Gut & Digestive Health
Leaky Gut
Gut barrier dysfunction, often called leaky gut, happens when the intestinal lining becomes overly permeable, allowing more irritants to pass through and trigger immune activation and inflammation.
Common Symptoms
- Bloating, gas, or abdominal discomfort, especially after meals
- Constipation, diarrhea, or alternating between the two
- Fatigue that feels ongoing or out of proportion to daily activity
- Food sensitivities or reactions that seem new or worsening
- Brain fog, low mood, or feeling both tired and overstimulated
- Frequent infections or a slower recovery after illness
Likely Root Causes and Contributors
- Damage to the gut lining that increases intestinal permeability
- Chronic stress, which can weaken the gut barrier and promote inflammation
- A diet high in sugar and processed foods, which may irritate the intestinal lining
- Regular alcohol use, which can contribute to gut lining damage
- Frequent or long-term use of NSAIDs and other medications that can disrupt the intestinal barrier
- Ongoing inflammation, which is commonly linked to leaky gut and may overlap with autoimmune conditions
Patient Pain Points We Often Hear
“I look bloated by the end of the day, my stomach hurts, and I am exhausted, but every test I do comes back ‘normal.’”
“I feel like I react to almost everything I eat now, and I never know which food will set off the gas, cramps, or bathroom trips.”
“My skin, joints, mood, and digestion all flare at the same time, and I am tired of being told it is just stress or anxiety when I know my body is trying to say something is wrong.”
Our Approach to Healing
How We Map, Treat, and Sustain Real Recovery from Leaky Gut with the LAM Method™
At Lam Clinic, we rarely see leaky gut show up as “just digestion.” Most people come in because bloating, food reactions, fatigue, brain fog, skin flare-ups, or joint discomfort have started affecting daily life. Our approach to healing uses the three phases of LAM Method™: Learn the Why, Address the Root, Maximize Longevity. Here’s how we use the LAM Method™ to address Leaky Gut:
Phase 1 of LAM Method™
Learn the Why of Leaky Gut
We focus first on identifying why the gut barrier became vulnerable in the first place.
Most relevant tests may include:
- Food Sensitivity and Allergy Testing
- Comprehensive stool test (dysbiosis, infections, beta-glucuronidase, Zonulin for intestinal permeability)
- OAT (organic acids for yeast/bacterial overgrowth)
- Breath Test for Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
- Mycotoxin panel (if chronic toxin exposure suspected)
- Cortisol and Hormone Test (hormones, since cortisol impacts barrier integrity)
Serum Labs may include:
- CBC, CMP
- CRP, ESR (inflammation)
- Vitamin D, B12, folate
- Iron, ferritin, zinc, magnesium (nutrient absorption markers)
- Thyroid panel (often affected in autoimmune leaky gut)
For more information on the tests and labs used to evaluate Leaky Gut, explore our Leaky Gut and SIBO Treatment Service.
Phase 2 of LAM Method™
Address the Root of Leaky Gut
Once we understand what is stressing your gut barrier, we move carefully and step by step.
Targeted Therapies
- Remove common gut triggers with a short elimination diet: Temporarily remove gluten, dairy, and added sugars to reduce irritation to the intestinal lining. Reintroduce foods slowly to identify sensitivities.
- L-glutamine and gut-repair nutrients to support the intestinal lining
- Saccharomyces boulardii to help rebalance the microbiome and reduce inflammatory signaling
- Zinc to support barrier integrity and immune regulation
- Digestive Enzymes: Help break down food more efficiently, reducing gut irritation and supporting the healing of the intestinal lining in leaky gut.
- BPC-157 (Peptide): Supports repair of the gut lining by promoting tissue healing and reducing inflammation associated with leaky gut.
- IV Nutrient Therapy: Delivers key nutrients directly into the bloodstream to support cellular repair and strengthen the gut barrier.
- IV Ozone Autohemotherapy: Enhances oxygenation and modulates immune responses, helping reduce inflammation and support gut lining recovery.
These therapies may help support patients with leaky gut by replenishing depleted nutrients, supporting immune balance, and helping reduce systemic inflammation that can worsen intestinal barrier damage and slow gut healing.
