Bladder Syndromes

Question 1

Damp-Heat in the Bladder
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse and Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment

Answer 1

GHT = “Grumpy Hot Toilet”

1)
G – Genital Urinary Signs
Burning on urination
Difficult, frequent, urgent urination
Dark yellow, turbid, or bloody urine
Sand or gravel in urine

H – Heat Signs
Feeling of heat
Fever

T – Tummy & Thirst
Thirst with no desire to drink
Hypogastric fullness and pain

2)
Pulse: Slippery, slightly Wiry on left rear position, and possibly Rapid. Tongue Body: Red spots on root.
Tongue Coat: Thick, Sticky, Yellow coating on the root.

3)
Pathology: Symptoms are due to Damp and Heat. Difficult urination, turbid urine and urgent urination are all due to Damp obstructing the water passages of the Lower Burner and interfering with the Bladder’s function of Qi transformation. In extreme cases, Dampness can materialize into urinary sand or stones. All other symptoms are due to Heat.

4)
Aetiology: a) Excess exposure to External Pathogenic Damp and Heat. b) Excess exposure to External Pathogenic Dampness and Cold. c) Long-term emotional problems. d) Excess sex.

5)
Treatment Principles: Resolve Damp. Clear Heat. Open the Water Passages of the Lower Burner.
Examples of Points: Sp 9, Sp 6, Bl 22, Bl 28, Ren 3, St 28, Bl 63, Bl 66, Bl 32. Needle technique: Even or Reduction.

Question 2

Damp-Cold in the Bladder
1) Symptoms
2) Pulse and Tongue
3) Pathology
4) Aetiology
5) Treatment

Answer 2

1)
G&T

Genital— Difficult urination, feeling heavy in the urethra. Frequent and urgent urination, turbid and pale urine.

Tummy—Feeling heavy in hypogastrium

2)
Pulse: Slippery, Slow, slightly Wiry on left, rear position.
Tongue Coat: Thick, Sticky, White coating on root.

3)
Pathology: All symptoms are due to Dampness and Cold in the Lower Burner. Dampness is heavy – it sinks and obstructs the water passages of the Lower Burner and interferes with the Bladder’s function of Qi transformation. This causes the urgent and difficult urination and feeling of heaviness. Dampness is “dirty” and causes the urine to be turbid.

4)
Aetiology: Excess exposure to Damp and Cold.

5)
Treatment Principles: Resolve Damp. Expel Cold. Remove Obstruction from Water Passages of the
Lower Burner.
Examples of Points: Sp 9, Sp 6, Bl 22, Ren 3, St 28, Ren 9, Bl 28. Needle technique: Even or Reduction.
Other applicable techniques: Moxa.