bladder meridian, this is again interesting

I find this all so interesting as I have a twisted uncomfortable feeling down below/groin area, I will ask my physio/acupuncturist (private sector) on Mon as it might be where the meridian changes course from the spine to leg.,

Organs Of The Water Meridian

Bladder: Water-energy yang organ The bladder is called the 'Minister of the Reservoir' and is responsible for storing and excreting the urinary waste fluids passed down from the kidneys. As an organ the bladder has only this function, but as an energy system the bladder is intimately related to the functions and balance of the autonomous nervous system. That's because the bladder energy meridian runs along the back of the body from head to heal, with two parallel branches flowing along each side of the spinal column. These four branches of the bladder meridian exert a direct influence on the sympathetic and parasympathetic trunks of the autonomous nervous system, whose condition of modern life, over activates the sympathetic system, causing tension and pain along the spine and its periphery.

This tension and pain may be relieved by stimulating the flow of energy along the spinal branches of the bladder meridian. Such stimulation induces total relaxation by switching the autonomous nervous system over to the restful, restorative parasympathetic mode. Chinese massage therapy focuses primarily on these four spinal branches of the bladder meridian because of their direct influence over the autonomous nervous system, which regulates all the body's basic vital functions.

• Bladder

• Paired Organ : Kidneys
• Color : deep blue
• Peak Hours : 3pm-5pm
• Physical Branches : autonomous nervous system
• Functions : stores and eliminates urine

Bladder: Psycho-Emotional Aspects

An imbalance in the Bladder can cause such psychological symptoms as habitual fear, lack of decision making capability and a diminished moral character. If the imbalance becomes chronic, it results in such emotional responses as jealousy, suspicion, and holding on to long-standing grudges.

The Bladder Channel Pathway, Acupuncture Points, and Internal Trajectories

The bladder channel begins at the inner corner of the eye, rising up through the eyebrow (BL-2) over the forehead and skull to join the governing vessel at GV-20. Here it enters the brain, re-emerging as a superficial path at the nape of the neck. This path continues over the base of the skull (occiput), where it divides again into two branches that descend parallel with the spine.
The inner branch diverts briefly to meet GV-14 before continuing to the sacrum, then on down the back of the thigh to the center of the knee-fold. An internal branch connects with the kidney and then the bladder, after separating at the lumbar region. The outer branch passes from the occiput along the edge of the shoulder blade and descends to the buttock, continuing down the thigh to meet the other branch at the knee. The single channel continues down the center of the calf muscle and passes behind the outer ankle to the outer tip of the little toe.

Internal Trajectories of the Bladder Meridian

The vessel of the bladder, foot tai yang, starts at BL-1 and passes over the head. The main meridian is the first line on the back, the shu points line. It then: ...comes down the shu line to the lumbar area and goes into the body, spirally wraps the kidneys, then passes down to and permeates the bladder.
This quotation is usually understood to mean that after spirally wrapping the kidneys, the trajectory descends through or with the ureter to the bladder, to permeate the bladder. It is possible that in passing from the lumbar area to spirally wrap the kidneys it passes through the renal artery.

The Associated points, or Back-Shu points, are a set of points located along the bladder meridian running down the sides of the spine. These points are associated with each of the Twelve organs of the body, via the dorsal and ventral nerves coming out from the spine which supply those particular organs.

Kidney: Water-energy yin organ

Known as the 'Minister of Power', the kidney is regarded as the body's most important reservoir of essential energy. The original prenatal energy (yuan chee) which forms the basis of life is stored in the kidney organ-energy system, which is why the kidneys are also known as the 'Root of Life'. In the Chinese view, the kidney organ system also includes the adrenal glands, which consist of the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex.
These glands sit like hats on top of the kidneys and secrete a wide range of essential hormones that regulate metabolism, excretion, immunity, sexual potency and fertility. Destruction of the adrenal cortex is fatal. The kidney system also includes what the Chinese call the 'external kidneys': the testicles in men and the ovaries in women. Thus the kidneys control sexual and reproductive functions and provide the body's prime source of sexual vitality, which the Chinese regard as a major indicator of health and immunity.
The kidneys themselves are responsible for filtering waste metabolites from the blood and moving them onwards to the bladder for excretion in urine. Along with the large intestine, the kidneys control the balance of fluids in the body. In addition, they regulate the body's acid-alkaline balance (pH) by selectively filtering out or retaining various minerals.
The kidneys, particularly the adrenal glands, are especially vulnerable to damage from excessive stress and sexual abuse. In the Chinese view, such damage is a major cause of immune deficiency, low vitality, and sexual impotence.
The kidneys control the growth and development of bones and nourish the marrow, which is the body's source of red and white blood cells. Weak kidney energy is therefore a prime cause of anemia and immune deficiency. The Chinese view the spinal cord and the brain as forms of marrow, and therefore poor memory, inability to think clearly, and backache are all regarded as indicators of impaired kidney function and deficient kidney energy.
Kidney vitality is reflected externally by the condition of head and body hair and is associated with the aperture of the ears. Tinnitus (ringing ears) is thus a sign of kidney dysfunction. The kidneys are the seat of courage and willpower, and therefore any impairment in kidney energy results in feelings of fear and paranoia. Intense fear can cause involuntary urination, a phenomenon also known to Western medicine.