Petr asks, “How did you heal your ileocecal valve?”
Healing my ileocecal valve was a really big part of my healing journey. I wrote about it briefly in my Journal Entry #21 – How God Healed My SIBO, but I want to go in depth to provide you with more details and ideas.
Before we get started let’s talk about the function of the ileocecal valve or ICV. This valve, located at the very end of the small intestine acts as the gate between the small intestine and large intestine. The ileocecal valve is a sphincter valve, meaning it squeezes to open and close. Normally, the valve is in a constant closed position and opens when the body wants to allow waste from the small intestine into the colon. So the ileocecal valve controls the movement of waste. But, sometimes things happen to cause the ileocecal valve to stay open. Irritation from toxins, infections, foods, or inflammations, as well as constipation and adhesions can cause the ileocecal valve to remain in an open position.
While a chronically open ileocecal valve can cause issues, it does not always. Some people have to have their ileocecal valve removed for other medical purposes. While the ICV is the gate keeper for waste, and a chronically open valve can allow a reflux of bacteria and waste back into the small intestine, it is not always result in SIBO. This is because the body has other natural methods of pushing food and waste down through the small intestine, into the colon and out. A process called the Migrating Motor Complex is the main function to move food, bacteria, and waste. So even if you have an open ICV your body can continue to push food and waste on through without a prolong buildup or problems. So an open ileocecal valve does not guarantee you will have a reflux that leads to SIBO. But, if you have an open ICV and your Migrating Motor Complex doesn’t work properly you will likely have SIBO. As a result, taking care to support the Migrating Motor Complex is just as important as supporting the ileocecal valve. For today, we will tackle supporting the ileocecal valve. Check back next week for more on supporting the Migrating Motor Complex.
Supporting the ileocecal valve can be straight forward and easy. The best ways to support the ICV include removing toxins, irritants and inflammation, as well as calming the muscle to work properly. Through gentle massage, you can even train the ileocecal valve to return to a closed position.
Supporting the Ileocecal Valve
Gentle massage
The ileocecal valve is normally in a closed position but can be gently massaged closed it if is chronically open. The best way to find the ICV is to lay down in a comfortable position on your back. Next, place both thumbs lightly onto the belly button. Very softly press down so you can feel your abdominal muscles and slowly move both thumbs from the belly button to the top (or high spot) of the right hip bone as if you are drawing a line from your belling button to hip. If your ileocecal valve is irritated or inflamed you will feel a minor irritation inside your abdomen while gently drawing your line about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down. This irritation can show you were the valve is located. The ICV is located in a slightly different location for each person. If you can’t find it, try placing three fingers in the middle of the line you drew from your belly button to your hip and gently but firmly press and massage in a circular fashion until you feel a slight tenderness. The slight tenderness will alert you to the location of your ileocecal valve.
To close the valve, draw the line backwards from your right hip to your navel with firm support and press up towards your left shoulder on your tender spot holding for several second (some resources say up to 3 minutes). Then release and gently repeat a couple of times. Gentle massage of the ICV can be performed at night before sleep. A little goes a long way. Massage can be done over clothing, directly on the skin, or with some oil. (I used homemade Belly Balm- see below.)
In the same fashion, you can massage your ileocecal valve open by massaging in the opposite direction. Massaging down from the belly button to the hip will open the valve, while up from the hip will close the valve.
The doctor who taught me this massage recommended this method as the most helpful. Other online resource suggest placing an ice pack over the ileocecal valve for 15-20 minutes to help it close. Go with the method that feels the best for you!
Sharp shooting pain should be addressed by a doctor as it could be a sign of something much more serious – your appendix is close by! Gentle massage should help the ICV to feel better, so if more irritation occurs, please see a doctor.
