The Gallbladder

The gallbladder is one of the most commonly treated yang organ energetic systems we address with acupuncture. I say yang because each system in Chinese medicine is designated as either yin or yang. Very generally speaking, the yin organ systems store vital substances, whereas yang organ systems fill and empty themselves dynamically. Every in organ system is paired with a yang organ system and vice versa. In modern acupuncture practice, most acupuncturists pay a lot of attention to the yin organ systems, but in truth, addressing patterns and flow in yang systems can hold vital keys to our healing.
The gallbladder is one such system, it is the yang counterpart to the yin organ, the liver. Now, it is important to note that from a Chinese Medicine perspective, when we talk about a particular organ, such as the liver, heart, or gallbladder, we are not talking about the physical organ.. Rather, we are talking about a complex system of energy that flows within particular pathways and has a specific physiological function.

In Chinese Medicine, one of the essential functions of the gallbladder system is to control the flow of bile. This is its yang organ function of filling and emptying.
The gallbladder system controls the sinews (or ligaments and tendons.) Thus, points on the gallbladder meridian are often treated for any sort of soft tissue injuries, such as tendonitis, muscle sprains, strains, and tendon tears. This meridian runs along the sides of the body - making it doubly useful for musculoskeletal pain affecting the neck, shoulders, ribs, lateral abdominals, hips, IT Bands, knees, shins and ankles.
On a mental-emotional level, the gallbladder system is related to decisiveness and courage. A strong gallbladder gives us the ability to make decisions, and the courage to see them through. A weak gallbladder leads to lots of second-guessing, timidity and fearfulness.
On both a physical and a mental/emotional level, the gallbladder is about stability and the boundaries of self. Physically, the gallbladder meridian traverses the borders of our body - when its function is impaired, musculoskeletal problems easily arise and our balance and equilibrium are weakened. Emotionally, a weak gallbladder means our sense of self is endangered - we are unable to fight for what we believe in, we waver in our opinions and we are apprehensive with our interactions with the outer world.

Nourishing the Gallbladder through Food

Because of the gallbladder’s close relationship with the liver, any liver-nourishing foods will benefit the gallbladder as well, such as liver, mustard greens, goji berries, beets, broccoli, and sprouts. Because the gallbladder is closely tied to digestive function through bile production, when trying to balance the gallbladder energy, it is important to limit fried and greasy foods, as well as dairy, sugar, caffeine, or highly acidic foods.

Nourishing the Gallbladder through Lifestyle

Of all the systems in the body, the gallbladder system perhaps craves movement the most and will become cranky and painful with a lack of movement. So do your best to incorporate some sort of gentle exercise each day.
Stretch! Stretching enlivens the connective tissue, which the gallbladder system controls. Take a yoga class, or devote some extra time to stretching post-workout. In particular, try to incorporate stretches that get to the sides of your body, as this is gallbladder meridian territory.
Work out the muscle knots. Use massage, acupuncture, or foam rolling to break up adhesions in the connective tissue of the IT Bands, neck, and shoulders or back. Physically, this will help you to recover more quickly after exercise and help alleviate pain and tension. Emotionally, it may also let you free from old emotions, as emotions are often stored in the body in the form of tension, knots, and pain. Releasing those knots, particularly along the gallbladder meridian, can help you find strength and flexibility you didn’t know you had.

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