ILEOCECAL VALVE
The Ileocecal Valve (ICV) is at the end of the ileum, the last part of the small intestine.
It joins the Large Intestine at the Cecum leading into the ascending colon. It is CL'd on the right side of the body halfway between the navel and the ASIS. The small intestine absorbs nutrients and is free of bacteria. The large intestine absorbs water, stores the fecal mass and has a high bacterial content. The ICV should open at the proper time to pass contents of the ileum into the cecum. It should then remain closed to prevent reflux of intestinal contents entering the ileum. The ICV has two functions: 1. It stops the small intestine contents from passing into the cecum before the digestive processes are completed. 2. It acts as a barrier to prevent the return of bacteria-laden materials from the large bowel, (colon), into the small bowel where they would be toxic to the body. The small intestine absorbs nutrients and is ideally free from bacteria. The average person carries 3 - 5 pounds of bacteria in their gut.
If the ICV doesn't close and remains open, backwash from the large intestine enters the small intestine and disrupts small intestine ecology and function. Conversely, the ICV could get stuck closed causing putrefaction of the ileum contents leading to toxicity entering the body via the bloodstream and lymph.
This causes similar symptoms to an open valve, except the closed valve causes increased symptoms upon waking in the morning which ease when the person gets up and moves around. Also, the person with a closed ICV will feel much worse if they sleep late or stay in bed.
An open ICV is much more common than a closed ICV. Symptoms ICV Dysfunction: • Abdominal Pain • Faintness • Pallor • Allergies • Flu symptoms • Pseudo bursitis • Bad Breath • Fluid retention • Pseudo sacroiliac strain • Bloating • General achiness • Pseudo sinus infection • Body odor • Headaches • Sciatica • Carpal tunnel • Heart palpitations • Skin problems • Chest pain • Indigestion • Sudden low back pain • Constipation • Mid-afternoon dizziness • Sudden thirst • Diarrhea • Nausea • Right shoulder, elbow, wrist pain • Dark circles under the eyes • Neck Stiffness • Tinnitus