Castor Oil Packs
A castor oil pack is kind of a weird name for essentially putting castor oil on your belly and keeping it warm for twenty minutes. A pack can be performed by placing a small amount of castor oil directly on the belly with a warm cloth on top, followed by placing a heating pad or hot water bottle on the cloth, then resting for 15-20 minutes, and finishing by wiping away any residual oil. Castor oil packs are known to help reduce inflammation and aid the body in removing toxins. Castor oil will ruin clothing so be sure to always use an old piece of cotton cloth or flannel fabric dedicated to the castor oil. You can reuse the same cloth for a couple of months and once the cloth absorbs enough oil you skip putting oil directly on your skin and just put the oil-soaked cloth directly on the skin followed by the heating pad. The heat of the heating pad or hot water bottle is designed to help the body absorb the oil, not to cook your muscles and skin, so be sure the heating pad is warm but NOT hot. In addition, castor oil packs are recommended over the liver or problem area, so you can put oil on the right side of your abdomen between your rib cage and right hip. Castor oil packs can be performed 3-4 times a week and should be done while resting.
Castor oil packs should not be done during menstruation, after surgeries, or if you are bleeding. Because castor oil helps the body release toxins it can increase the frequency of urination or bowel movements for a short time after. Be sure to drink plenty of water to help your body process out what it needs.
Also, castor oil is thick like honey and can be difficult to work with. If it is easier for you or less messy, you can put the oil directly onto the cloth before placing it on your skin. Not a lot of oil is needed, only about 1Tbs until your cloth is soaked.
Healing oils
Essential oils and other concentrated oils with anti-oxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, and detoxifying properties can help to calm inflammation and irritation. While there are no scientific studies on the use of essential oils used topically with SIBO or ICV irritation, I opted to use healing oils as part of my protocol. While I gently massaged my ileocecal valve before I fell asleep at night I used what my family calls homemade “Belly Balm.” The oils in the balm are full of healing properties and the aromas would help calm me and my body before sleep. This meant I slept better and I had the reassurance that I was giving my body extra healing power as I rested.
Belly Balm
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup organic shea butter
- 1 Tbs organic jojoba oil
- 1/4 tsp organic evening primrose oil
- 1/4 tsp organic rose hip oil
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops frankincense essential oil
- 2 drops roman chamomile essential oil
- 2 drops helichrysum essential oil
Instructions
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Place the shea butter into a double boiler and slowly melt until it becomes liquid.
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Add the remaining ingredients and mix thoroughly.
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Pour into a glass jar or non-toxic metal tin, and let cool. As it cools it will firm up but be softer than the shea butter was originally.
Recipe Notes
Rose hip and evening primrose oil are often yellow or orange from the rich nutrients in the oils and will turn clothing the same color. Essential oils are extremely potent and should not be added without the approval and guidance of your doctor.
I picked these oils for their healing properties. Our skin can absorb nutrients and chemicals so I thought by adding these healing oils directly to my skin above the ileocecal valve I could increase my chances of getting calming anti-oxidants with rich nutrients for healing.
- Evening primrose and rose hip oil are rich with anti-oxidants. Anti-oxidants allow are bodies to heal properly providing good nutrients for cellular function.
- Shea butter is an intense moisturizer and is rich in Vitamin A and E.
- Lavender oil has calming and antimicrobial properties. It is often used on burns and wounds for faster healing.
- Frankincense oil is well known as a healing oil with natural cell regenerating powers. Frankincense has a woodsy aroma.
- Roman Chamomile oil is a powerful antihistamine, powerful calming agent, and has antimicrobial properties. Roman Chamomile is also full of anti-oxidants. It has a calming and soothing aroma.
- Helichrysum oil has been used for centuries for its cell regenerating and anti-aging properties. It has a bright floral aroma.
You can get all of these oils at Mountain Rose Herbs, my favorite company for quality, organic, and fair-trade skin care products and aroma therapy. And you don’t have to be a part of a program to buy their products.
Remove major offenders
Certain foods, dehydration, stress, and undigested foods can cause irritation to the ileocecal valve leading to pain. While SIBO diets are usually ICV friendly (because whole grains are removed), sometimes certain foods and fibers just cause problems with your body. Be careful with spicy foods, fiber-rich nuts, alcohol, chocolate, or foods that you consider, “iffy.” Be sure to stay hydrated, stay away from stress eating, and chew your food well to aid in the healing of your ileocecal valve. If you want to know what foods cause inflammation and irritation for your body specifically ask your doctor about doing a food sensitivity blood test. MRT and ALCAT are both great tests for food sensitivities. I have done both of these tests and found them to be helpful and guide my diet towards greater healing.
