GALLBLADDER

ACU 101-5-S1-2023
JULIA KIM
 GALLBLADDER is a 4-inch, pear-shaped organ. It’s
positioned under LIVER in the upper-right section
of ABDOMEN.
FUNCTIONS IN WMS
Gallbladder stores bile, a combination of fluids,
fat, and cholesterol.
GALLBLADDER

Bile helps break down fat from food in the

intestine.

Gallbladder delivers bile into the Small Intestine.

This allows fat-soluble vitamins and nutrients to
be more easily absorbed into the bloodstream.
 • Pain usually occurs in the mid to upper-
right section of the abdomen.
• Nausea or vomiting: Chronic gallbladder
disease may cause digestive problems, such
as acid reflux and gas.
• Fever or chills: Infection, should be treated
immediately.
GALLBLADDER • Chronic diarrhea: more than 4 bowel
SYMPTOMS movements/ day for at least 3 months.
• Jaundice( yellow-tinted skin): maybe a sign
of a block or stone in the common bile duct.
• Stool abnormality(Lighter-colored stools): a
possible sign of a common bile duct block.
• Discolored urine(Dark urine): a potential sign
of a common bile duct block.
 • Inflammation of the gallbladder.
• Common bile duct infection.
• Gallbladder polyps: abnormal tissue
growths that may be benign. Larger polyps
may need to be surgically removed before
they develop into cancer or cause other
GALLBLADDER: problems.
CAUSES • Porcelain gallbladder: when calcium
deposits stiffen the gallbladder walls and
make them rigid.
• Gallbladder cancer. Although rare, if not
detected and treated, this cancer can spread
quickly.
• Gallstones.
GALLBLADDER IN TCM
• Belongs to wood phase.
• Store and excrete bile.
• Treat through channel passway: disorders of the eyes, ear, headaches
(temple, one-sided headaches)
• Treat disorders of the Liver.
• Treat phlegm disorders and nodules.
• Clear damp-heat from the GB: such as Jaundice, pain of the lateral costal
regions, nausea and vomiting, fever etc.
• Clearing pathogenic factors from Shaoyang level giving rise to alternating
chills and fever, bitter taste in the mouth etc.
• Treating disorders of the spirit and ethereal soul (HUN): Judgement,
decisiveness and courage.
 GALL BLADDER
PRIMARY CHANNEL
44 points
11 pm – 1 am
GALL BALLER
ACU-POINTS
GB-2, GB-3, GB-8, GB-12, GB-14, GB-15,
GB-20, GB-21, GB-24, FB-26, GB-27, GB-
28, GB-29, GB-30, GB-31
GB-2 Tinghui
Meeting of Hearing 聽會
• Location
• In the hollow between the intertragic notch
posteriorly and the condyloid process of the
mandible anteriorly. Locate this point with the
mouth wide open.
• Location note
• In order to locate this point, ask the patient to open
the mouth so that the condyloid process of the
mandible slides forwards to reveal the depression.
• Needling
• Slightly posterior insertion 0.5 to 1 cun. This point
should be needled with the mouth wide open. The
patient may close the mouth after insertion.
Actions

Benefits the ears, Activates the

eliminates wind channel and
and clears heat alleviates pain
Indications

Mumps, toothache,
Tinnitus, deafness, redness, windstroke, deviation of the
swelling, pain and purulent mouth and eye, pain of the
discharge from the ear, mandibular joint, dislocation
itching of the ear. of the jaw, difficulty in
masticating, disorientation.
GB-3 Shangguan
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder,
Sanjiao and Stomach channels
• Location
• Anterior to the ear, in a hollow above
the upper border of the zygomatic
arch, directly superior to XIAGUAN ST-
7.
• Needling
• Perpendicular insertion 0.3 to 0.5 cun.
• Caution: it is traditionally emphasized
that deep needling should be avoided
at this point.
Actions

