Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine for IBS and SIBO in Lethbridge
Bloated by the afternoon. Tired of being told you're fine.
Bloating after your usual breakfast. Days of constipation or an urgent trip to the bathroom. Whether you're living with IBS or diagnosed SIBO, you deserve to be heard and understand what comes next.
Feel at home in your body again.
You've changed what you eat. You've tried to work around your gut. At Forward Health & Vitality, we take time to understand your symptoms, what you've already tried, and how IBS or SIBO is affecting your life. Then we discuss how Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can help.
Your food list keeps shrinking. Your symptoms still dictate the day.
With IBS, it might mean cramping through a meeting, checking where the bathrooms are, or waiting days for a bowel movement. Normal test results don't make any of that less real.
With diagnosed SIBO, it might mean uncomfortable fullness after meals and wondering why symptoms persist or return after treatment. When you've already spent time and money looking for relief, trying again can feel like a lot to ask.
A diagnosis shouldn't be the end of the conversation.
IBS and SIBO can feel similar. They aren't the same condition.
IBS involves recurring abdominal pain with constipation, diarrhea, or both, and changes in how the gut and brain interact. SIBO involves excess bacteria in the small intestine. Symptoms can overlap, but bloating alone doesn't tell us which condition you have.
We begin with your symptom history, existing diagnoses, and what has or hasn't helped. Pulse and tongue assessment inform your Chinese medicine plan; they do not diagnose SIBO. We'll explain our recommendations and when further medical assessment belongs with your doctor.
Meet Dr. Josh Prefontaine, Dr. Ac.
I focus on digestive care because I know these symptoms affect far more than your meals. I want to hear what happens on a difficult day and what you've already tried. We'll discuss your options, agree on what to track, and review how you're responding so you understand the next step.
Diploma, Canadian Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine · Advanced training in Chinese herbal medicine and pulse diagnosis
A clear starting point. Support at every step.
Know what we're assessing, why we're recommending it, and how we'll review your progress. You can ask questions before deciding whether care is right for you.
-
1
Book your Gut Pattern Blueprint
A 60-minute in-person assessment for women with IBS/SIBO. Here is what you get:
- We go through your symptoms, health history, diet, sleep and stress.
- You receive a medical pulse diagnosis and tongue analysis.
- We review any past test results you bring.
- You get a TCM food plan and lifestyle guide built from your assessment, so you leave with dietary and lifestyle changes you can start right away, whether or not you decide to become a patient.
If you start a care plan within 14 days, the full assessment fee comes off your plan.
-
2
Understand your pattern and your plan
Based on your assessment, your plan may include:
- Weekly custom blended herbal formulas based on your pattern
- Acupuncture for pain and stress reduction
- A TCM diet plan built for your pattern
- Lifestyle guidance for sleep, stress and daily habits
- Weekly check-ins to track your symptoms and adjust your formula
-
3
Review your progress and your next steps
We'll track what matters in your day: bowel movements, discomfort after meals, and how symptoms affect your plans. Together, we'll review what's changing and whether to adjust care. Our goal is to help you manage with less ongoing support.
The Forward Patient Promise
Honest answers
We'll explain where our care may help, what remains uncertain, and when another clinician is better placed to help.
Herbs checked for you
Every formula is reviewed against your medications and health history.
A plan we reassess
We'll review your response and whether continuing herbs makes sense. The goal is to reduce ongoing treatment when appropriate.
Clear costs up front
You'll know what your plan costs before you start. Treatment plans generally range from $300 to $750 per month over several months, depending on what you need. Receipts for insurance reimbursement are provided.
Not another list of foods to cut.
When even your usual safe foods leave you uncomfortable, another restriction can feel like one more thing to get wrong. We look at what you eat, how symptoms unfold, and what you're already doing, so dietary guidance has a clear purpose and fits your life.
Imagine finishing a meal and not thinking about your stomach.
- Regular, comfortable bowel movements
- Eating out without scanning the menu for something safe
- Getting through the afternoon with less discomfort
- Knowing which habits help and what to do when symptoms change
When you're tired of figuring it out alone
- Wondering whether feeling this way is your new normal
- Trying another supplement without knowing what to expect
- Saying no to plans you'd rather say yes to
Digestive care built around your history and symptoms.
Chinese herbal medicine
Your custom made formula is selected based on your assessment and reviewed as your symptoms change. Whether you have IBS or diagnosed SIBO, your history and current medical care help guide the discussion.
Acupuncture
Gut symptoms can leave you tense and worn out. In person, acupuncture may be included to support comfort and relaxation as part of your plan. We'll explain its role alongside herbal care.
Virtual care · Outside the Lethbridge area
Not in Lethbridge? You can still work with us.
Living with IBS or diagnosed SIBO shouldn't mean a long drive for every appointment. Outside the Lethbridge area, your herbal medicine consultations and weekly check-ins happen by video, with herbs shipped to you. Virtual care does not include acupuncture.
Virtual care is for patients outside the Lethbridge area. If you live within reasonable driving distance of Lethbridge, we'll see you in person at our clinic.
Book a virtual assessment- Video appointments from home
- Herbal formula made for your pattern, shipped to your door
- Weekly check-ins and diet guidance, just like in person
Not ready to book? Start with the free 7 Day Gut Reset.
If you're tired of conflicting food advice, start with a simple day-by-day guide rooted in Chinese dietary therapy. Explore warm, simple meals over seven days. It's a starting point for your routine, not a treatment for SIBO or a promise to resolve IBS. Free, and yours instantly.
Get the free guideWhat our patients say on Google
You don't have to keep pushing through.
Start with The Gut Pattern Blueprint, a 60-minute in-person assessment. Talk through your IBS or SIBO history, ask your questions, and understand your options. If you start a care plan within 14 days, the full assessment fee comes off your plan.
Book The Gut Pattern BlueprintBy video, anywhere in Alberta
Mon, Fri: 9 am to 5 pm
Tue, Wed: 10 am to 3:30 pm
Thu: 9 am to 3:30 pm
Sat, Sun: Closed