I. Physiological Functions and Pathological Characteristics of the Gallbladder

1. Physiological Functions of the Gallbladder

• Organ of Storing Essence: The gallbladder stores and excretes bile, aiding the spleen and stomach in digestion, known as “the official of justice, from which decisions are made” 35.
• Exterior-Interior Relationship with the Liver: The liver governs dispersion, and the gallbladder governs descending; together, they regulate emotions and digestive functions.

2. Core Pathogenesis of Gallbladder Diseases

• Classification into Deficiency and Excess: Excess syndromes are mainly due to damp-heat and phlegm-stasis (e.g., gallstones, cholecystitis), while deficiency syndromes are often due to gallbladder qi deficiency and timidity (e.g., insomnia, palpitations).
• Key Pathologies: When the gallbladder fails to descend, bile stasis leads to stone formation; when phlegm-heat disturbs upward along the meridians, it causes dizziness and insomnia.

II. Differential Diagnosis and Treatment Plans for Gallbladder Diseases

Gallbladder Stasis with Phlegm Disturbance

Symptoms: Insomnia, stomach disharmony, qi stagnation turning into fire and phlegm, internal disturbance of cold and heat – Wen Dan Tang Gallbladder stasis with phlegm, disturbing upward along the meridians, causing dizziness; gallbladder fire flaring upward, stomach disharmony, causing thirst; when gallbladder qi is not smooth, it leads to irritability and confusion; when the gallbladder fails to disperse, qi stagnation causes chest tightness. Techniques: Soil and Water, Gongsun, Yanglingquan, Liver-soothing techniques

Gallstone Syndrome

Bile congeals into sand and stones, obstructing the gallbladder or liver and bile ducts. Mainly due to irregular diet, inappropriate temperature, and emotional depression Techniques: Chize, Waist and Leg Points, Yinlingquan, can add auxiliary formula: Urinary Five Points

III. Special Therapies and Practical Guidelines

1. Techniques and Moxibustion

• Gallbladder Meridian Unblocking Techniques: Press Yanglingquan (Gallbladder He-Sea point), Qiuxu (Source point), and massage the belt vessel’s large tendons to relieve flank pain.
• Moxibustion Point Combinations: Guanyuan + Shenque to warm and supplement the original qi, Yanglingquan + Zusanli to harmonize the gallbladder and stomach, suitable for deficiency-cold type gallbladder diseases.

2. Extension of Classic Formulas

• Wen Dan Tang: The basic formula includes Bamboo Shavings, Immature Bitter Orange, and Pinellia; add Coptis for severe phlegm-heat, add Succinum Powder for insomnia.
• Stone-Expelling Proven Formula: 60g Lysimachia + 30g Lygodium Spores decocted, combined with jumping exercises to promote stone expulsion.

IV. Dietary Therapy and Daily Care

Liver and Gallbladder Dietary Therapy: Longan (tonifies qi, nourishes blood and calms the spirit), Yam (regulates liver qi), Job’s Tears (clears damp-heat, protects the liver, strengthens the spleen and stops diarrhea), Black Sesame (nourishes the liver), Red Dates (alleviates liver blood deficiency), Goji Berries (alleviates liver and kidney yin deficiency), Pork Liver (treats blood deficiency), Duck Blood, Soft-Shelled Turtle (nourishes the liver and kidney, mainly for yin deficiency), Carrots (tonifies the kidney and boosts yang, enhances immunity, also clears heat and detoxifies, aids in liver and gallbladder dispersion), Hawthorn and various porridges, Chrysanthemum Tea, Goji Berry Tea. Millet (nourishes gallbladder qi), Celery and Spinach help with liver and gallbladder detoxification, high-quality protein from chicken and duck meat to enhance physical strength.

1. Food and Medicine Homologous Plan

• Damp-Heat Type: Job’s Tears and Winter Melon Soup (clears damp-heat), Celery Juice (promotes bile excretion).
• Deficiency Type: Yam and Millet Porridge (strengthens the spleen and benefits the gallbladder), Longan and Goji Berry Tea (nourishes blood and calms the spirit).

2. Prohibitions and Health Preservation

• Dietary Prohibitions: Avoid fatty, sweet, and thick flavors, raw and cold sticky foods; during acute episodes, avoid egg yolks and animal organs.
• Sleep Schedule Recommendations: Go to bed before 11 PM (when the gallbladder meridian is active), moderately tap the gallbladder meridian (from Fengshi to Yanglingquan).
• Maintain a regular schedule, ensure sufficient sleep to aid liver repair and regeneration; engage in moderate exercise to promote metabolism; avoid bad habits like drinking alcohol and smoking; maintain a light diet and regulate emotions.

V. Modern Research and Classical Origins

• The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine: “The gallbladder is the official of justice, from which decisions are made” – emphasizes the connection between the gallbladder and emotions.
• WHO Recommendation: Acupuncture at Yanglingquan for treating cholecystitis included in the “Guidelines for Traditional Medicine Practice.”
• Clinical Data: The effectiveness rate of Chinese medicine stone-expelling decoction for gallstones is 82.3% (Journal of Chinese Integrative Medicine, 2023).

Note: The therapies described in this article require guidance from a TCM practitioner. Acute biliary colic, suppurative cholecystitis, and other conditions require combined treatment from both TCM and Western medicine. The dosages of the formulas mentioned are standard for adults and need to be adjusted individually in clinical practice.