Eliminates wind Activates the

and benefits channel and
the ears alleviates pain
 Deafness, tinnitus, purulent
discharge from the ear, dimness
of vision, pain of the face,
toothache of the upper jaw,
stiffness of the lips.
Indications
Headache, aversion to wind and
cold, chills and fever, hemiplegia,
deviation of the mouth and eye,
lockjaw, chronic spasm.
GB-8 Shuaigu
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder and
Bladder channels
• Location
• In the temporal region, in the slight
depression 1 cun directly above the
apex of the ear.
• Location note
• Fold the ear forward to define the apex.
• Needling
• Transverse insertion 0.5-1.5 cun. This
point may be joined by through-
needling to TAIYANG (M-HN-9).
 Actions

Eliminates wind, benefits the head and alleviates pain

Harmonises the diaphragm and Stomach and alleviates

vomiting
Treats alcohol intoxication
 • One-sided headache, heaviness of
the head, head wind, pain at the
corner of the forehead.
• Deviation of the mouth and eye,
acute and chronic childhood fright
wind, dizziness, eye disorders.
Indications • Incessant vomiting, cold Stomach,
phlegm qi diaphragm pain,
inability to eat, agitation and
fullness on eating or drinking, injury
by alcohol with vomiting, phlegm
dizziness, oedema.
GB-12 Wangu
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder and
Bladder channels
• Location
• In the depression just posterior and
inferior to the mastoid process.
• Location note
• Place a finger on the prominence of the
mastoid process then slide it posteriorly
into the depression.
• Needling
• Oblique inferior insertion 0.5-1 cun.
Actions

Eliminates wind,
benefits the head Calms the spirit
and alleviates pain
 Indications
Headache, head wind with pain behind the ear, shaking of the head,
stiffness and pain of the neck with inability to turn the head.
Toothache, swelling of the cheek radiating to the ear, pain of the ear,
throat painful obstruction.
Hemiplegia, deviation of the mouth and eye, clenched jaw, withering and contraction
of the muscles around the mouth, weakness and flaccidity of the legs, atrophy disorder
of the arms and legs, malaria, sweating with no aversion to cold.
Epilepsy, mania, agitation of the Heart, insomnia, dark urine.
GB-14 Yangbai
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder with the Yang
Linking vessel and the Sanjiao, Stomach and Large
Intestine channels

• Location
• On the forehead, 1 cun superior to the
middle of the eyebrow, directly above
the pupil when the eyes are looking
straight ahead.
• Needling
• With the fingers of one hand pinch up
the skin over the point, and with the
other hand needle transversely in an
inferior direction, 0.5 to 0.8 cun, or
needle to connect with YUYAO (M-HN-
6) [the midpoint of the eyebrow].
Actions

Eliminates wind,
benefits the head Benefits the eyes
and alleviates pain
 • Pain of the forehead, pain of the
supraorbital ridge, head wind, wind-cold
headache, dizziness, pain of the face.
• Eye pain, lacrimation on exposure to
wind, night blindness, short-sightedness.
• Deviation of the mouth and eye, upward
Indications staring eyes, drooping of the eyelid,
twitching of the eyelids, itching of the
eyelids, pain and itching of the pupils.
• Inability to get warm despite wearing
much clothing, shivering and aversion
to cold on the back.
GB-15 Toulinqi
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder and
Bladder channels with the Yang Linking
vessel

• Location
• On the forehead, directly
above YANGBAI GB-14, 0.5 cun
within the anterior hairline,
midway between SHENTIGN DU-
24 and TOUWEI ST-8.
• Needling
• Transverse insertion 0.5-1.5 cun.
Actions

Eliminates wind,
Benefits the nose
benefits the head
and eyes
and alleviates pain
 Nasal congestion, nasal congestion with
aversion to cold.

Headache, head wind, visual dizziness, pain

of the occiput and forehead, pain of the
supraorbital ridge.
Indications Redness and pain of the eyes, superficial
visual obstruction, lacrimation on exposure
to wind, pain at the outer canthus.

