Recently I’ve realized that the most popular search term that guides people to my website is “ileocecal valve” (and variations thereof). Because of this, I thought I should write a few more words about the significance of it. If you are not familiar with the ileocecal valve, please refer to this article first, which explains the basics.
As mentioned in the first article, the ileocecal valve can either be stuck “open” or “closed”. I put those words in quotes because that might not literally be the case; however, it gets to the point and keeps things simple. When the valve is causing a problem, it is usually found to be open about 95% of the time and closed about 5%. Symptoms of both can be similar, but constipation is certainly a hallmark of the closed variety.
The reasons for dysfunction are also similar, but a closed valve is basically caused a hypertonic or spasticity in the intestinal muscles. This can be caused by excessive abdominal workouts, especially if done isometrically (i.e.: simply contracting the muscles without moving the torso). The next most obvious reason is nutrient deficiencies that cause muscle spasms in the first place. Remember the intestines are made of muscle, not skeletal (or cardiac), but smooth muscle. The most common nutrient deficiencies would be magnesium, or lack of available/usable calcium, not necessarily a deficiency in calcium. Hypochlorhydria, or low stomach acid (and/or digestive enzymes) is also usually an issue. There may be other causes, but those are the ones I typically see.
Other issues that accompany (perhaps the result, not necessarily the cause of) a closed valve might be things like intestinal yeast overgrowth (or candida), parasites, protozoa, bacterial and viral infections in the intestines. This can be the cause or result of insufficient “good” bacteria in the gut. Think hypochlorhydria; excessive sugar, refined carbohydrate, and/or fruit consumption; food contamination, and drinking chlorinated water, when it comes to gut flora imbalances. Symptoms on the other hand would be anything that accompanies constipation, such as bloating, abdominal cramps, flatulence, fatigue, general poor digestion, headaches, halitosis, low back pain, etc..
An open ileocecal valve can be the result of poor abdominal or pelvic floor muscle tone, leading to a general ptosis (drooping) or flaccidity of the intestines because of lack of support. Usually however, this is also due to gut flora imbalances along with the presence of pathogens related to the reasons mentioned above. An open valve can also result from irritation to the lining of the valve and intestinal wall in general. This is mainly due to foods high in roughage such as: popcorn, chips, nuts, seeds, spicy foods, alcohol, and sometimes chocolate and caffeine. This is especially true if those foods are not chewed thoroughly. By the way, I’ve found an open valve in just about every person who adheres to a strictly “raw food” diet. Chew properly and thoroughly if this is you!
Symptoms of an open valve mainly include loose stools, bloating, flatulence, general poor digestion, low back pain and lumbar disc herniations (without an onset of obvious trauma – i.e.: not simply bending down to pick something up), fatigue, headaches, halitosis, etc.. Hmmm, sounds just like a closed valve right! Remember, this is essentially a digestive problem, just like the closed variety; with the main difference being a possible magnesium or calcium deficiency in a closed valve. Again, consider hypochlorydria and insufficient digestive enzymes as well.
Unresolved emotional issues should be ruled out in either case. And pelvic and lumbar spinal joint dysfunction must also be addressed because the nerves that control the intestines arise from those areas. The fist lumbar nerve root (or L1) directly innervates the ileocecal valve. But again, I would check the entire lumbar spine and pelvic joints, including the sacrum.
I hope this sheds some more light on the topic as it is an important one. I check it on just about every patient, every visit, and definitely in cases of low back pain, headaches, and digestive disturbances.
Dr. Robert D’Aquila – NYC Chiropractor – Applied Kinesiology
[...] popular one read on my site, I decided to write a bit more on this topic in a second article. Click here to read [...]
Can an ileocecal valve problem be diagnosed by blood analysis and a CAT scan?
Henry,
I don’t know of any blood test that would identify an ileocecal valve problem. Also, I’m not sure if a CAT scan would show a problem either. A radiologist could better answer that question.
