The ileocecal valve

It is the true heroine of our times, forced to do a super job due to our modern lifestyle.

This valve is located at the junction between the small and large intestines, an area prone to numerous issues, often syndromic in nature, which can primarily appear on the right side of the body and may affect one or more distant areas:

For example, ear infections (I’ve seen many even in children), jaw pain, styes, herpes, Achilles or supraspinatus tendinitis, tinnitus, the “beloved” back pain, and some forms of headache are just a few of the problems that can arise.

The valve is unidirectional, which means that consuming creamy sweets, cereals (even worse if whole grain), excess sugars, cocoa (“which some recommend for magnesium”), or foods you do not tolerate, will mechanically compromise the valve, much like what happens with gastroesophageal reflux—strange but true!

This valve functions as an “anti-reflux gate.” If the diet is skewed toward the foods listed above, the valve will remain open instead of closing after waste passes through, leading to an abnormal bacterial exchange between the cecum (colon) and the ileum (the terminal part of the small intestine), creating a fertile ground for intestinal dysbiosis.

Having a posture that tends to shift to the right can be one of the first warning signs (see nickel post). In any case, it is essential to follow a proper diet and perform breathing exercises (see reel). The abdomen should never swell during either phase, especially during exhalation, when the navel must move inward toward the spine, mechanically promoting valve continence.

Breathe 🌬️, because each of us is the architect of our own gut!