You plan your day around bathrooms.
You can’t eat before meetings because you never know how your stomach will react. That bloating after lunch? It’s not normal, but it’s become your normal.
Maybe you have an IBS diagnosis. Maybe your doctor just shrugged and said “it’s stress” or “try probiotics.” You’ve cut gluten, dairy, maybe everything that tastes good—and you still feel like garbage.
Here’s what nobody’s telling you: Your gut isn’t broken. It’s responding to something. And generic elimination diets won’t find it because they’re guessing. We don’t guess.
We work with people right here in Hamilton—from Westdale to the Mountain, Dundas to Stoney Creek—who are done playing dietary whack-a-mole and ready for answers that actually stick.
Why Cutting Random Foods Isn’t Working
You’ve already tried:
- Going gluten-free (helped a little, then stopped)
- Probiotics from three different stores
- That elimination diet your friend swears by
- Eating “clean” (whatever that means)
Some days are better. Most aren’t. And you’re exhausted from the guesswork.
The problem isn’t that you haven’t tried enough things. It’s that you’re treating symptoms without understanding root causes.
Your gut issues have triggers—specific, identifiable triggers. Could be SIBO. Could be motility issues. Could be your nervous system keeping your gut in fight-or-flight mode. Could be bile acid problems that look exactly like IBS-D but need completely different approaches.
At Vicaria Health, we’re in downtown Hamilton. We see people in our office or virtually—whatever works for you. Whether you’re walking over from Durand or logging in from Ancaster, we build protocols based on what’s actually happening in your gut, not what worked for someone else.
How We Actually Fix Digestive Issues
We use a root-cause approach built on three pillars:
Testing That Gives Us Answers
We don’t make you eliminate foods randomly. Comprehensive stool testing, SIBO breath tests, and food sensitivity panels tell us what we’re dealing with. Then we build your protocol around data, not hunches. No more guessing whether garlic is the problem or if it’s the stress from your job.
Protocols That Target Your Specific Issues
IBS-D needs different strategies than IBS-C. SIBO requires a completely different approach than general inflammation. GERD that’s medication-resistant? There are underlying causes we can work with. We use evidence-based frameworks—Low FODMAP (Monash trained), Bi-Phasic Diet for SIBO, gut-brain axis regulation—tailored to what testing reveals about your gut.
Nervous System Work That Lets Your Gut Heal
Your gut and brain are in constant conversation. If your nervous system is stuck in stress mode, your digestion can’t work right no matter what you eat. We help you regulate the vagus nerve and calm the gut-brain axis so your body can actually digest food properly.
What Makes Vicaria Health Different
- Functional medicine approach We find root causes, not just manage symptoms
- Evidence-based testing Comprehensive stool panels, SIBO breath tests, food sensitivity analysis
- Monash FODMAP trained Proper Low FODMAP implementation, not generic versions
- SIBO specialist Experience with both hydrogen and methane-dominant presentations
- Gut-brain axis expertise We address the nervous system component most practitioners ignore
- Local to Hamilton Downtown location, serving the whole city and virtual clients across Ontario
- Work alongside your doctor We complement your medical care and communicate with your healthcare team
This Is for You If…
- You have IBS (any type—C, D, M, or unspecified) and conventional approaches aren’t cutting it
- You suspect SIBO or have been diagnosed but don’t know what to do next
- Chronic bloating is affecting your work, social life, or relationships
- GERD or acid reflux won’t respond to medication alone
- You’ve tried elimination diets but don’t know how to reintroduce foods properly
- Food sensitivities are controlling what you can eat
- You’re ready to invest in actually solving this instead of just managing it
We work with people across Hamilton—Westdale, Hamilton Mountain, Dundas, Ancaster, Waterdown, Stoney Creek, Burlington—plus virtual clients throughout Ontario who want functional nutrition expertise without geographic limits.
Questions You’re Probably Asking
How is this different from advice I can find online?
Free advice is generic. We test to find your specific triggers, then build a protocol for your gut, not a theoretical average person. Plus, implementation matters—knowing you should try Low FODMAP is different from having someone guide you through elimination, reintroduction, and personalization phases properly.
Do I need to get tested, or can I just start?
You can start without testing, but you’ll get faster, more targeted results with data. Testing tells us whether you have SIBO, what’s happening with your microbiome, if you have bile acid issues, and which foods your immune system actually reacts to. That cuts months off the trial-and-error process.
What if I’ve already tried Low FODMAP and it didn’t work?
Most people who “tried FODMAP” either didn’t eliminate properly, didn’t reintroduce systematically, or actually have SIBO (which needs treatment before FODMAP helps). We’re Monash trained, meaning we implement the protocol the way the researchers who developed it intended. That makes a huge difference.
Will this work if I have SIBO?
SIBO needs specific protocols—either herbal antimicrobials or prescription antibiotics, plus dietary support and prokinetic strategies to prevent recurrence. We work alongside your doctor or naturopath if you’re doing medical treatment, or we can guide you through evidence-based herbal protocols. Most people see significant improvement within 6-12 weeks.
How long before I see results?
Depends on what we’re addressing. Nervous system regulation often shows benefits within 2-3 weeks. SIBO treatment takes 6-12 weeks. Low FODMAP elimination phase is 2-6 weeks, then reintroduction is another 6-8 weeks. We’re not selling quick fixes—we’re building sustainable gut health that lasts.
Do you work with my doctor?
Absolutely. We complement medical care, we don’t replace it. Many of our clients are also seeing gastroenterologists or naturopaths. We’re happy to communicate with your healthcare team and share relevant testing or progress updates.
What about the cost?
Initial consultations include comprehensive intake and protocol development. Follow-up sessions provide ongoing support, troubleshooting, and protocol refinement. Testing is separate (we use third-party labs) but optional—you decide what makes sense for your situation and budget. Many people find that finally solving their gut issues saves money long-term compared to years of supplements that don’t work.
Let’s Find Out What’s Really Going On
We’ll talk about your symptoms, what you’ve already tried, and whether functional testing and root-cause protocols make sense for your situation.
No pressure. No sales pitch. Just an honest conversation about what it takes to fix digestive issues for real.
Ready to stop planning your life around your gut?