The Gallbladder

The gallbladder is attached to the liver and situated below the ribs. Although it is one of the six bowels, it differs from other bowels in that its bile is pure as opposed to other bowels that contain turbid substances. When the gallbladder is diseased, the following symptoms will occur: pain in the ribs, bitter taste in the mouth, vomiting of bitter water and jaundice. As the gallbladder and the liver form a yin-yang relationship with each other, the diseases of the gallbladder are often treated by reference to the liver. Liver and gallbladder dampness-heat is a well-established syndrome that can be seen in acute hepatitis with jaundice, acute cholecystitis and gallstones, with the following symptoms: yellowish appearance of eyeball sclera, apparent pain in ribs, scant urine in reddish-yellow color, fever, thirst, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, abdominal swelling, yellowish and greasy coating of tongue and wiry and rapid pulse. To treat this syndrome, it is necessary to clear the heat, benefit the dampness, benefit the gallbladder and reduce yellowish appearance.