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Bladder Meridian (Tai Yang)

BL Zu Tai Yang Pang Guang Jing 足太阳膀胱经 Water Tai Yang 📍 67 points ➡️ Hoofd → Voet 🔗 Paired with KI 🕐 15:00–17:00

Introduction & pathophysiology

The Bladder Meridian (Tai Yang) regulates fluid metabolism and the urinary system. It is the longest meridian with 67 points. In dysfunction, we see back pain, neck pain, headache, urinary tract infections, eye problems, and colds. The meridian runs from the eye via the back of the head to the small toe. The peak hour is from 15:00 to 17:00.

Functions within TCM

1. Regulates fluid metabolism
2. Urine excretion
3. Protects against external pathogens
4. Regulates back and neck
5. Influences the eyes

Clinical applications

**Back/neck:** Low back pain, neck pain, sciatica
**Urinary:** Cystitis, UTI, enuresis
**Headache:** Tension headache, migraine
**Eye:** Conjunctivitis, blurred vision
**General:** Colds, flu, fever

Primary dysfunction patterns

Bladder HeatPainful urination, dark urineBladder ColdFrequent urination, pale urineBladder Qi stagnationUrinary retention, fullnessBladder Blood stagnationSharp pain, blood in urine

Key points

BL-40Low back pain, sciatica, vomitingBL-23Low back pain, urine, reproductionBL-32Gynecology, low back painBL-60Headache, neck pain, low back painBL-67Childbirth, headache, eye problems

Point selection per pattern

Bladder HeatBL-40, BL-22KI-2Bladder ColdBL-23(moxa), BL-28(moxa)CV-4Bladder Qi stagnationBL-39, BL-40KI-3Bladder Blood stagnationBL-40(bloodlet), BL-17SP-10

All points of the Bladder Meridian (Tai Yang)

BL-1

Bright Eyes

Jingming

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-2

Gathered Bamboo

Zanzhu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-3

Eyebrows' Ascension

Meichong

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-4

Deviating Curve

Quchai

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-5

Fifth Position

Wuchu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-6

Receiving Light

Chengguang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-7

Reaching Upward

Tongtian

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-8

Declining Connection

Luoque

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-9

Jade Pillow

Yuzhen

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-10

Upper Pillar

Tianzhu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-11

Great Vertebra

Dazhu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-12

Wind Gate

Fengmen

📍 In the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd thoracic vertebra (T2)

💊 Colds, cough, asthma, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, neck pain, stiffness

📖 View details

BL-13

Lung Transporter

Feishu

📍 In the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 3rd thoracic vertebra (T3)

💊 Cough, asthma, wheezing, dyspnea, bronchitis, lung infections, sore throat, fever, skin rashes

📖 View details

BL-14

Absolute Yin Transporter

Jueyinshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-15

Heart Transporter

Xinshu

📍 In the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 5th thoracic vertebra (T5)

💊 Anxiety, insomnia, palpitations, chest pain, poor memory, dream-disturbed sleep

📖 View details

BL-16

Governor Transporter

Dushu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-17

Diaphragm Transporter

Geshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-18

Liver Transporter

Ganshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-19

Gallbladder Transporter

Danshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-20

Spleen Transporter

Pishu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-21

Stomach Transporter

Weishu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-22

Sanjiao Transporter

Sanjiaoshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-23

Kidney Transporter

Shenshu

📍 In the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 2nd lumbar vertebra (L2)

💊 Low back pain, fatigue, poor memory, tinnitus, deafness, nocturnal emission, enuresis, infertility, osteoporosis, premature graying

📖 View details

BL-24

Sea of Qi Transporter

Qihaishu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-25

Large Intestine Transporter

Dachangshu

📍 In the lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous process of the 4th lumbar vertebra (L4)

💊 Low back pain, constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, intestinal obstruction, IBS

📖 View details

BL-26

Gate of Origin Transporter

Guanyuanshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-27

Small Intestine Transporter

Xiaochangshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-28

Bladder Transporter

Pangguangshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-29

Mid-Spine Transporter

Zhonglushu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-30

White Ring Transporter

Baihuanshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-31

Upper Bone Hole

Shangliao

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-32

Second Bone Hole

Ciliao

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-33

Middle Bone Hole

Zhongliao

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-34

Lower Bone Hole

Xialiao

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-35

Meeting of Yang

Huiyang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-36

Hold and Support

Chengfu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-37

Hamstring Gate

Yinmen

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-38

Superficial Cleft

Fuxi

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-39

Lateral End of the Crease

Weiyang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-40

Middle of the Crease

Weizhong

📍 At the midpoint of the popliteal crease, between the tendons of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus muscles

💊 Low back pain, sciatica, knee pain, leg cramps, heat stroke, acute abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea

📖 View details

BL-41

Outer Branch

Fufen

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-42

Door of the Corporeal Soul

Pohu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-43

Vital Region Shu

Gaohuangshu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-44

Spirit Hall

Shentang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-45

That Hurt

Yixi

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-46

Diaphragm Gate

Geguan

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-47

Ethereal Soul Gate

Hunmen

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-48

Linking to Gall Bladder

Yanggang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-49

Abode of Thought

Yishe

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-50

Stomach Granary

Weicang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-51

Vitals Gate

Huangmen

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-52

Willpower Room

Zhishi

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-53

Bladder's Vitals

Baohuang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-54

Lowermost in Order

Zhibian

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-55

Yang Confluence

Heyang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-56

Sinews Support

Chengjin

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-57

Mountain Support

Chengshan

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-58

Taking Flight

Feiyang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-59

Tarsus Yang

Fuyang

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-60

Kunlun Mountains

Kunlun

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-61

Subservient Visitor

Pucan

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-62

Extending Vessel

Shenmai

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-63

Golden Gate

Jinmen

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-64

Metatarsal Tuberosity

Jinggu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-65

Metatarsal Head

Shugu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-66

Foot Valley Passage

Zutonggu

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

BL-67

Reaching Yin

Zhiyin

📍 Along the Bladder meridian pathway on the head, neck, back, leg, foot

💊 Back pain, sciatica, headache, eye disorders, urinary disorders, common cold

📖 View details

Contraindications & safety

BL-11 to BL-17Pneumothorax risk - needle obliquelyBL-31 to BL-34Caution during pregnancyBL-60Avoid with severe ankle swelling

Relation with other meridians

Exterior-interior with Kidney (KI)
Cooperation with Small Intestine (SI) for elimination
Reinforcing back points: BL-28, BL-27

Clinical notes

Bladder time: 15:00-17:00
Best time for hydration and urination
BL-40 is the most important back point

Comorbidity & drug interactions

DiureticsEnhance BL effect - adjust dosageUTI antibioticsWork synergistically with BL pointsPainkillersMask back pain - be alert

Prognostic signs

Weak pulse at BL-64|Chronic back pain
Full, rapid pulse|Acute UTI - quick results
Deep, slow pulse|Cold - moxa needed

Conclusion

The Bladder Meridian is the longest meridian and essential for back pain, UTIs, and colds.