Gall Bladder channel

Question 1

What are the functions of the Gall Bladder?

Answer 1

Stores and excretes Bile
Controls decisiveness
Controls Sinews

Question 2

What organ is the Gall bladder paired with?

Answer 2

Liver
Wood element
Spring Season
Green colour

Question 3

What external pathogens / patterns is the Gall bladder affected by?

Answer 3

Damp, heat and qi stagnation?

Question 4

What questions would you ask in relation to musculo-skeletal pathology?

Answer 4

Is the pain from an excess or full condition? What substance is involved? Qi or Blood? Is it driven from an external pathogen or is it an internal condition manifesting in the channel.

Location, nature or quality, time and duration, severity, aggravating/relieving, and history.

Question 5

What are some of the signs and symptoms of the Gall Bladder?

Answer 5

Hypochondrial pain, fullness and distension, jaundice, bitter taste, inability to digest fats / rich food, indecision.

Alternating chills and fever (shao yang), headache and migraine, tightness of the neck and shoulders, hypochondrial and hip pain / stiffness, pain in lateral knee and fibula.

Question 6

What are the signs and symptoms of Qi-deficiency pain?

Answer 6

Chronic
Dull
Deep
Achy
Can become combined with excess
Worse in afternoon or tired
Worse with activity

Question 7

What are the signs and symptoms of Qi-stagnation pain?

Answer 7

Changes location
Fullness
Distension
Throbbing / Pulsating 
Sharp
Often better later in day
Better with movement/activity

Question 8

What are the signs and symptoms of Xue-deficiency pain?

Answer 8

Muscle strains easily 
Cracking or popping joints 
Trembling or numbness 
Spasms and cramping
Pale area / poor blood return

Question 9

What are the signs and symptoms of Xue-stagnation pain?

Answer 9

Fixed location
Stabbing or sharp
Acute attacks
Area can be purplish 
Worse on pressure

Question 10

What condition is Dampness in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 10

Full

Question 11

What are the signs and symptoms of Dampness in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 11

Hypochondrial pain, fullness and distension.
Inability to digest fats 
Nausea, vomiting
Jaundice 
Heavy body

No thirst
Turbid urine
Sticky taste
Dull headache

Question 12

What is the tongue and pulse quality in Dampness in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 12

T: Thick sticky, white coat, possibly unilateral
P: Slippery and wiry

Question 13

What is the treatment principle for Dampness in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 13

TP: Resolve damp, clear the GB, smooth liver qi

Question 14

What condition is Damp-heat in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 14

Full

Question 15

What are the signs and symptoms of Damp-Heat in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 15

Hypochondrial pain, fullness and distension.
Inability to digest fats 
Nausea, vomiting
Jaundice 
Heavy body

Thirst without desire to drink
Scanty dark urine 
Bitter taste
Irritability 
Dizziness 
Fever, alternating hot and cold 
Numb limbs and swollen feet

Question 16

What is the tongue and pulse quality in Damp-Heat in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 16

T: Thick yellow coat possibly unilateral
P: Slippery, wiry and rapid

Question 17

What is the treatment principle for Damp-heat in the Gall Bladder?

Answer 17

TP: clear damp heat from GB, smooth liver qi

Question 18

What condition is Damp-heat in the Gall Bladder and liver?

Answer 18

Combined full and empty

Question 19

What are the signs and symptoms of Damp-Heat in the Gall Bladder and Liver?

Answer 19

GB Damp-heat plus genital rashes and itching

Genital papular skin rashes
Genital itching
Swelling and heat of scrotum
Excessive yellow vaginal discharge

Question 20

What is the tongue and pulse quality in Damp-Heat in the Gall Bladder and Liver?

Answer 20

T: Thick sticky yellow coat possibly unilateral
P: Slippery, wiry and rapid.

Question 21

What is the treatment principle for Damp-heat in the Gall Bladder and Liver?

Answer 21

TP: clear damp heat from LR and GB (and lower jiao), smooth liver qi.

Question 22

What condition is Gall Bladder deficient?

Answer 22

Empty

Question 23

What are the signs and symptoms of Gall Bladder deficient?

Answer 23

Timidity
Indecision
Lack of courage and initiative
Easily startled

Blurred vision
Floaters
Dizziness
Waking early 
Restless dreams

Question 24

What is the tongue and pulse presentation in Gall Bladder deficient?

Answer 24

T: Pale or normal
P: Weak esp. in LR/GB

Question 25

What is the treatment principle in Gall Bladder deficient?

Answer 25

TP: tonify the gallbladder and support the liver.

Question 26

What points could be palpated in Gall Bladder conditions?

Answer 26

Front Mu point GB24, LIV14 – might be painful on palpation

Question 27

What type of tongue qualities could be seen in Gall Bladder conditions?

Answer 27

o Unilateral tongue coating (one side, right hand side) can indicate gall bladder pathology
o Contraction to the tight (tongue), could be qi stasis affecting the Gall Bladder.

Question 28

What type of pulse qualities may be present in Gall Bladder conditions?

Answer 28

o Weak pulse: qi deficiency, wiry pulse: qi stasis, full pulse: excess, flooding pulse: heat excess

Question 29

How do the Liver and Gall bladder control the sinews?

Answer 29

Liver nourishes the sinews with blood and the gall bladder provides qi to the sinews to ensure their proper movement and agility.

Question 30

How does diet affect the Gall Bladder?

Answer 30

Excessive consumption of greasy and fatty foods leads to the formation of dampness, which can lodge in the Gall Bladder.