Windstroke, epilepsy, loss of

consciousness, malaria, pain of the
supraclavicular fossa, swelling of the axilla.
GB-20 Fengchi
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder and
Sanjiao channels with the Yang Motility
and Yang Linking vessels

• Location
• Below the occiput, approximately
midway between FENGFU DU-
16 and WANGU GB-12, in the hollow
between the origins of the
sternomastoid and trapezius muscles.
• Needling
• Directed towards the tip of the nose,
0.5 to 1 cun.
• Caution: deeper needling may damage
the spinal cord;
 Actions

Eliminates wind

Benefits the head and eyes

Clears the sense organs

Activates the channel and alleviates pain

 Indications
• Headache, head wind, one-sided and generalized headache, dizziness,
visual dizziness, hypertension, hemiplegia, deviation of the mouth and eye,
goiter, lockjaw.
• Insomnia, loss of memory, epilepsy, loss of speech following wind stroke.
• Injury by cold, injury by cold with absence of sweating, chills and fever,
warm febrile disease with absence of sweating, malaria, throat painful
obstruction, swelling of the face, urticaria.
• Redness and pain of the eyes, redness and pain of the inner canthus,
blurred vision, lacrimation (especially on exposure to wind), night blindness,
dimness of vision.
• Nosebleed, rhinitis, nasal congestion and discharge.
• Deafness, tinnitus, blocked ears.
• Stiffness and pain of the neck with inability to turn the head, pain of the
shoulder and upper back, pain of the lumbar spine, crooked lumbar spine
leading to flaccidity and lack of strength in the sinews of the neck.
GB-21 Jianjing
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder, Sanjiao and
Stomach channels with the Yang Linking vessel

• Location
• Midway between DAZHUI DU-14 and the tip of the
acromion, at the crest of the trapezius muscle.
• Location note
• i. The crest refers to the highest point of the trapezius
muscle on the sagittal (anterior-posterior) plane;
• ii. This point is normally located at the point of maximum
tenderness.
• Needling
• Posterior oblique insertion, 0.5-1 cun.
• Caution: i. perpendicular insertion, especially in thin
patients, carries a substantial risk of inducing a pneumo-
thorax;
• ii. contraindicated in pregnancy.
 Regulates qi, activates
the channel and
alleviates pain

Transforms and lowers

Actions phlegm and dissipates
nodules

Benefits the breasts and

expedites delivery
 Indications
• Stiffness and pain of the neck, pain of the shoulder and back, inability
to raise the hand and arm, hemiplegia.
• Loss of speech following wind stroke, wind stroke, wind-taxation, the five
taxations and the seven injuries, steaming bone disorder, Kidney deficiency
lumbar pain.
• Cough and dyspnea, rebellion of qi, mania-depression, redness of the
face.
• Scrofula, goiter, leg qi ascending to attack the Heart, pain of the Spleen.
• Difficult or prolonged labour, inversion counterflow of the arms and legs
following miscarriage, retention of the placenta, uterine bleeding.
• Breast pain, breast abscess, breast milk does not flow, furuncles and
carbuncles.
GB-24 Riyue
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder and
Spleen channels Front-Mu point of the Gall
Bladder

• Location
• On the anterior chest wall, in the
seventh intercostal space, directly
below the nipple, 4 cun lateral to
the midline.
• Needling
• Transverse-oblique insertion along
the intercostal space, 0.5 to 1 cun.
• Caution: deep or perpendicular
needling may induce a
pneumothorax.
 Actions

Benefits the Gall Bladder and spreads Liver qi

Lowers rebellious qi and harmonises the middle jiao

Resolves damp-heat
 Distention, fullness and pain of the
lateral costal region, pain of the ribs,
epigastric pain, abdominal distention,
jaundice.
Vomiting, much spittle, acid
regurgitation, hiccup.
Indications

Sighing with tendency to sadness, heat

of the lower abdomen, heat of the
hypogastrium, loss of use of the four
limbs.
GB-26 Daimai
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder
channel with the Girdling vessel
• Location
• Directly below ZHANGMEN LR-
13 (anterior and inferior to the free
end of the eleventh rib), level with the
umbilicus.
• Needling
• Perpendicular insertion, 0.5 to 1 cun.
• Caution: in thin subjects, deep
needling may penetrate the peritoneal
cavity.
 Regulates the Girdling
vessel and drains dampness

