One of my mentors, Dr. Tim Francis taught me that people will generally have no health problems/complaints (in general) if their water metabolism, blood sugar metabolism, and ileocecal valve are all functioning well. I’d say water and blood sugar metabolism, and digestion as a whole, as opposed to the ileocecal valve alone.
You’ve probably never heard of the ileocecal valve unless you’ve been under the care of an applied kinesiologist. That’s unfortunate because so many people could be helped if their practitioner knew how to find and fix a problem with it. So what is it? Let me talk a bit about the anatomy of the digestive tract first to help you gain a better understanding.
The small intestine is divided into three parts: the duodenum, jejunum and ilium in descending order. So the ilium is the third part (if you will) of the small intestine. Essentially, the purpose of the small intestine is to digest and absorb food. The large intestine which extends from the small, consists of the cecum and the colon. The large intestine absorbs water and eventually acts to remove the waste from the foods we consume. The cecum is a pouch that lies between the ileum and the (ascending) colon. This pouch contains the ileocecal valve. In general, the cecum (and valve within it) lies about half-way between your umbilicus (belly-button) and the “point” of your right pelvic bone above your thigh.
The purpose of the ileocecal valve is to prevent the waste material in the large intestine from refluxing back into the ileum. The symptoms and problems begin when the valve gets stuck “open”, allowing this reflux of toxins to occur. The valve can also spasm and become “closed”. The “open” variety is usually the problem about 90-95% of the time. So I’ll talk mostly about that.
Stated simply, if your ileocecal valve allows waste from your colon to enter back into the small intestine (where you absorb food), you will most likely be absorbing many toxic waste products that you should be getting rid of. This is obviously a problem. How it presents as a problem, symptom, or condition will vary individually amongst patients. According to the late David Walther, DC DIBAK, the symptoms include but are not limited to: shoulder pain, (sudden) low back pain, pain around the heart, dizziness, flu symptoms, pseudo-bursitis, pseudo-sacroiliac strain, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), nausea, faintness, pseudo-sinus infection, pseudo-hypochlorhydria, headaches, sudden thirsts, pallor (pale skin), dark circles under the eyes, and any type of digestive complaint.
Personally, I’ve seen an “open” ileocecal valve result in sudden/acute or chronic low back, neck, sacroiliac, and shoulder pain; (pseudo)bursitis; sinus problems (almost always!); headaches; and many types of digestive disturbances. Keep in mind that some of these conditions can occur with digestive imbalances that do not include a problem with the valve (esp. low back and sacroiliac pain, and sinus problems). A “closed” valve can result in the above conditions as well, but I see constipation as the major symptom with that.
According to Scott Walker, DC (founder of NET), the major “causes” of a problem with the ileocecal valve include the a.p.e.s.; that is: food allergies, parasites, emotional complexes, and structure (mainly referring to spinal joint dysfunction). Dietary choices also play a role. Especially popcorn, chips, nuts, seeds, spicy foods, alcohol, chocolate, and caffeine. Think of any hard, fibrous foods as well, such as raw carrots. Additionally, an excess of amount of pressure (perhaps due to a large abdomen) alone can cause the valve to “open”. In addition to parasites, I’d add any pathogenic (e.g.: bacterial, viral, etc.) imbalance in the digestive tract as a culprit.
“Fixing” the valve would obviously be aimed at directing treatment toward the “cause”. Additionally, the first lumbar (or “low back”) nerve (L1) directly controls this valve from a neurological standpoint; while hormones involved in digestion also play a role in it’s function or dysfunction.
I can honestly say that knowing how to “find” and “fix” a problem with the ileocecal valve has helped my patients in a way that nothing else could. So I usually “check” it on every patient at some point during the course of treatment.
Because this article is the most popular one read on my site, I decided to write a bit more on this topic in a second article. Click here to read it.
Dr. Robert D’Aquila – NYC Chiropractor – Applied Kinesiology
[...] the floor, or is brushing their teeth and then suddenly experiences terrible low back pain. Click here for more information on the ileocecal [...]
I love your information… I am a certified nutritional consultant and I believe I have narrowed down my three month discomfort as the ileocecal valve… I have given myself a liver/gallbladder cleanse, had ultra sound on my liver/gallbladder, intestines, kidney, H-pylori blood test, suspected perhaps a sudden onset of gluten intolerance, endoscopy and a colonoscopy, but the Dr. thought the Ileocecal valve and everything else looked good, however I drink enough water and fiber but still wake with a slight swelling where my Ileocecal valve sits and I still encounter a (inflammation like a lump) where my valve sits, and my initial bowel movement always starts out hard despite the fiber and water I consume… gently rubbing this area daily and throughout the day is the only way relieve the discomfort.
I have lowered my consumption of raw food including a daily consumption of nuts and I’m down to one cup of coffee per day….
I’m presently attending a very qualified Chiropractor who is helping and I will continue to see him… but I still have the discomfort, at times at a lesser degree, but it still is there.
I was thinking back when I woke up with this one morning wondering what I was doing to cause it…I remembered playing this hoola hoop exercise/competition game on Wii which I went at quite hard.
I have what I believe to be one of the best supplement regime with super purified nutrients by a company that is a huge research and the number one natural nutrition company in America “Shaklee” , so I doubt it is my nutrients.
I’m still working on trying to rid everyday of fearing dinner time.
Does this sound like a Ileocecal valve problem?
Hi Bill,
I’m glad you love my information and thank you for reading my site.
It’s hard to say if it is in fact an ileocecal valve problem (ICV). But then again: What IS an ileocecal valve problem?”. I usually see a problem with the valve as a result of something as opposed to the valve being the cause, if you understand what I mean. Basically, I see the valve malfunction from dysbiosis; poor food choices or food sensitivities; a need for enzymes or HCl; mineral (part. calc. and mag.) imbalances; general toxicity; abdominal muscle dysfunction; and just about anything else that can disrupt intestinal function.
So my point is, a process of sorts if you will, is usually taking place and leading to a symptom with the ICV. I hope that makes sense.
Now, is the ileocecal valve involved in your symptoms? (The question you ask.) Well, it’s hard to say and I’m not certain that (and actually doubt) standard medical diagnostic procedures would identify a FUNCTIONAL problem with the valve; pathological, yes, a colonoscopy is one test that should be able to rule out pathological issues. So at least it’s good that you got the more advanced diagnostic tests.
I say this because, a) it’s obviously a good idea to rule out serious health issues, and b) it’s been 3 months.
You made an interesting comment, that I’m not sure if any of your health care providers have taken enough into consideration. That is “…I remembered playing this hoola hoop exercise/competition game on Wii which I went at quite hard.” If a patient of mine said this, along with your symptoms, the first thing I would do is rule out an abdominal hernia!!!
A few ending points…
1) It’s good to avoid a lot of raw foods and nuts when taking into consideration an ICV issue, which you said you did.
2) an H-pylori breath test might be a better test to detect H.Pylori infection because antibodies in the blood to H.Pylori might come and go and one blood test can miss them and give a false negative.
3) I wouldn’t be too quick to name ANY nutrition company “the number one natural nutrition company in America”.
I hope this helps and feel free to post another comment when you resolve the issue. I think it will be helpful for others to read, which is the purpose of this site.
Take good care and good luck,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
The improper function of the ileocecal valve is due the fact that people today deffecate in a sitting position. The ileocecal (IC) valve is designed to prevent toxic “backflow” to the small intestine – but only in the squatting position. The IC valve needs to be supported by the right thigh in order to withstand the pressure built up during elimination. In the conventional sitting position, this valve is unsupported and often leaks during evacuation, contaminating the small intestine.