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The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: The Bladder is the official of the "State Capital" (Zhou Du), where body fluids are stored; only through Qi transformation can they be excreted.

It further states: "Bang" refers to its horizontal position beside the external genitalia, facilitating the passage of water. "Guang" refers to its thin and transparent texture. Taken together, it transitions from emptiness to fullness, connecting laterally with the water pathways. Being loose and hollow throughout, it can store water, which gradually infiltrates and permeates into the "Pao" (Bladder Sac/Urinary Bladder proper). When the Pao is full, urine is discharged.

[Diagram of the Bladder]

It also states: The Bladder is located below the nineteenth vertebra, beneath the Kidneys and anterior to the Large Intestine. It has a lower orifice but no upper orifice. The lower orifice of the Small Intestine is at the Shuifen acupoint (CV9), one cun above the umbilicus, which serves as the upper boundary of the Bladder. Body fluids separate from the ileum here, entering via Qi-mediated secretion and permeation. Their entry and exit are governed by Qi transformation. If the incoming Qi fails to transform, water returns to the Large Intestine causing diarrhea; if the outgoing Qi fails to transform, the lower orifices become blocked leading to strangury and swelling. Later texts claiming it has an upper orifice but no lower, or both, are incorrect.

The *Nan Jing* (Classic of Difficult Issues) states: The Bladder weighs nine taels and two zhu, measures nine inches in length and width, holds nine sheng and nine he of urine, and its orifice is two and a half cun wide.

It further states: The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian belongs to the Bladder.

It states: This meridian contains abundant blood but scarce Qi.

It states: At Shen hour (3-5 PM), Qi and Blood flow into the Bladder.

The *Ling Shu* (Spiritual Pivot) states: The Bladder is within the lower abdomen.

It states: If the nostrils are external and the Bladder leaks (referring to leakage of essence/fluids).

The *Nan Jing* states: The Bladder receives water in a state of emptiness, serving as the Fu organ of body fluids. It has an upper orifice but no lower orifice. Receiving the Qi of the Qi Sea (Qihai), it facilitates transformation and excretion of urine; if the Qi of the Qi Sea is insufficient, obstruction and difficulty urinating occur.

The classics state: Fluids from the Small Intestine, separated into clear and turbid parts, seep into the Bladder. Through the Qi transformation of the Pao, they become urine and are excreted.

Li Dongyuan stated: Although the Bladder is the Fu organ of body fluids, regarding the reception and containment of these fluids, there exists a "Pao" situated within the Bladder.

The *Lei Zuan* states: The Bladder is the chamber of the Pao.

The classics state: Unremitting discharge of urine indicates that the Bladder cannot retain fluids. Survival depends on maintaining this function; loss leads to death.

The *Jia Yi Jing* states: "Bang" means horizontal. "Guang" means broad. Describing its shape as broad, short, and horizontal.

The classics state: Bladder distension manifests as fullness in the lower abdomen and Qi stagnation.

It further states: If Jue Qi invades the Bladder, dreams of traveling occur.

It states: Heat in the Bladder causes strangury and retention; lack of constraint in the Bladder causes enuresis. ("Niao" sounds like "urine," referring to bedwetting during sleep.)

It states: The Bladder is the mansion of body fluids, where water flows. However, if the Foot-Sanjiao meridian is excess, it constrains the Lower Jiao but lacks free flow; if deficient, it fails to constrain the Lower Jiao, leading to enuresis. The Bladder is also known as the Foot-Sanjiao.

It states: Disorders of motion in this meridian cause headache radiating upward, eyes feeling as if protruding, neck feeling as if pulled, back pain with waist feeling as if broken, inability to bend the thighs, cramping in the popliteal fossa like a knot, and tearing pain, termed An-Jue. This meridian governs the sinews.

It states: Diseases generated by this meridian include hemorrhoids, malaria, mania, epilepsy, pain in the vertex and fontanelle, yellow eyes with tearing, rhinorrhea, and epistaxis, pain in the nape, back, loins, sacrum, thighs, and soles of the feet, and dysfunction of the little toe.

In excess conditions, the Renying pulse is twice as large as the Cunkou pulse; in deficiency, the Renying pulse is smaller than the Cunkou pulse.

Song for Guiding Herbs of the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian:
For Shen-hour Bladder issues, use Ze Xie, Hua Shi, Yin Chen, Rou Gui; Zhu Ling, Bai Fu Ling, Qiang Huo, Ma Huang, Huang Bo, Man Jing Zi are close allies. For descending action, Da Huang, Bai Zhu, and Ze Xie are used; Gao Ben, Qiang Huo, Fang Ji, and Huang Bo share similar reasons.

Excess-Heat in the Bladder presents with red, scanty, and painful urination. Deficiency-Cold presents with frequent urination, spermatorrhea, or cold, thick semen resembling rice wash water.

The *Ling Shu* states: The Kidney corresponds to bones. Those with dense skin and thick texture have thick San-Jiao and Bladder; those with coarse skin and thin texture have thin San-Jiao and Bladder; those with loose interstices have relaxed San-Jiao and Bladder; those with tight skin and no hair have urgent/tense San-Jiao and Bladder; those with beautiful, coarse hair have straight/unobstructed San-Jiao and Bladder; those with sparse hair have knotted/stagnant San-Jiao and Bladder.

It further states: In Bladder disease, there is unilateral swelling and pain in the lower abdomen. Pressing induces the urge to urinate but results in nothing. There is heat on the shoulder, or sunken pulses, and heat on the lateral aspect of the little toe, calf, and posterior ankle.

The *Ru Men* (Introduction to Medicine) states: Bladder disease due to Heat Knot in the Lower Jiao causes abdominal fullness, bladder torsion with difficult urination, and madness. Cold causes damp-phlegm to overflow upward, resulting in excessive salivation, dribbling urination, or enuresis.

It further states: Bladder deficiency leads to incontinence; treat with Ji Ji Wan or Jia Jian Ba Wei Wan, increasing Shan Yu, adding Wu Yao, Yi Zhi Ren, and Gu Zhi. Excess leads to urinary retention; treat with Yi Yuan San, Kui Zi Tang (Kui Zi, Chi Fu Ling, Zhi Shi, Mu Tong, Huang Qin, Gan Cao, Zhu Ling, Che Qian Zi, Qu Mai, Hua Shi, with Sheng Jiang as guide, from *Ji Sheng Fang*), or Wu Ling San. Wu Ling San is the principal formula for the Bladder.

The *Neijing* states: Difficulty in Bladder emptying is called Long; lack of constraint is called Enuresis.

It further states: Enuresis with delirium, eyes rolling back and staring fixedly, indicates Bladder exhaustion.

It states: The Bladder meridian is the Foot-Taiyang. At its termination, symptoms include staring upward, opisthotonos, convulsions, pale complexion, and sweating of absolute collapse. Death follows the appearance of absolute sweat.

The classics state: When Tai Yang governs the year and Cold prevails excessively, heart palpitations occur, indicating Cold injuring the Heart.

It further states: Edema is divided into ten types. Abdominal urgency with emaciated limbs characterizes Bladder Water.

Tonification herbs: Ju He, Long Gu, Yi Zhi Ren, Xu Duan, Chang Pu.

Draining herbs: Mang Xiao, Ze Xie, Hua Shi, Che Qian Zi.

Warming herbs: Hui Xiang, Wu Yao.

Cooling herbs: Sheng Di, Gan Cao Shao, Huang Bo.

Guiding and Messenger herbs: Gao Ben and Qiang Huo ascend; Huang Bo descends.