Regulates menstruation
Actions and stops leucorrhoea

Activates the channel and

alleviates pain
 Red and white leucorrhoea, disorders of
menstruation, irregular menstruation,
amenorrhoea, infertility, uterine
prolapse, hardness and pain of the
hypogastrium in women, lower
abdominal pain in women.
Indications Unendurable pain of the lateral costal
region which radiates to the back, the
pain of the lateral costal region, lumbar
pain, tenesmus, chronic spasm.
GB-27 WUSHU
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder
channel with the Girdling vessel
• Location
• In the depression just anterior to
the anterior superior iliac spine,
approximately level with REN-4
GUANYUAN (3 cun below the
umbilicus).
• Needling
• Perpendicular insertion 1 to 1.5
cun.
 Regulates the Girdling
vessel

Regulates the lower jiao

Actions

and transforms
stagnation
 Uterine prolapse, red and white
leucorrhoea, irregular menstruation.
Indications

Lower abdominal pain, cold shan

disorder in men, abdominal pain due to
retraction of the testicles, constipation,
tenesmus, pain of the back, lumbar
region and ilium, clonic spasm.
GB-28 WEIDAO
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder
channel with the Girdling vessel
• Location
• 0.5 cun anterior and inferior to
GB-27 WUSHU.
• Needling
• Perpendicular insertion 1 to 1.5
cun.
 Regulates the
Girdling vessel

Regulates the lower

Actions

jiao and transforms

stagnation
 Uterine prolapse, irregular
menstruation, leucorrhoea.

Pain of the back and ilium, lower

Indications

abdominal pain, shan disorder.

No pleasure in eating, vomiting.

GB-29 Juliao
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder channel
with the Yang Motility vessel
• Location
• On the lateral aspect of the hip joint, at the
midpoint of a line drawn between the
anterior superior iliac spine and the
prominence of the greater trochanter.
• Needling
• Perpendicular insertion 1 to 2 cun, or
oblique insertion inferiorly 2 to 3 cun.
 Activates the channel
and alleviates pain

Benefits the hip joint

Actions
 Pain of the back and leg, lumbar pain
radiating to the lower abdomen, hip pain
radiating to the groin, weakness and
paralysis of the leg, sciatica, shan disorder,
pain of the front of the shoulder radiating to
the chest, inability to raise the arm.
Indications

Oedema, vomiting, diarrhea.

 GB-30 Huantiao
Meeting point of the Gall Bladder and Bladder
channels
• Location
• On the postero-lateral aspect of the hip joint, one third of the distance
between the prominence of the greater trochanter and the sacro-
coccygeal hiatus (YAOSHU DU-2).
• Needling
• Perpendicular insertion, directed towards the genitals, 2 to 3.5 cun.
• Note: a radiating or electric sensation may travel to the foot. Since this
manifestation of deqi (arrival of qi) is particularly indicated in cases of
sciatica it may be more readily induced by locating Huántiào GB-30 one
cun inferior to its normal position.
 Actions

Activates the channel and

alleviates pain

Benefits the hip joint and

leg

Dispels wind-damp
 • Pain of the buttock, pain or sprain
of the hip and leg, sciatica, atrophy
disorder and painful obstruction of
the lower limb, hemiplegia, cold-
wind-damp painful obstruction,
numbness of the leg, inability to
Indications flex and extend the knee,
contraction, and pain of the thigh
and knee, pain of the lumbar region
and lateral costal region, pain of the
lumbar region and leg, leg qi.
• Urticaria, eczema.
GB-31 Fengshi
• Location
• On the lateral aspect of the thigh, directly
below the greater trochanter, 7 cun superior
to the popliteal crease.

• Needling
• i. Perpendicular or slightly oblique insertion
posteriorly 1 to 2 cun;
• ii. Oblique insertion, directed proximally or
distally, 1.5 to 2.5 cun.
Actions • Eliminates wind
• Alleviates itching
• Activates the channel
and alleviates pain
 • Hemiplegia, atrophy disorder and
painful obstruction of the lower
limb, cold painful obstruction,
sciatica, leg qi, numbness of
Indications the leg, weakness, and
feebleness of the legs, heavy
sensation of the legs with
difficulty in sitting, contraction and
pain of the knees.
• Itching of the whole body,
urticaria.
BREAK
PRACTICE
 GB-2 GB-8 GB-14
(TINGHUI) (SHUAIGU) (YANGBAI)

