Below is the pattern differentiation and acupuncture treatment prescription for the signs and symptoms we have learned in this video. There are still a few more things to learn before fully understanding this information. But I will leave these here for those who are interested in taking a peek of what’s coming later or for those who already have some knowledge about pattern differentiation and want to learn more. Until next time! :)
BACKPAIN
BL-23, BL-25, BL-40
GV channel (+ SI-3)
BL channel (+ BL-62)
Cold-Damp (+ GV-3)
Blood stasis (+ BL-17)
KD deficiency (+ LV-3)
SCIATICA
BL channel: BL-54, BL-40, BL-57, BL-60, BL-67
GB channel: GB-30, GB-34, GB-39, GB-40
COMMON COLD
LU-7, LI-4, GB-20, GV-14, SJ-5
Wind-Cold (+ BL-12, BL-13)
Wind-Heat (+ LI-11, LU-5)
Weak patients (+ ST-36, CV-6)
Headache (+ Yintang, Taiyang)
Runny nose (+ LI-20)
Cough (+ BL-13, CV-22)
Body pain (+ GV-12)
The Bladder Channel of Foot Taiyang
The Bladder Channel is the Yin-Yang pair channel of the Kidney channel. It’s also the Foot channel of Taiyang. Let’s start with the primary channel.
The Bladder Primary Channel
The Bladder primary channel starts at BL-1 at the inner canthus of the eye. It goes up to the top of the head, intersecting with GB-15, GV-24, and GV-20. There is a branch that comes down to the region above the ear, intersecting with several Gall Bladder points. Another branch enters the brain, meets with GV-17, emerges at the nape of the neck, then separates into medial and lateral branches.
The medial branch intersects with GV-14 and GV-13, then goes down to the lumbar region, 1.5 cun lateral from the midline. It connects with the Kidneys and Bladder, goes down along the sacrum, then goes to BL-40 at the popliteal fossa of the knee.
The lateral branch goes down to the lumbar region, 3 cun lateral to the midline. It crosses the buttock, intersecting with GB-30, then goes to BL-40, meeting with the medial branch.
The channel goes to BL-60, posterior to the lateral malleolus, then ends at BL-67, at the lateral side of the little toe, meeting with the Kidney channel.
The Bladder Luo-connecting Channel
The Bladder luo-connecting channel comes out BL-58 and connects with the Kidney channel.
The Bladder Divergent Channel
The Bladder divergent channel comes out at the popliteal fossa, goes up the thigh, and curves around the anus. It connects with the Bladder and Kidneys, goes up along the spine, disperses in the cardiac region, then emerges at the neck, rejoining the primary channel.
The Bladder Sinew Channel
The Bladder sinew channel starts at the little toe, goes posterior to the lateral malleolus, then binds at the lateral aspect of the knee.
There is a branch inferior to the lateral malleolus that binds at the heel, goes up along the Achilles’ tendon to the calf. It separates into two branches and they bind at the medial and lateral aspect of the popliteal fossa. They go up the thigh and bind at the buttock.
The channel goes up along the lateral aspect of the spine to the nape of the neck. A branch binds at the root of the tongue, and the channel binds at the occipital bone.
It goes up over the head, binds at the bridge of the nose, curves around the eye, then binds at the cheekbone.
There is a branch on the back that binds at LI-15. There is a 2nd branch that goes inferior to the axilla, goes up to the supraclavicular fossa, then binds at GB-12, behind the ear. And the 3rd branch from the supraclavicular fossa binds at the cheekbone.
Key Points
The primary channel begins at the inner canthus of the eye; the sinew channel circles around the eye
The primary channel goes over the head and enters the brain; the sinew channel goes over the head
The primary channel goes to the region around the ear; the sinew channel goes behind the ear
The divergent channel curves around the anus
The sinew channel binds at the root of the tongue and at the shoulder
The primary channel enters the Kidneys and Bladder
The divergent channel enters the Kidneys and Bladder, and disperses in the cardiac region
Signs and Symptoms of the Primary Channel
Now, let’s look at what kind of signs and symptoms manifest when there is a problem with the Bladder primary channel.
Fever and aversion to cold
Headache
Stiff neck
Pain in the lower back
Pain in the eyes
Pain behind the leg along the channel
Signs and Symptoms of the Luo-connecting Channel
The Bladder luo-connecting channel has excess and deficiency syndrome. For excess, signs and symptoms include stuffy nose, headache, back pain, neck pain, and shoulder pain. For deficiency, there is a runny nose and nosebleed.
Signs and Symptoms of the Sinew Channel
Signs and symptoms of the Bladder sinew channel are
Pain and stiffness of the muscles of the little toe, foot, heel, and knee
Pain and spasm of the back
Stiff neck
Inability to raise the shoulder
Stiffness of the muscles of the axillary region
Inability to twist the waist
Major Acupuncture Points of the Bladder Channel
Now let’s go over some major acupuncture points on this channel.
BL-1 is the major point for the disorders of the eye.
BL-2 is also used for the disorders of the eye and this point can substitute BL-1 for a safety reason. This point can be also used for the headache and hemorrhoids. On the Bladder channel, many points are indicated for hemorrhoids (BL-24, 27, 35, 36, 39, 40, 54, 56, 57, 58, 65), including local points, as well as distal points.
BL-60 clears Wind, Fire, and excess Yang from the upper part of the body, treating signs and symptoms such as, headache, redness, pain, and swelling of the eyes, nosebleed, and toothache.
It can also activate the entire Bladder channel and relaxes sinews, treating pain and spasm along the channel.
Interesting indication for this point is difficult labor. Another point on this channel, BL-67 has the action of facilitating the labor as well, while application of moxibustion on this point is indicated for the malposition of the fetus.
BL-62 can clear Wind, Fire, and excess Yang from the upper part of the body, like BL-60. This point is classically indicated for day-time epilepsy, while KD-6 is indicated for night-time epilepsy.
Before we end, here are the 12 back-shu points on the Bladder channel. Each back-shu point corresponds to 12 organs. They are located on the medial branch of the channel on the back, 1.5 cun lateral to the spinous process of the thoracic and lumbar vertebra, and sacral foramen.
They are classically indicated for diseases of Yin organs, rather than Yang organs. But in modern clinical practice, these back-shu points are used to treat both Yin and Yang organs with much wider applications.
So, that was the Bladder Channel. Next, we will learn about the Kidney Channel of Foot Shaoyin. If you have any feedback or questions about the material covered, please don’t hesitate to contact at junhwa@tcmexplained.com.
* The content is provided only for education purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References
1. Cheng, Xinnong, ed. Chinese Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 3rd ed. Fifteenth Printing 2014. Beijing: Foreign Languages Press, 2012.
2. Deadman, Peter, Mazin Al-Khafaji, Keven Baker. A Manual of Acupuncture. 2nd ed. East Sussex, England:Journal of Chinese Medicine Publications, 2007.
3. Kaptchuk, Ted J. The Web That Has No Weaver: Understanding Chinese Medicine. 2nd ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2000.
4. Maciocia, Giovanni. The Foundations of Chinese Medicine: A Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2015.