being a woman, and experiencing mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. Also prior use of medications such as acid relievers and antibiotics, poorly treated or unrecognized thyroid disease and hormone imbalance are contributory.  Additionally, prior gastrointestinal infections or significant life stressors may also elevate your risk of developing IBS.
How is IBS diagnosed?
Irritable Bowel Syndrome is diagnosed through medical history, symptom assessment, and exclusion of other conditions through blood and stool testing. There is no specific test for IBS, so diagnosis focuses on symptom patterns.
Is IBS a risk factor for other serious diseases?
The short answer is yes. If you suffer from IBS, this indicates that you may have many hormonal, metabolic, and nutritional problems that are among the root causes of your IBS. And these root causes, if not properly addressed, will eventually lead you to have many other health problems.
What are some common triggers for IBS?
Anything that stresses your body systems can lead to your flares. These stressors include lack of sleep, overwork, too much exercise, poor diet, alcohol, smoking, drugs, stealth organisms, emotional issues, environmental exposures and many other factors.
What can I do to help with IBS symptoms?

To help manage IBS symptoms, consider dietary modifications such as adopting a healthy (Edibolic) diet, avoiding sugar, toxic seed oils, excessive carbohydrates, staying hydrated and eating healthy fats at each meal. This type of diet reduces intake of toxic oils, helps stabilize your blood sugar and reduces autonomic dysfunction. Make sure that you thoughtfully plan your meals, and eat in a calm, relaxed atmosphere. Regular exercise, stress management techniques, and adequate sleep are also extremely important.

A medical doctor who is well-versed in IBS, like Michael Rothman MD, can guide you in creating a personalized management plan.

Can bacteria affect IBS symptoms?
Your gut microbiome, composed of various bacteria, can influence your IBS symptoms. An imbalance in gut bacteria like SIBO may contribute to the bloating, abdominal pain, and irregular bowel habits associated with IBS, You may benefit from digestive enzymes, interventions to increase your bile flow, hormonal and metabolic balancing, and individualized use of probiotics to repopulate your gut with a healthy balance of bacteria.
Is IBS a chronic condition?
Yes, your IBS will be chronic if the root causes of your condition are not properly addressed. Merely treating your symptoms may provide you some temporary relief, however, you will continue to suffer unless your root causes are addressed.
What is the difference between IBS and IBD?

While there are some overlapping symptoms, IBS and IBD are different conditions with different causes. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by symptoms such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits without structural abnormalities. Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), which includes autoimmune conditions like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, involves chronic inflammation of your gastrointestinal tract that can lead to visible damage in your intestinal lining.

A medical doctor  who is knowledgeable and well-versed in both IBD and IBS, like Michael Rothman MD, can uncover and treat the root causes of your condition.

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