Library

The meridian of Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) originates at the inner canthus (the medial corner of the eye), ascends to the forehead, and intersects at the vertex (Dingchuan). The vertex is the top of the head; in the center of the vertex, there is a whorl of hair where a bean can be placed, known as the meeting point of the three Yang meridians and five Hui acupoints. Its branch travels from the vertex to the supraorbital ridge. The straight branch enters the brain from the vertex (the anterior part of the vertex is called Xiding, the posterior part Naoding, and the lateral parts Jiao), emerges again, descends separately to the nape, follows the medial aspect of the shoulder blade, flanks the spine, reaches the middle of the waist, enters internally to connect with the Kidney (the Kidney serves as the support for the Bladder, thus the Bladder meridian connects with the Kidney), and belongs to the Bladder (Foot-Taiyang is the meridian of the Bladder, hence its vessel belongs to the Bladder). Another branch arises from the middle of the waist, descends through the buttocks, and enters the popliteal fossa (the popliteal fossa refers to the crease behind the knee, where Weizhong BL-40 is located). Another branch descends separately from the medial aspect of the shoulder blade on both sides, passes through the scapula (the scapular region is below the lower ends of the humerus, corresponding to the muscles arising from the kidneys), flanks the spine internally, passes through the hip pivot (Huantiao GB-30 is located in this hip pivot; *Suwen* states: "The one connecting to the correct path in the hip pivot" refers to this), follows the lateral aspect of the thigh, descends along the posterior margin, and joins with the branch in the popliteal fossa. It then descends through the medial aspect of the calf muscle (Shuan), emerges posterior to the lateral malleolus (posterior to the lateral malleolus is where Kunlun BL-60 resides), follows Jinggu BL-64 (Jinggu is an acupoint name, the Yuan-Source point of Foot-Taiyang, located below the large bone on the lateral side), and reaches the lateral side of the little toe (the lateral side of the little toe is the division of Zhiyin BL-67. *Suwen* says: "The root of Foot-Taiyang starts at Zhiyin." Foot-Taiyang intersects with Foot-Shaoyin here).

When Foot-Taiyang undergoes change, disease occurs (Foot-Taiyang typically has abundant blood and scarce Qi; now that Qi is diseased first, this is called "Shidong" [moving] disease). Symptoms include: headache striking upward, eyes feeling as if they are falling out, neck feeling as if being pulled, back pain and waist pain as if breaking, inability to flex the thigh, stiffness in the calf as if bound, and tearing pain in the calf, which is called "Huajue" (Ankle Reversal). This meridian governs diseases generated by tendons (Blood becomes diseased due to Qi; since it is generated by Qi, it is called "Suoshengbing" [generated disease]. Foot-Taiyang has abundant blood and scarce Qi, which is the constant state of humans. However, there are exceptions. *Lingshu* states: When Qi and Blood are abundant in the upper part of Foot-Taiyang, eyebrows are beautiful and fine hairs grow; when blood is scarce and Qi is abundant, there is much evil blood and little Qi; when blood is scarce and Qi is abundant, there is edema and fine skin texture; when blood is scarce and Qi is abundant, flesh is abundant but blood flow is sluggish; when Qi and Blood are harmonious, the complexion is beautiful. In the lower part of Foot-Taiyang, when Qi and Blood are abundant, the heel flesh is full; if Qi is scarce and Blood is abundant above the heel, the heel is thin and empty; when both Qi and Blood are scarce, cramps occur easily, and there is pain below the heel. Thus, seeing beautiful eyebrows indicates that Foot-Taiyang has abundant blood. From this, the abundance or scarcity of Qi and Blood in Foot-Taiyang can be known.) It also treats hemorrhoids, malaria, mania, and vertex diseases (*Suwen* says: What is called mania and vertex disease is because Yang energy is exhausted in the upper part, while Yin energy rises from below). Symptoms also include: pain in the frontal fontanelle and vertex, yellow eyes with tearing, rhinorrhea or epistaxis, pain in the neck, back, waist, sacrum, calves, and feet, and dysfunction of the little toe (Foot-Taiyang runs along the Yang aspect of the body, hence pain in the head, brain, neck, back, waist, sacrum, calves, and feet, and dysfunction of the little toe). Regarding pulse diagnosis: when excess exists, the Renying (Carotid) pulse is twice as large as the Cunkou (Radial) pulse; when deficiency exists, the Renying pulse is smaller than the Cunkou pulse.

The Luo-Connecting vessel of Foot-Taiyang is named Feiyang BL-58. It is located seven cun above the ankle and diverges to connect with Shaoyin. In excess conditions, there is nasal obstruction and headache/back pain; in deficiency conditions, there is nasal discharge or epistaxis. Treatment involves selecting the point where it diverges.

