The Gallbladder rules choosing between options, decision making, and good judgement. What course is right for me? It helps us find our life direction anytime we are wallowing in procrastination or indecision.
On a physical level, the Gallbladder assists digestion to keep it moving, controls sinews, body flexibility, and tendon strength. It carries out the plans of the Liver, providing courage and initiative to keep our life moving, including emotions. The Gall Bladder influences the sides of head and body. It transforms Kidney vitality into action.
The Gallbladder rules sleep, as it is associated with the deep sleep point from 11 pm to 1 am. Insomnia or waking up in the middle of the night and being unable to fall asleep may indicate a deficient Gallbladder. Timidity, indecisiveness, and being easily discouraged are also signs of a weak Gallbladder. Conversely, the opposite, or braggadocio, may also be an imbalance in the Gallbladder.
The Gall Bladder is the Yang organ paired with the Yin Liver in the Wood element. The Gallbladder’s job is to absorb any excesses from the Liver. Since the Liver’s job is to create smooth flow of Qi, together these organs help regulate Blood, Digestion, and Emotion. The Liver is seen in Chinese medicine as the General in charge of planning, and the Gallbladder is her right-hand helper who uses the Liver’s vision to make judgments and important decisions.
The Gallbladder Source Point is: GB40, QiuXu, or the Mound of Ruins, on the on the outer ankle on both sides. The Source Point of a meridian is the point that most closely exemplifies the function of the entire meridian.
Gall Bladder Consciousness Issues
Anger, Decisions, Discernment, Motivation, Courage, Release, Mobility, Flexibility, Movement, Confidence, Strength, Regulation, Assertiveness, Speaking up, Commitment, and Fidelity.
Common Patterns of Gall Bladder Excess or Deficiency:
Timidity, inability to make decisions, nervousness, conditioned to expect criticism, irritability, depression, pain on one side of head or body, bitterness, unfaithfulness, hypochondria, sluggish digestion, blurred vision, dizziness, craving greasy foods, startles easily, indigestion, especially after fatty food, bloating, flatulence, passing wind, gallstones, acute abdominal pain, high cholesterol, and cholecystitis (inflammation of the Gallbladder).
Gallbladder’s Best Friends: Healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil, and fish oil, fresh fruits and vegetables, Vitamin C, fiber, nuts, buckwheat, liver, regular vigorous exercise, hemp, turmeric, beets, black seed oil, avocados, blackberries, lemon juice, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, and dandelion.
The Gallbladder’s Worst Enemies: Repressed anger, resentment, bitterness, sugar, alcohol, Soy oil, vegetable oils,
GMO oils, statin drugs, obesity, potatoes, pasta, rice, dairy, cheeses, grains, and sweets like donuts, biscuits, cakes, fritters, and pancakes.
To Balance the Gallbladder meridian:
Set a clear intention to build health. Start at GB-1, outer corner of the eye. Trace up to the forehead inside the hair line, around behind the ear to the back corner of the head. Trace back to (GB-21) big bone in the spine, forward around the shoulders down the sides of the torso to hip bone, down the outer leg, ending on the outside of 4th toe at GB-44. Do both sides together, or one at a time.
To Clear the Gallbladder meridian:
Set a clear intention to build health Trace backwards once, starting at GB-44 on the outside of the 4th toe, going up to GB-1 at outside of the eyes. Trace both sides together or one at a time. Then trace forward 3 times as above, both sides at the same time or one after the other.
“The Gallbladder is like a judge for its power of discernment.” – The Huangdi Neijing, the Yellow Emperor’s Classic Book of Medicine, 2,700 BCE.