Functions of the Gallbladder:
▫️ Stores and excretes bile
▫️ Decision-making and planning
▫️ Controls sinews (by ensuring proper movement and mobility throughout the body.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the gallbladder is a no BS organ. A healthy gallbladder is a multitasker responsible for vision and planning through clear and concise decisions. It provides organization and structure through boundaries, and loves a schedule ⏰ time management is its jam.
A imbalanced gallbladder presents as a procrastinator with the inability to make decisions or follow through with those decisions. It lacks passion, inspiration, assertiveness, and is unable to stand up for itself.
The gallbladder is associated with the liver, and both are connected to the emotion anger. If you repress anger by holding it in, you can hurt the gallbladder (and liver) which leads to disease. Additionally, high levels of stress and poor food choices (see below) can lead to issues with the gall bladder, specifically something called liver fire. Liver fire shows up as red face and eyes, irritability, anger, ear ringing, and migraines to name a few. If you suspect your liver is 🔥, get acupuncture!
In Western medicine, the gallbladder is a dispensable body part. Typically if we have problems with it, we remove it. In TCM, we explore diet, herbs, acupuncture, and other modalities before considering removal. Sometimes, it still ends up being necessary 🤷🏼♀️.
How do we keep our gallbladder happy?
- Avoid (or consume in moderation) rich, greasy, fatty, or spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol… especially from 11pm-1am.
- Eat foods seasonally when possible. The gallbladder likes broccoli, oranges, jasmine and green tea, radishes, basil, garlic, dill, chives, lemon, kumquat, grapefruit, kale, carrots, celery, and much more. DM for a full list.
- Be in tune with your emotions- especially anger, frustration, and resentment. Therapy is amazing!
- Exercise, even if it means just walking daily.
If you suspect that your gallbladder needs some 💚, please don’t hesitate to reach out for information or booking.
art by @aqu.wellness
With Love,
Charlotte Morgan, M.S. L.Ac.
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