Bladder Meridian (BL)
Function
The bladder is called the ‘Minister of the Reservoir’ and is responsible for storing and excreting the urinary waste fluids passed down from the kidneys. It is the Yang partner of the Yin Kidneys, associated with the element of Water. As an organ the bladder has only this one function.
In acupuncture, one of the most essential aspects of the bladder channel is treating the back.
Energy system
- As an energy system, the bladder channel is intimately related to the autonomous nervous system. That’s because the bladder meridian runs along the back of the body from eyes to little toe, with two parallel branches flowing along each side of the spine. These four branches of the bladder meridian directly influence the sympathetic and parasympathetic trunks of the autonomous nervous system, which regulates our fight-flight response and in turn all the body’s basic vital functions.
Benefits of stimulation
- In the pressures of modern life many people suffer an overly-activated sympathetic nervous system, causing a constant state of apprehension, fear or worse. This can be accompanied by tension and pain along the spine and its periphery. Over time, it crystallizes into a fixed pattern of fear which can manifest as chronic high blood pressure, ADHD, bi-polar disorder, heart disease, panic attacks, and low libido. Back tension and pain can be relieved by stimulating the energy flow along the spinal branches of the bladder meridian. Such stimulation induces total relaxation by switching the autonomous nervous system over to the restful, restorative parasympathetic mode.
Aggravates the channel
- Emotional stress, extended periods of fear, terror, or panic damage the autonomic nervous system. Poor quality drinking water, water toxins like Chlorine and Fluoride, hair dyes, cosmetics, heavy metals, dehydration, processed table salt like Morton’s.
- Avoid acidic-producing foods such as caffeine, sodas, sugar, wheat, gluten, sweets, alcohol, hot peppers, spicy foods, excessive citrus fruits, MSG, chili, tomatoes, cranberry juice.
Nourishes the channel
- Plenty of quality water (spring water, carbon-filtered, structured) 75 oz. per day.
- Relax and take everything with a little inner smile. Use only healthy salts like Himalayan, Celtic, or unprocessed sea salt. Eat an alkaline diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables.
Bladder: Psycho-Emotional Aspects
An imbalance in the Bladder can cause such psychological symptoms as habitual fear, lack of decision making capability and a diminished moral character. If the imbalance becomes chronic, it results in such emotional responses as jealousy, suspicion, and holding on to long-standing grudges.
‘Typically if we have an imbalanced bladder meridian we will be concerned with energy on an almost existential level – wondering if we have the strength to carry on. The nightmare that this can turn into for some is a parched and paranoid terror of fearing for our lives, so we can become frantic in seeking the barest scrap of refreshment and energy. But we can never hold water actively – it literally slips through our fingers, and energetically there is a level of trust and surrender required in order to be able to hold a vessel, a grail, to hold the waters of life. On the land, hard, dry earth will cause sudden rains to move on and pass by and we need a discipline of surrender and permeability in being able to hold this resource within our energy field’ (Paul Hougham ‘The Atlas of Mind, Body and Spirit’ p156)
The Bladder meridian rules the back of the body. With some 80 meridian points in two lines down the back, it is easy to see how the back is a fertile field for the storage of old wounds that later become organ imbalances. In addition to bearing its burden of the past, the back also must support the normal pressures of everyday living, including feeling of duty, demands of authority, guilt, burdens which are both physical and psychological.
Feelings about sexuality, self control, self support and stability are emotional forces that can be held in the back. It’s no wonder so many people have back trouble. Releasing the tension in the back and stimulating the bladder meridian will automatically release the stored psychic tension, resolving many physical and psychological problems.
Sources: www.bigtreehealing.com,