6 Month Protocol

Gut Healing Decision Tree

Your ultimate step-by-step roadmap for how to heal your gut & eliminate your symptoms over the next 6 months

Top Root Causes

These are the core areas that we work to support through each phase of your plan.

Digestive Issues:

  • Low Stomach Acid
  • Poor Bile Flow
  • Low Digestive Enzymes
  • Poor Mealtime Hygiene

Tools: Betaine HCL, Pancreatic Enzymes, Ox Bile, Digestive Bitters, Pre & Post Meal Rituals

Motility Issues:

  • Constipation/Backed Up Stool
  • Delayed Gastric Emptying
  • Poor Migrating Motor Complex

Tools: Magnesium Oxide/Citrate, Iberogast, Ginger Extract, Post Meal Walks, Proper Meal Timing & Spacing

Nervous System Issues:

  • Poor Gut-Brain Connection
  • Poor Vagus Nerve Function
  • Under Eating / Overtraining
  • Poor Sleep / Chronic Stress

Tools: Nerva, Diaphragmatic Breathing, Morning Routine, Reduced Screen Time, Time In Nature, HeartMath

Microbiome Imbalances:

  • Unwanted Overgrowths
  • Depleted Microbiome
  • Leaky Gut
  • Immune Dysregulation

Tools: Probiotics, Antimicrobials, Prebiotics, Tributyrin, Zinc Carnosine, Immunoglobulins

Foundational Habits

These are the habits/routines that you need to be doing along with your supplements in order to be successful. These can’t just be things you do when you “feel like it”, they need to be something you commit to doing DAILY as part of your healing journey.

Remember, supplements alone will NOT be enough to heal your gut if you're not also doing these foundational things each day.

Do the Transit Time Test to measure how long food takes to move through your digestive tract. This should be done monthly to track progress. (24 hours is ideal)

Implement all the pre & post meal rituals from the Digestion Optimization Training.

Eat at least 3 square meals per day, with your last meal 3-4 hours before bed.

Get on a consistent sleep/wake cycle, and aim for 8 hours of quality sleep each night.

Support your gut-brain connection daily through tools like Nerva, or anything else listed in the Nervous System Training.

Month One

Optimize Digestion & Motility

After implementing your month one protocol for 3–4 weeks, ask yourself…

Question 1

Am I noticing any improvements in my symptoms with the digestive support supplements?

Question 2

Am I noticing any improvements in my symptoms with the motility support supplements?

If the answer is No…

Step One

Redo the Transit Time Test

See how long it takes for food to travel through your entire digestive tract, and whether or not you have backed up stool that needs to be cleared out. (Especially if you are waking up bloated.)

Is your transit time 36+ hours? If so, consider a one-time clear out or introduce more motility support.
Step Two

Test a small amount of high FODMAP foods

Try apples, beans, garlic, or onion to see how you respond.

If these foods make your symptoms significantly worse, this is a good sign of a potential overgrowth, consider introducing herbal antimicrobials within the next month.
Month Two

Digestion / Motility + Immune Support

After working through the steps in month one, decide which supplements to keep or replace.

If you have noticed zero improvement with the digestive support supplements:

Remove:
Pancreatic Enzyme ComplexBetaine HCL
Replace With:
Saccharomyces BoulardiiMegaIgG2000MultivitaminCurcumin

Our goal at this point is to introduce supplements that address nutrient deficiencies, support the immune system, reduce inflammation, and/or bind onto various toxins that can cause irritation.

Probiotic Categories

Probiotics are extensively studied for treating chronic GI symptoms, and many have antimicrobial properties that can help eradicate unwanted organisms.

Unless we have 100% confirmation of an existing overgrowth/pathogen, I would almost ALWAYS suggest experimenting with one or multiple probiotics before adding in herbal antimicrobials.

There are 3 main categories to choose from:

Saccharomyces Boulardii
Lacto/Bifido
Spore-Based
Each person responds differently. Trial each category to see if there's one that really helps. Many people also notice enhanced benefits from combining all three types together (if well tolerated).
It usually takes at least 30–60 days to achieve peak benefits from probiotics. Don't expect everything to miraculously improve overnight.
Month Three

Antimicrobial Support

After implementing the new probiotics & immune support in month two, ask yourself…

Question 1

Have I noticed ANY improvements with the digestive support supplements?

If no, consider discontinuing the Digestive Bitters, Betaine HCL, & Pancreatic Enzyme Complex.

Question 2

Have I noticed any improvements with the probiotic or other immune-support supplements?

  • If no, consider layering another probiotic in from a different category, or replacing it if you had a poor reaction.
  • This is also a sign that it's time to move on to the herbal antimicrobials.

Introduce Herbal Antimicrobials

If we are still not noticing improvements in symptoms, introduce herbal antimicrobials to eradicate possible overgrowths.

Start with Biocidin Liquid: 1 drop mixed in water, 2×/day, gradually increasing to 15 drops 2×/day.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It's perfectly normal to experience a "die-off reaction" at this stage of the process due to the herbal antimicrobials. In fact, this is often a good sign that the antimicrobials are killing off certain organisms that shouldn't be there.

This reaction often lasts 1-2 weeks before subsiding, but if you start to feel too uncomfortable, cut the dose in half or pause the supplement for a day or two, and reach out to your coach for instructions on next steps.

You can learn more about how to navigate die-off reactions in the Pathogen Purge Training.