Other Ways To Support The ICV
Detox Baths with epsom salts or gentle essential oils can help the body calm down, remove toxins and reduce inflammation. Soothing Touch Bath Salts is my favorite for pure ingredients. I liked the Eucalyptus Spruce the best, and would take a bath with epsom salts several days a week when I felt like my body needed a little bit of extra support. You can make your own bath salt mix by adding 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 cup of epsom salt in a glass jar. Then add hot water to the jar (not boiling, so you don’t shatter the jar) and let soak for a few minutes while you fill the bath with water. Add the dissolved epsom salt to the bath and mix well. Enjoy the aroma and relax in the hot bath.
Gentle Exercise
Gentle exercise and stretching of the abdomen can help move out inflammation. Walking and yoga can both increase heart rate and blood flow allowing the body to move out unwanted cells and toxins and move in nutrients for healing. Taking time to move for 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference in your recovery!
Gentle exercise, detox baths, massage, belly balms, castor oil packs, and removing trigger foods are all things I did to help heal my ileocecal valve. I would love to hear other methods of healing the ICV in the comments below. Remember to check back in next week when we will discuss support for the Migrating Motor Complex.
Please remember I am not a doctor. This post is based off of my personal experiences and is for educational purposes only. Consult a licensed medical professional before adding lifestyle changes, new regimens, or dietary changes. Essential oils are extremely potent and should not be used without the approval and guidance of your doctor or trained herbalist.
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Kathy Everett says
Very helpful information on healing the ileocecal valve.
I saw a man, many years ago, standing up in a park near K Street in DC at lunch time. It was populated with many people sitting down and having their lunch break. He was slightly bent over and, with his fingertips from both hands was pressing in and up over his ileocecal valve in a somewhat snapping/jerking fashion. He may have just finished lunch; so the timing of his abdominal message (more like fast lifting) was curious to me. I now do this same thing both laying down and standing. I took this as an indirect message for myself and I do this same ‘adjustment’ now for many years, not everyday but frequently. I do it on faith as there is no real immediate experience
Kathy
Kensington, MD.
Erika says
Good info. I’m a plus size 35 yr old women suffering from this pain for the past three years. I used to be in pain during my period and now it’s happening more often and it’s ruining my life. I want to eventually have weight loss surgery, however I’m afraid my gas pain will increase. I will try these tips. Thanks
A. Vaz says
Try a zero carb, carnivore diet for your health and weight loss. It is doing wonders for me. Please don’t have surgery; you will regret it in a few years with worsening health and weight will only increase more. There are some great supportive facebook groups such as women’s carnivore tribe and carnivore corner. Be well.
Jessica says
Thank you for posting this helpful information. I have been having issues with my ICV for almost a month now and have been seeing a maya abdominal massage therapist, and she helped me tremendously. The therapist helped start me on high fiber diet by eating only fruits and vegetables and slowly incorporating animal protein. The therapist also gave me at-home massages and to do the castor oil packs. I still have some pain here and there, but I wanted to know how long did it take you to heal? Do you still have problems or did it go away?
Elena Wistey says
Hi Jessica,
It sounds like you are on a great track towards healing! It took about 3 months for my ICV to heal. After that, it would hurt periodically with foods that irritated it, like spicy food. It has been over three years now since I have had ICV issues or pain. I no longer any have problems.
Elena
Sophie says
Thank you for sharing your experience. This is all very helpful.
How are you doing now?
Sometimes I’m not sure how to tell whether the valve is stuck open or shut. I think it mostly gets stuck open, but when I had a rare bout of constipation, I wondered if it had got stuck closed. I am certain everything is quite inflamed as when I massage I notice various points pulsing. I have just made my first batch of Belly Balm, so I’m hoping that will help.
Thanks once again.