Bladder patterns

Question 1

What is the main function of the bladder?

Answer 1

Receives, transforms, stores and excretes urine

removes water by Qi transformation

Question 2

What is the general aetiology of bladder patterns?

Answer 2

EPFs
- cold or damp
Emotional strain
- fear
- jealousy, suspicion (often in bladder disharmonies)
Excessive sexual activity
excessive physical activity

Question 3

What are common bladder organ S&S?

Answer 3

Urinary issues
- pain, straining, frequency, turbidity, control, incontinence, discomfort

Question 4

What is the common precursor of bladder Xu?

Answer 4

kidney-yang Xu

Question 5

What is the shared symptom b/w Bladder deficiency cold & bladder dampness-heat & heat accumulating in the bladder?

Answer 5

frequent urination

Question 6

What are the differentiating S&S of Bladder deficiency cold?

Answer 6

Urinary incontinence/Dribbling of urine (Bladder unable to control fluids due to Xu bladder Qi from Kidney yang Xu)
frequent pale abundant urination
nocturia
dizziness
Cold lower abdomen/lower backache
white urethral discharge
feeling cold

Tongue: pale, wet
Pulse: deep-weak

Question 7

7 acupuncture points to tonify & warm the bladder and kidney-yang?

Answer 7

BL23 & GV4 - with moxa to strongly tonify kidney-yang & bladder
BL28 - back shu of bladder
CV4 - with moxa to strengthen Qi & Yang in the lower burner
CV3
CV6 - tonifies Qi in lower burner
GV20 - particularly indicated if there is enuresis/incontinence

Question 8

What are 9 differentiating S&S of bladder dampness-heat?

Answer 8

Urgent & frequent urination
burning on urination (heat in bladder)
difficult urination (stopping mid flow) (damp obstructing)
Turbid urine
thirst with no desire to drink
feeling of heat
Haematuria
fever
hypogastric fullness and pain

Tongue: red spots with thick yellow slimy coat on the root
Pulse: slippery-rapid and slightly wiry on the left-rear position

in extreme cases - dampness can materialise as urinary sands/stones

Question 9

8 acupuncture points to resolve dampness, clear heat & open the water passages of the lower jiao?

Answer 9

SP6 & SP9 - resolve damp in lower jiao
BL22- stimulates the transformation of water in the lower burner & opens its water passages
BL28 - back shu point of bladder & clears heat from bladder
CV3 - front mu point of bladder & clears heat from bladder
BL63 - xi-cleft point & stops pain on urination
BL 66 - clears heat from bladder
ST28 - promotes transformation of fluids in the lower burner -> contributes to resolving dampness in bladder

Question 10

What are the differentiating S&S of heat accumulating in the bladder?

Answer 10

Fullness and distension of the lower abdomen
Strangury (painful, frequent urination)
Fever
Rapid pulse

Question 11

What are 4 S&S of damp-cold in Bladder?

Answer 11

frequent & urgent urination
difficult urination (mid-stream stop)
feeling of heaviness in hypogastrium & urethra
pale & turbid urine

Tongue: white sticky coating on root
Pulse: slippery-slow & slightly wiry on left-rear position

Question 12

7 acupuncture points to resolve dampness, expel cold & remove obstruction from the lower jiao’s water passages?

Answer 12

ST28
SP6 & SP9
BL22
CV3 & BL28 - resolve damp from bladder
CV9 - resolves dampness in general