Month Four

Antimicrobial + Biofilm Support

If still no improvements after one bottle of Biocidin Liquid…

  • Consider adding Olivirex or a second antimicrobial. (Berberine, Allicin, Oil of Oregano, etc..)
  • Consider adding Sustain NAC for more biofilm disruption.
Month Five

Continue Antimicrobials or Leaky Gut + Nervous System Support

If you have STILL not noticed any improvements in symptoms…

Step One

Redo the Transit Time Test

See if your motility & transit time have improved, or if it's still taking 36+ hours for food to be eliminated after eating.

  • If so, implement a one-time "clear out" if you haven't already done so.
  • Consider introducing additional constipation/motility support strategies and getting evaluated for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.
Step Two

Increase Support for Gut-Brain Connection

Begin implementing more tools to support your gut-brain connection & nervous system.

  • Incorporate daily Nerva sessions. (must be done DAILY over 6 weeks for optimal results)
  • Practice 10-20 minutes of Diaphragmatic Breathing daily.
  • Implement other daily exercises for Abdominophrenic Dyssynergia (APD) & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction.
Step Three

Leaky Gut Protocol

Move on to the leaky gut protocol and implement the following steps...

First, consider rotating or layering probiotics from a different category:

  • Spore-Based Probiotics (Microbiome Labs - MegaSpore or RestorFlora)
  • Bifidobacteria Probiotics (Seeking Health - Bifidobacterium)
  • Saccharomyces Boulardii (Florastor - Saccharomyces Boulardii)

Next, layer in additional immune/gut lining support: (ones you haven't tried)

  • Multivitamin
  • Curcumin
  • Tributyrin
  • Lactoferrin
  • Immunoglobulins
  • Zinc Carnosine
  • L-Glutamine

Next, layer in a prebiotic fiber powder: (start slow & increase gradually)

  • HMO Prebiotic
  • Sunfiber
  • MegaPre Prebiotic

Other Factors to Consider

Consider other factors that contribute to chronic bloating & distention:

Overtraining / Undereating

Too much exercise or not eating enough can slow digestion and increase stress on the body. Bloating may come with constipation, fatigue, poor recovery, feeling cold, or menstrual changes.

NEXT STEPS

Track food intake, exercise, recovery, and symptoms for 1-2 weeks. Try increasing calories, reducing intense exercise, and adding rest days to see whether bloating improves.

Hypothyroidism

Low thyroid hormone can slow intestinal motility, contributing to constipation, gas retention, and bloating. Other signs may include fatigue, feeling cold, dry skin, hair loss, brain fog, and unexplained weight gain.

NEXT STEPS

Ask your healthcare provider to run a full comprehensive thyroid panel that includes TSH, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and TPO antibodies - especially when bloating and constipation occur with other thyroid-related symptoms.

Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids can create lower-abdominal fullness or press on the bowel, making constipation and bloating worse. Symptoms may include heavy periods, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, or a firm lower-belly bulge.

NEXT STEPS

Ask an OB-GYN about a pelvic exam and pelvic ultrasound, especially if bloating occurs with heavy bleeding or pelvic pressure.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis can cause pelvic inflammation and bowel symptoms that lead to painful or significant bloating. Symptoms often worsen around the period and may include pelvic pain, painful bowel movements, constipation, or diarrhea.

NEXT STEPS

Track symptoms across the menstrual cycle and discuss them with an endometriosis-informed OB-GYN. Ultrasound may help rule out other problems, but endometriosis is sometimes diagnosed based on symptoms or laparoscopy.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The pelvic floor may not relax properly during bowel movements, making it difficult to release stool and gas. Common signs include straining, incomplete evacuation, rectal pressure, or needing laxatives to go.

NEXT STEPS

See a pelvic-floor physical therapist or GI motility specialist. Testing may include a rectal exam, balloon-expulsion test, or anorectal manometry.

Abdominophrenic Dyssynergia (APD)

APD causes the diaphragm to move downward while the abdominal wall relaxes outward, creating visible distention without necessarily having excessive gas. The stomach may be flatter in the morning and expand after meals or throughout the day.

NEXT STEPS

Look for visible, meal-related distention that is not explained by constipation or food fermentation. Treatment typically involves specialized breathing and biofeedback exercises, sometimes with a pelvic-floor physical therapist.

When looking for a pelvic-floor therapist, choose someone who specializes in gut-related dysfunction, constipation, and incomplete evacuation, and who works with testing or tools such as anorectal manometry, balloon-expulsion testing, and instrument-assisted biofeedback. Ideally, they should also have experience retraining diaphragm-abdominal wall coordination for APD.
Month Six

Continue Leaky Gut + Nervous System Support

Continue with the recommendations above, and ask yourself honestly…

Have I been consistently implementing the pre & post meal rituals DAILY, or just sometimes?

Have I been implementing the nervous system tools to improve my gut-brain connection DAILY, or just sometimes?

Have I been consistent with eating three balanced meals each day, and having dinner 3–4 hours before bed?

Have I been intentional about following the steps in the Gut Reseeding Plan to rebuild my gut microbiome?

How much have I been scrolling while eating, eating out, drinking, staying out late, etc…?

Have I explored all the other possible diagnosis listed above to rule out other potential causes?

While you don't need to be 100% strict forever, you do need to be consistent with the basics for a long enough period of time for your gut to heal. Just doing these things occasionally or "when you feel like it" will not be enough to get you across the finish line.