The ileocecal valve problems I discuss are referring to “functional” problems, and mainstream medicine usually only recognizes pathology. So it wouldn’t shock me if medical doctors aren’t familiar with ICV disturbances, or even discredit the entire concept of a functional ICV problem. However, that’s irrelevant to the patient whose problems are resolved after their ICV begins to function normally.
Hi, I was struck with tinnitus (suddenly) approx. 4 years ago. I also have some reduced hearing loss in the right ear that has the tinnitus. The ENT claimed that it was noise induced because of my occupation (police officer for 24 years at that time), because of shooting guns. I have always used ear protection when shooting guns! I just recently had a bad outbreak with this tinnitus approx. 6 weeks ago. I also noticed a dull pain the in the right hip area and the area of the Ileocecal. I just thought that it was from wearing the gun belt with all the weapons/tools of the trade attached. I didn’t think much of it until I stumbled on the symptems of the Ileocecal Valve while browsing the web. I have been to an ENT twice within the month and at first the NP thought that I had a sinus infection, which I did. I had symptons of a sinus infection when the tinnitus outbreak occured, and also had the pain in the right hip area. I am now wondering if the Ileocecal Valve could have caused my tinnitus. For the past 4 years or so I have been trying to eat healthy, eating raw fruits daily and also high fiber bread and raw veggies. I also ate peanuts on a daily basis and got into the habit of eating less food, but more frequent, throughout the day. Do you think that it is possible that my Ileocecal Valve could be a factor or cause for my tinnitus? If so, can I do some home massage therepy or maybe see my primary physician for possible massage therepy? I was quite surprised to see that I seem to have all the symptoms and all the timing of all this are right there. Thank you for your time; I found your article to be very educational and I thank you for educating people like me who have never heard of this. My doctor has never checked the valve during any examination and the ENT did not mention it eithor. Thanks again, Mike.
Hi Michael,
First – thanks for being a police officer – risking your lives for others couldn’t be more noble and honorable.
If you knew me well enough, you’d know that I say “anything can cause anything”. I have no idea if your tinnitus is caused by an ICV problem – I’d have to examine you.
If it were me, I’d find a practitioner who is good with the ICV and helping with digestive disturbances, as that’s essentially what an ICV issue is at the end of the day. “Fixing the valve” once though (through adjustments, etc.) may not make any symptomatic change. If the ICV caused toxicity and then that further caused a sinus problem, TMJ muscle disturbances, tinnitus etc., etc., you may have to deal with several issues. Also, what’s causing the valve problem to begin with – assuming there is one of course. One common culprit is raw veggies, nuts, fruits etc., particularly when they’re not chewed well enough. But of course there are many others.
Then again, everything can be coincidental in your case. When I see a tinnitus problem in the office, I check the cranium and jaw without a doubt; the ICV, and liver, to start.
Chinese medicine has said that tinnitus is a result of stagnant liver chi, which could and typically does result from a chronic ICV problem.
I hope this helps a bit, as you can understand, it’s fairly difficult to figure things out without seeing a patient and testing them. You are making good hypotheses and doing a good job in trying to connect the dots – that’s important.
Feel free to ask more questions if you’re still unclear about something.
Dr. Rob
Greetings! I have been experiencing severe spasms on and off for the last two days. I am hoping to see my doctor tomorrow, but is there anything, besides massage, to get me through the night.
Hi Jane,
Being that I have no idea what’s going on – even though you presume it’s your ICV, it’s impossible to make a recommendation. Wish I could be of more help and hope you understand my position.
Feel better,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
Hi. I am tall but very thin and my stomach never bloated even after eating. One day it suddenly bloated up so the point of looking 5 months pregnant and it never went down. This was 5 months ago. Whenever I take in too much air or eat or drink even the smallest bier of food I bloat up. I did research on the ileocecal valve and tried to kinesthiology recommended DIY procedure to open or close the valve. I tried it last night after dinner when I was especially bloated. Lots of gurgles followed by having to urinate and a bowel movement. I thought I had FINALLY found the answer. I’ve kept it going, twice today, but It doesn’t seem to work as well. Could the valve be the cause? Or should I drop it and keep researching for a different cause of my bloating?