GB-15 LR-3 (TAICHONG)

(TOULINGQI)
GB-34
(YANGLINGQUAN) GB-31 (FENGSHI)
BREAK
LIVER
LIVER
• The liver is your largest internal
organ.
• The liver is an organ about the
size of a football. (7 cm for
women and 10.5 cm for men)
• The liver weighs 1200 to 1400 g
in the adult woman and 1400 to
1500 g in the adult man.
• It sits just under your rib cage on
the right side of your abdomen.
LIVER FUNCTIONS IN TCM

• LIVER ZANG belongs to the wood phase and corresponds to

the wind.
• Storing the blood
• Spreading, free flow of the qi
• Dominating the sinews
• Opening into the eyes
• Manifesting in the nails.
LIVER PRIMARY
CHANNEL
14 points
1 am – 3 am
LIVER ACU-
POINTS
LR-12
 LIV-12 Jimai
• Location
• 1 cun inferior and 2.5 cun lateral to QUGU REN-
2, in the crease of the groin, medial to the
femoral vein.
• Location note
• Locate the pulsation of the femoral artery in the
groin, approximately midway between the pubic
symphysis and the anterior superior iliac spine.
• Needling
• Medial, slightly oblique insertion 0.5 to 0.8 cun.
• Caution: care should be taken to avoid
penetrating the femoral vein.
 • Eliminates cold from
the Liver channel and
Actions benefits the lower jiao
 Pain of the genitals, pain of the penis,
swelling of the testicles, uterine prolapse.

Pain of the hypogastrium,

Indications
Shan disorder,

Pain of the inner thigh.

IN TCM
PATTERNS
LIVER QI STAGNATION
REBELIOUS LIVER QI
• REBELLIOUS LIVER QI INVADING
LIVER YANG RISING
THE SPLEEN
LIVER BLOOD STASIS
• REBELLIOUS LIVER QI INVADING
LIVER FIRE BLAZING UPWARDS THE STOMACH
DAMP-HEAT IN THE LIVER • LIVER-FIRE INSULTING THE
DAMP-HEAT IN THE LIVER AND GALL-BLADDER LUNGS
LIVER WIND • LIVER AND HEART BLOOD
LIVER BLOOD DEFICIENCY DEFICIENCY
LIVER YIN DEFICIENCY
LIVER QI DEFICIENCY
LIVER PHLEGM-FIRE
LIVER YANG DEFICIENCY
 LIVER QI STAGNATION

• Hypochondrial or epigastric distension, a slight feeling of

oppression of the chest, irritability, depression, moodiness,
premenstrual tension, irregular periods, premenstrual breast
distension, a feeling of a lump in the throat.
• Pulse: wiry
REBELLIOUS LIVER-QI

• Hypochondrial or epigastric distension, hiccup, sighing,

nausea, vomiting, belching, irritability, breast distension
in women.
• Pulse: wiry
LIVER-YANG RISING

• Headache which may be on the temples, eyes or lateral

side of the head, dizziness, tinnitus, deafness, blurred
vision, dry mouth and throat, insomnia, irritability, a
feeling of being worked-up, propensity to outbursts of
anger stiff neck.
• Pulse: wiry
LIVER- FIRE BLAZING UPWARDS

• Irritability, propensity to outbursts of anger, tinnitus,

temporal headache, dizziness, red face and eyes, thirst,
bitter taste, dream disturbed sleep, constipation with dry
stools, dark yellow urine.
• Pulse: Wiry-rapid
• Tongue: red with redder sides and dry yellow coating.
REBELLIOUS LIVER-QI INVADING THE
SPLEEN

• Irritability, abdominal distension and pain, alternation of

constipation and diarrhea, stools sometimes dry and bitty
(small pieces) and sometimes loose, tiredness.
• Pulse: wiry on the left, weak on the right
REBELLIOUS LIVER-QI INVADING THE
STOMACH

• Irritability, epigastric and hypochondriac distension and

pain, a feeling of oppression in the epigastrium, sour
regurgitation, hiccup, belching, nausea, vomiting, sighing,
weak limbs.
• Pulse: wiry on the left and weak on the right or wiry on
both middle positions.