GI Health · IBD Treatment
Real Solutions for IBD
Get relief from Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis by working with an expert who treats the whole picture — not just the inflammation.
"Most cases of IBD go into remission without medications by using natural treatments. We save medications for the most severe or nonresponsive cases."
In my practice, I combine the conventional treatments that are helping you with diet, probiotics, and root-cause work — so you have the best possible shot at real, lasting remission.
Joseph Mather MD, MPH
Board-Certified Family Medicine
- ✓Over a decade of experience treating IBD with a functional approach
- ✓World class medicine — works with patients across the globe
- ✓Helped patients reach remission without relying on medication alone
- ✓Educator and mentor offering CME education for physicians
Functional Medicine Expert — Treats the Cause of Disease
Board-Certified American Board of Family Medicine
Tulane School of Medicine & Tulane University School of Public Health
Watch: Danielle's Story — Ulcerative Colitis Without Meds
Don’t listen when a doctor tells you the only treatment for IBD is medication. Danielle is proof of that. In this video, you’ll see how I helped Danielle eliminate her ulcerative colitis symptoms and get into remission without medication — first her struggle to get well despite seeing three conventional GI doctors, then my basic protocol for how I help patients heal IBD in my clinic, then back to Danielle so you can hear her describe what healing from IBD looks like.
I'm here to help you treat IBD with more than just medications.
Does this sound like you?
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Blood or mucus in your stool
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Urgent, frequent diarrhea — sometimes waking you at night
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Abdominal cramping and pain that flares unpredictably
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Fatigue that doesn’t match how "in control" your labs say you are
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You’ve been told medication is your only long-term option
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Cycling between flares and remission without knowing why
What is IBD?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) — Crohn’s disease, Ulcerative Colitis, and Microscopic colitis — are autoimmune conditions where the immune system attacks the lining of the digestive tract, causing inflammation, ulcerations, and the symptoms that come with it: bloody stools, severe fatigue, fecal urgency, and abdominal pain.
My approach to IBD utilizes evidence-based natural treatments that help you go into remission without the need for expensive, aggressive medications. Medication has a real and important role in calming inflammation and preventing damage, especially in severe cases, but generally it should be used only when the other tools have failed, because medication doesn’t address the reasons why your immune system is attacking your gut in the first place.
How my medical office is different
Three ways I’ve built this practice differently than a typical doctor’s office — or a typical functional medicine office.
01
Time to listen, think, and research
I run an independent private practice, free of hospital and insurance demands, so that I have the time to listen, think, and research your case properly.
I take a lot of pride in the fact that I am one of the few doctors who has been able to build my knowledge and skills day after day to make sure you get the best care possible.
My goal is for you to leave my office thinking:
“That was the best doctor’s visit I ever had.”
02
Treating the cause — without overdoing it
I treat the cause of your symptoms with natural and conventional medicine. But unlike other functional medicine offices, I don’t require thousands of dollars of labs or ask you to take hundreds of pills to get better. My goal is to get you well as quickly as possible — with the fewest supplements, the broadest diet that keeps you healthy, and a treatment plan that’s practical and down to earth.
03
Functional medicine you can afford
Paying out of pocket for medical care can be daunting. Because I want to help as many patients as possible, I’ve done all that I can to make care affordable:
- ✓I charge less than other experts in the field, despite getting better outcomes for my patients
- ✓I never profit from any testing I recommend
- ✓30% off supplements from Moss Nutrition
- ✓Discounted wholesale cash lab pricing through Clinical Pathology Labs for New Orleans patients
- ✓No subscriptions or memberships — ever
My approach to treating IBD
Five pillars I layer together — alongside, not instead of, the conventional treatment that’s working for you.
1
Work with your medications — not against them
Medications like biologics and immunomodulators have a real role in calming inflammation and preventing damage. I don’t ask patients to stop what’s working. Instead, I look for ways to layer in additional tools that address the underlying drivers of your disease, so that reducing medication over time — safely, with your GI doctor — becomes a real possibility.