^^ Oh, and I have had a bit of tinnitus but never recorded when it began, as well as random headaches. I have had no other pain in my pelvis or back.
Hi Leah,
Chances are that there is something else causing your bloating. I’d keep looking. And based on your symptoms, it sounds like an evaluation from a licensed health care practitioner might be best at this point. I wish I could help more, but it’s obviously something that can’t be done online.
Best of luck to you,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
Last September every time my 12 year old daughter ate she had pain under the right side of her ribs. A blood test showed high cholesterol and high bilirubin count and mild jaundice. I switched her diet from white to whole wheat etc. Two weeks later another blood test showed everything was normalized. I took her to a naturopath who said her ileo valve was a one way valve and hers wasn’t working. The naturopathe suggested a apple juice/olive oil flush to get out gall stones. Hundreds of green (bile) gallstones came out from the flush and the pain under her ribs subsided except when she runs and does some moves when she skates. . She is a competitive figure skater, could that affect her valve, all the ab work and twisting that she does? I took her to her sports chiropractor and had him adjust her valve so my other question is how many times a year should she have adjustments on her valve? Thanks, Kathryn
Hi Kathryn,
The pain under your daughter’s ribs and the ileocecal valve (ICV) sound like separate problems. I know “everything is connected”, but regardless, fixing one may not fix the other. The apple juice/olive oil flush would have (most likely) been to help the gallbladder and not the ICV.
To answer your question, yes, the physical demands of skating could certainly impact the function of the ICV. And you’re right, because the abdominal muscles are the largest group of muscles that support the ICV. The psoas muscle may also be a culprit. It’s hard to say how often the ICV should be “adjusted”. In an ideal world, one time should be enough. And that’s assuming diet and lifestyle is not interfering. If the ICV is malfunctioning due to structural reasons (i.e.: abs and twisting/skating) the better question would be: “How often should your daughter be assessed and adjusted structurally?”. I don’t know the answer to that because I haven’t examined her and therefore haven’t been able to see the pre/post picture of your daughter and how the skating affects her. Her chiropractor who has the chance to treat her and presumably sees the effects that skating has on her body should make the call.
My best to you and your daughter,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
Found your info…is there a connection with this to hernias and the Vagus Nerve being cramped or pinched?
Hi Susie,
Interesting thought – it would make sense that the vagus nerve could affect the ICV. I however, have not ever seen that as the case. I’ve always “fixed” the valve without treatment aimed toward the vagus nerve. But again, you might be on to something in certain cases.
Thanks for the comment.
Take care,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila
Hi Dr. Rob,
I’ve read quite a bit on this now, including both your articles. The thing is, there doesn’t seem to be anyway of fixing it that i can see apart from a diet change. I’ve had this now for almost 10 years and had numerous examinations. The conclusion is to do more exercise or change your diet. I’ve tried both (the diet is particularly hard – i would have to live on nothing but fresh air and water to rule everything out). Is there anything, apart from the rubbing, medically i mean, that can be used to treat this?
kind regards
marc
Hi Marc,
I’m not a fan of the diet myself, although nuts can often be a problem. It seems to be the “texture” and therefore smooth nut butters are usually fine. However, if there is a sensitivity to nuts in general, that can be a problem. Popcorn is also usually a problem.
If you were my patient, off the top of my head – I’d first look into: diet; microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa); food sensitivities; general gut health (flora, leaky gut, enzymes and HCl); emotions; chronic spinal/pelvic imbalances; and abdominal muscle function.
That’s all I can offer not being able to examine you and know more about your history and symptoms.
I hope this helps,
Dr. Rob
I need a doctor in pheonix that can do an adjustment. Do you know of one?
I have ongoing problems and am on an antiparasite diet that is helping a bit but the valve keeps getting stuck and not letting stuff throught to detox me fully ….actually making me more toxic at this point!
Hi Jotina,
I’d check http://www.icakusa.com/ and then click on “Locate and AK practitioner”. I don’t know anyone personally in Phoenix.
Good luck,
Dr. Rob D’Aquila