This information is educational, not a prescription. Your actual plan is always individualized, adjusted slowly, and refined based on how your body responds.
Phase 3 of LAM Method™
Maximize Longevity
Lifestyle Foundations
We begin with simple changes that lower daily irritation and support continual repair:
- Focus meals on gut-repair nutrients: Include foods that help support the gut barrier such as bone broth, collagen-rich foods, and protein sources that provide amino acids like glutamine.
- Rebuild the gut microbiome: Support beneficial bacteria with targeted probiotics and fermented foods when tolerated to help restore microbial balance.
- Support intestinal lining repair: Nutrients and compounds such as aloe, collagen, and glutamine can help soothe the gut lining and support barrier restoration.
- Stress Reduction to prevent further leaky gut
NEM Response Circuits
How Your Body Regulate Stress
Your body handles stress through six interconnected circuits. When even one is out of balance, symptoms can show up in your heart, hormones, energy, and more.
Top Articles
Expert Insights on Leaky Gut
How to Find Out If You Have Leaky Gut – Part 1
Read moreHow to Find Out If You Have Leaky Gut – Part 2
Read moreHow to Find Out If You Have Leaky Gut – Part 3
Read more6 Ways to Improve Your Leaky Gut
Read moreGut Wall Supplements to Seal A Leaky Gut and Improve Digestion
Read moreEssential Recipes for the GAPS Diet, Leaky Gut, and Stress
Read moreReady to Start Feeling Better? Let’s figure this out—together.
Take the QuizFrequently Asked Questions
Can Lam Clinic help with leaky gut?
Yes. We help with leaky gut by focusing on why the gut lining became vulnerable in the first place. Leaky gut rarely shows up on its own. It’s often tied to ongoing inflammation, food reactions, infections, toxin load, or chronic stress that keeps the gut from repairing. Using the Lam Method, we assess how your NEM Stress Response is affecting the gut, then work with you step by step to support barrier repair, immune balance, and long-term stability.
What is the best diet for a leaky gut?
Most people do well with a simple, whole food diet that removes irritants like sugar, refined carbs, and alcohol while adding vegetables, protein, healthy fats, and fiber. The goal is to calm inflammation and give the gut lining a chance to repair.
How can I take care of my gut?
Consistent habits matter most: balanced meals, enough sleep, gentle movement, and managing stress. Supporting digestion, probiotics when tolerated, and avoiding daily irritants help keep the gut lining stronger over time.
Can probiotics help leaky gut?
Probiotics may help restore balance to the gut microbiome, which plays an important role in maintaining a healthy intestinal barrier. In some cases they can help reduce inflammation and support gut repair when used as part of a broader gut health plan.
Do you offer virtual visits and where are you located?
Yes. We offer secure telehealth visits worldwide and in person care at our clinic in Tustin, California. We proudly serve patients across Orange County including Irvine, Santa Ana, Orange, Costa Mesa, and Anaheim, as well as individuals throughout the United States and internationally seeking personalized gut and NEM stress response guidance from home.
The Lam Family has helped thousands recover from fatigue and stress for years.
Using advanced diagnostics and whole-body care, the Lam family looks beyond routine labs to uncover the real reasons behind fatigue—like adrenal stress, hormone imbalance, and nutrient depletion. Then, they create a personalized plan to help you heal fully and feel like yourself again.
The Pioneer of Root-Cause Healing & Whole Person Care
Before adrenal fatigue was widely understood, Dr. Michael Lam, M.D. led the way—developing one of the first clinical approaches to diagnose and treat it. His bestselling book, Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, became a lifeline for patients around the world. Today, his children—Dr. Carrie Lam and Dr. Jeremy Lam—carry that legacy forward, building on his foundation with advanced diagnostics and whole-person care for lasting recovery.
Become a Patient Today
Integrative & Functional Medicine, Wherever You Are.
Visit us in Tustin or Mission Viejo, or connect with our team virtually.
In-Person Care
Healing that happens face-to-face. Visit our Southern California clinic for in-depth diagnostics, IV therapy, and hands-on care from doctors who know your name and story. Every visit is personalized, calm, and focused on helping you feel better—faster.
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