IBS & Digestive Issues
Root-cause functional medicine care — not just symptom management. Lia Laterza, LAc works with you to find what's actually driving your ibs & digestive issues.
In-person & virtual consultations available
IBS is one of the most common diagnoses in conventional medicine — and one of the least satisfying. You are told your tests are normal, handed a fiber supplement or antispasmodic, and sent home. But IBS is not a diagnosis — it is a description of symptoms. At Muskego Acupuncture & Wellness, we look at what is actually driving your digestive dysfunction: gut dysbiosis, SIBO, food sensitivities, low stomach acid, leaky gut, or a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight. We run the right tests, find the pattern, and build a plan that actually moves the needle.
Who It's For
This may be right for you if…
- You have been diagnosed with IBS, IBD, or functional digestive disorder
- You experience bloating, cramping, gas, or unpredictable bowel habits
- You have food sensitivities or notice certain foods consistently trigger symptoms
- You have tried elimination diets with limited or temporary relief
- Your gut symptoms worsen with chronic stress or anxiety
- You have been told your colonoscopy or bloodwork is normal but still feel terrible
- You want a root-cause investigation — not just symptom management
Our Approach
How We Support IBS & Digestive Issues Through Functional Medicine
We combine modern lab-based diagnostics with Traditional Chinese Medicine and personalized protocols to address the root cause — not just the symptoms.
Why Conventional Medicine Falls Short
Conventional medicine isn't designed to find the root cause.
Do any of these sound familiar?
- Your lab results are "normal", but you struggle daily with symptoms that affect your quality of life
- You've seen multiple doctors and are no closer to getting answers or relief
- Your physical and mental health keeps you from living life the way you want to
- Your doctor has told you "you'll just have to live with it"
- You're looking for an option besides prescription medications or invasive surgery
- You're beginning to wonder if you'll ever feel like yourself again
You're not alone. Most care models focus on symptoms — not systems — and they often miss the full picture, relying on generalized protocols that don't work for everyone.
Schedule a ConsultationWe Do Things Different Here
Most care treats the symptom. We find what's driving it.
Most practices choose one lens to look through. We use two — because your body doesn't separate its systems, and neither should your care.
Functional Medicine
We look beyond symptoms to find their root cause — testing hormones, gut health, and metabolic markers to understand what's really happening in your body. Instead of managing symptoms indefinitely, we build a personalized plan aimed at resolving the underlying imbalance.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Thousands of years of clinical observation inform how we read the body's patterns — energy, circulation, and organ systems working together. Acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle practices help restore balance and support your body's own healing response.
At Muskego Acupuncture & Wellness, we combine both — modern lab-based diagnostics with time-tested Eastern medicine — because using them together consistently produces more complete, more lasting results than either approach alone.
What You Can Expect
About Muskego Acupuncture
Muskego Acupuncture is a functional medicine and acupuncture practice led by Lia Laterza, LAc. Lia combines the science of functional medicine — lab testing, root-cause analysis, and personalized protocols — with the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine to help patients understand what is happening in their bodies and finally feel like themselves again.
Whether you are navigating hormonal chaos, chronic fatigue, digestive issues, or a constellation of symptoms that no one has been able to explain — Lia takes the time to listen, test, and build a plan that is specific to you. No guessing. No dismissing. Just real answers and real support.
Common questions
Is IBS just something I have to live with?
No. IBS is a description of symptoms, not a diagnosis of cause. When we identify the actual driver — SIBO, dysbiosis, food sensitivities, low stomach acid, or nervous system dysregulation — and address it, symptoms often resolve significantly or completely.
Do I need to do a colonoscopy before working with you?
Not necessarily. If you have not had one and are over 45 or have concerning symptoms (blood in stool, significant weight loss), we will recommend you see a gastroenterologist first. For most IBS patients, the relevant testing is functional — stool analysis and breath testing.
How long does gut healing take?
It depends on the driver. SIBO treatment typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Dysbiosis and leaky gut healing takes 3 to 6 months. Most patients notice meaningful symptom improvement within the first 4 to 6 weeks of the protocol.
Milwaukee & Greater Milwaukee Area
Are you local to the Milwaukee area?
We offer acupuncture and in-person integrative therapies too!
If you're based in or near Milwaukee, we offer a full range of in-person services — fire cupping, gua sha, SAAT allergy treatments, muscle testing, and more. These therapies can be layered into your functional medicine plan or booked on their own for support with pain, stress, hormone balance, and skin health.
Your body has been trying to tell you something.
You deserve care that helps you feel at home in your body again. Together we'll stop guessing and start uncovering real answers — with a personalized approach that looks at the full picture of who you are and how you feel.
Book an Appointment