The Bladder in TCM

The different organs of the body are for specific physiological functions necessary for the overall functioning of the entire body. This is a scientific and medical fact. However, from the eastern viewpoint,  specifically the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) point of view, it goes beyond this Western belief because in addition to that, they suppose that the different organs relate to one another in a unique and specific way, e.g. the way the kidney is related to the bladder.

The view about the human body, its different organs and respective functions of TCM differ from the western perspective as the unique viewpoint involves a technique that is both accurate and precise. It anchors on the endless capability of the human body for recovery and rejuvenation through promoting the harmony of the body mind and spirit. In TCM, the zang-fu theory tries to explain the physiological function, pathological changes, and mutual relationships of every zang and fu organ. It consist of five zang and six fu organs where the zang parts function to manufacture and store what they call the body essence – the qi, blood and the body fluids. Yin in nature, the zang organs are also known as the “solid” organs as compared to the fu, which are the “hollow” ones and are considered yang organs. The fu counterparts on the other hand functions to transform the fluids and transport the substances to other parts of the body.

Kidney and Bladder relations

Take the kidney and the bladder as specific example of the zang fu theory. The kidney is considered a zang organ while the bladder is its counterpart fu organ. The kidney is the manufacturer of qi so any disorder in the bladder is attributed to the kidney. Qi and other body fluids including blood are considered as fundamental substances that are necessary for sustaining the bodily functions of the zang-fu organs and tissues.

In TCM, if the kidney qi or the kidney yang is weak, it results to a leaking bladder or a weak bladder that causes frequent urination. They say that when the kidneys are weak, the urine is not good and it irritates the bladder thus resulting to abnormal urination.

In Western medicine, the bladder’s function is to store and excrete urine but the TCM has extended its activities and functions to being involved when fluids are transformed during urine production. The impure fluids in the body is sent from the small intestine to the bladder for storing and excreting as urine. But the bladder’s function is dependent on the kidney yang. The bladder might not have sufficient qi and heat to transform the dirty fluid from the small intestine if there is a deficiency in the kidney yang. The result is too much clear urine that is excreted more frequently or at the worse, incontinence.

Thus, it indicates that a healthy body needs the balance and harmonious working together of the related organs. Any imbalance results to the different disorders in the body which become the different diseases and illnesses.