The sinews of Foot-Taiyang originate from the little toe, ascend and bind at the ankle, slant upwards and bind at the knee. The descending part follows the lateral aspect of the foot and binds at the calcaneus, ascending along the Achilles tendon to bind at the popliteal fossa. Its branch binds at the lateral aspect of the popliteal fossa, ascends to the medial margin of the popliteal fossa, converges within the popliteal fossa, and ascends to bind at the buttock, continuing up along the spine to the nape. Its branch enters separately to bind at the base of the tongue. The straight branch binds at the occiput, ascends to the head, descends to the face, and binds at the nose. Its branch forms the upper eyelid margin and descends to bind at the inner canthus. Its branch arises from the posterior-lateral aspect of the axilla and binds at the shoulder joint. Its branch enters the axilla, ascends to emerge at the supraclavicular fossa, and binds at the mastoid process (Wangu). Its branch emerges from the supraclavicular fossa, slants upwards, and emerges at Fengfu GV-16. Diseases of these sinews present with swelling and pain in the little toe and calcaneus, spasms in the popliteal fossa causing opisthotonos, stiffness in the neck sinews, inability to raise the shoulder, support sensation in the axilla and pulling pain in the supraclavicular fossa, and inability to rotate left and right. Treatment employs burning needle (fire needle) rapid puncture, taking improvement as the criterion, and using painful points as acupoints. This condition is named Zhongchun Bi (Spring Midst Bi Syndrome).

When pathogenic factors invade the collateral vessels of Foot-Taiyang, they cause pain in the head, neck, and shoulder. Puncture Zhiyin BL-67 on the nail bed of the little toe, and the junction of nail and flesh, one moxa cone each. The disease will cease immediately. If not, puncture three cun below the lateral malleolus, treating the left side for right-sided symptoms and vice versa. After about the time it takes to eat a meal, the disease ceases. When pathogenic factors invade the collateral vessels of Foot-Taiyang, they cause spasms and stiffness in the back, with pulling pain in the hypochondrium. Puncture should start from the neck, counting the vertebrae, and select points flanking the spine where the disease is located. Press the area until tenderness is felt, then puncture beside it. Three moxa cones will cure it immediately.

The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian runs from the head to the foot, measuring eight chi in length, totaling one zhang six chi for both sides. There are 126 acupoints in total.
Jingming BL-1 (2 points), Cuanzhu BL-2 (2 points), Qucha BL-4 (2 points), Wuchu BL-3 (2 points), Chengguang BL-7 (2 points), Tongtian BL-8 (2 points), Luoque BL-9 (2 points), Yuzhen BL-9 (2 points), Tianzhu BL-10 (2 points), Dazhu BL-11 (2 points), Fengmen BL-12 (2 points), Feishu BL-13 (2 points), Jueyinshu BL-14 (2 points), Xinshu BL-15 (2 points), Geshushu BL-17 (2 points), Ganshu BL-18 (2 points), Danshu BL-19 (2 points), Pishu BL-20 (2 points), Weishu BL-21 (2 points), Sanjiaoshu BL-22 (2 points), Shenshu BL-23 (2 points), Dachangshu BL-25 (2 points), Xiaochangshu BL-27 (2 points), Pangguangshu BL-28 (2 points), Zhonglushu BL-29 (2 points), Baihuanshu BL-30 (2 points), Shangliao BL-31 (2 points), Ciliao BL-32 (2 points), Zhongliao BL-33 (2 points), Xialiao BL-34 (2 points), Huiyang BL-35 (2 points), Fufen BL-41 (2 points), Pohu BL-42 (2 points), Gaohuang BL-43 (2 points), Shentang BL-44 (2 points), Yixi BL-45 (2 points), Ge Guan BL-48 (2 points), Hunmen BL-47 (2 points), Yanggang BL-46 (2 points), Yishe BL-49 (2 points), Weicang BL-50 (2 points), Huangmen BL-51 (2 points), Zhishi BL-52 (2 points), Baohuang BL-53 (2 points), Zhibian BL-54 (2 points), Chengfu BL-36 (2 points), Yinmen BL-37 (2 points), Fuxi BL-38 (2 points), Weiyang BL-39 (2 points), Weizhong BL-40 (2 points), Heyang BL-55 (2 points), Chengjin BL-56 (2 points), Chengshan BL-57 (2 points), Pucan BL-60 (2 points), Fayang BL-59 (2 points), Kunlun BL-60 (2 points), Feiyang BL-58 (2 points), Shenmai BL-62 (2 points), Tonggu BL-65 (2 points), Jinggu BL-64 (2 points), Shugu BL-65 (2 points), Jinmen BL-63 (2 points), Zhiyin BL-67 (2 points).