ICV for you and me

Headache, Bad breath, face pallor, Dark circles under eyes, Dizziness, Bowel disturbances (diarrhea / constipation), Right shoulder and hip pain?

If you have a few of these conditions you may have kidney Yang deficiency...then again, you may also have a dysfunction of the Ilio-cecal Valve. 

The Ileocecal valve (ICV) is located in the digestive tract in between the small intestine and the large intestine. The ICV opens and closes periodically to let food travel through the digestive tract. When it is closed, food sits in the small intestine where nutrients, vitamins and minerals are absorbed. When small intestine is done with that portion of food the ICV opens and lets it go into the large intestine where water is absorbed. The food that is in the large intestine has considerably more toxins in it than the food in the small intestine because of the amount of digestion and breakdown that has taken place over time. In the large intestine the digested food is prepared to be excreted out of the body through the rectum. 

When the ICV is not functioning properly, either stuck closed or stuck open, there is an imbalance in the digestive system which leads to many problems in the body.

The autonomic nerous system tone also affects the ICV. If you are too tense or sympathetic dominant the ICV will tend to be closed more often. If the nervous system is too relaxed, parasympathetic dominant, then the ICV will tend to become stuck open.

The ICV is effected by diet, emotions and dehydration. It is treated by massage and acupuncture, consolidated by diet and herbal supplements.