2
Calm the gut with diet
Diet is one of the most powerful and most underused tools in IBD. In one randomized trial, Crohn’s patients on a "half elemental diet" — half their daily calories from an elemental formula, half from regular food — had a relapse rate of just 34.6% over two years, compared to 64.0% on a normal diet, with no adverse events. A low-FODMAP diet has also been shown to improve symptoms and reduce inflammatory markers even in patients already in remission.
3
Support the microbiome with targeted probiotics
A recent meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that specific probiotic strains help both induce and maintain remission in inflammatory bowel disease. I use targeted, multi-strain probiotics as part of a broader plan — not as a stand-alone cure. High dose, professional grade probiotics are a critical part of my treatment plan in patients with IBD because of their effectiveness in reducing symptoms and healing the gut lining.
4
Reduce inflammation naturally
Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, has shown meaningful effectiveness for achieving clinical remission and response in ulcerative colitis in placebo-controlled trials. I use evidence-based natural anti-inflammatories like this alongside — not instead of — treatments that are working for you.
5
Look for the root cause, not just the flare
IBD doesn’t happen in isolation. I look at the same lifestyle, gut, and toxin factors I evaluate with every chronic GI patient, because addressing them gives your body the best chance at lasting remission — with the fewest medications and supplements necessary.
The science behind a natural approach to IBD
A few of the published studies behind this approach.
More on the elemental diet approach at SIBOnola.com/elemental.
More Patient Stories & Lectures
More real patient interviews, lectures, and success stories from my YouTube channel.
Patient Success, Interviews, Lectures & More
What patients say
Danielle’s story above is one example — but she’s far from the only patient who’s found real, lasting relief from IBD. Read more real patient stories and reviews on the testimonials page.
What a visit costs
I run an independent, cash-pay practice — no insurance billing, no pressure to fit your visit into a 10-minute slot. You can request reimbursement from your insurer using a superbill I provide after each visit.
Initial Visit
$700
45 minutes
Focused on your history, current treatment, and a plan for what to layer in first.
Extended Initial
$950
2 hours
Ideal if you’re traveling to establish care, have a complex history, or want more time to go deep.
Follow-Up
$350
45 minutes
Most patients follow up every 4 weeks as we work through each part of the plan.
Not sure if I'm a fit?
Book a free 15-minute discovery call to ask questions before you commit to a visit.
IBD questions, answered
Do I have to stop my medication to work with you?
No. I don't ask patients to stop medications that are helping them. My goal is to add tools that address the root cause, so that we can look at reducing medications together, safely, over time — never on your own and never all at once.
Can IBD go into remission without medication?
Sometimes, like with Danielle — but not always, and it's never something to attempt without medical supervision. IBD is a serious autoimmune condition, and the right answer is different for every patient. My job is to find out what's possible for you.
Do you treat both Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis?
Yes, I treat both — the specifics of the approach differ somewhat depending on your diagnosis and disease pattern.
Will you order a colonoscopy, or work with my GI doctor?
I'm happy to coordinate with your GI specialist, and I'll use your existing colonoscopy, labs, and imaging rather than repeating what's already been done unless there's a clear reason to.
How long until I see improvement?
It varies significantly with IBD — some patients notice improvement within weeks, others need several months of steady, layered treatment. I'll be honest with you about the timeline as we go.
Do you accept insurance?
I don't bill insurance directly, but I provide a superbill after each visit that you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. Working this way gives me the time and freedom to treat you as an individual, not a diagnosis code.
Have a broader question about my practice? Visit the full FAQ page.
Let’s Get Started
A doctor who cares about science
Working as an independent physician gives me time to study and keep learning new ways to help my patients. I’m proud to have contributed to our understanding of the gut–thyroid axis in a paper published in 2022.
I graduated from Tulane University School of Medicine and School of Public Health in 2011 and completed my Family Practice training in 2014. I treat many conditions, with particular expertise in GI health and mold and heavy-metal toxicity. When I’m not with patients, you’ll find me playing with my three kids, exercising, meditating, or playing the drums.
