Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang (GB)
The Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang is currently a very popular meridian. It has the longest pathway along the body, and stimulating it along its course can improve the circulation of qi and blood. It originates from the outer canthus of the eye, runs along the lateral aspects of the body, extending from the lower leg up to the trunk, and then to the neck and head.
Active Hours
Zi hour, Gallbladder Meridian
Functions
The Lingshu (Spiritual Pivot), in the chapter "Meridians" (Jing Mai), records the disorders of this meridian: "Bitter taste in the mouth, frequent sighing, pain in the chest and hypochondrium with inability to turn the body. In severe cases, the complexion appears slightly dusty, the body loses its gloss and moisture, and the lateral aspect of the foot feels hot. This is called yang reversal (yang jue)."
Related Conditions
Visceral patterns (Zang-fu symptoms): When the gallbladder has problems, symptoms such as bitter taste in the mouth, indigestion, jaundice, and hypochondriac pain may easily occur. Meridian patterns (Jing-luo symptoms): When the Gallbladder Meridian is diseased, there may be migraine, pain in the outer canthus of the eye, swelling and pain in the neck and supraclavicular fossa along the meridian’s pathway, and pain and swelling in the thigh, knee, and lateral aspect of the lower leg, among other symptoms.
Daily Care
Clinical investigations have found that more than half of heart disease cases experience onset or death during the night. If there is a heart disease patient at home, closer observation should be maintained, and it is best to have some "heart rescue pills" (Jiuxin Wan) readily available. At this time, one should go to bed to fall asleep, which is conducive to the bone marrow's production of blood. Those who fall asleep before 11:00 p.m. will have a clear mind and a rosy complexion upon waking in the morning. The Gallbladder Meridian has a relatively long pathway, running from head to foot and traversing many body parts. If you go to sleep during the Zi hour (11:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.), you may gently pat the Gallbladder Meridian, or use your fingers to scrape and comb the head region with even force. This can help achieve a detoxifying effect. However, if the force is too great, it may disturb sleep.
Acupoints
No acupoints listed for this meridian yet.