Welcome to our LED Light Therapy and Acupuncture Series

Each month, starting in June 2021 and continuing for the next 14 months, we will be featuring one of the TCM Meridians we use with our lights. Be sure to come back regularly and stay informed.

Part 7: The Bladder Meridian

Did you enjoy last month’s installment of our LED Light Therapy & Acupuncture blog series covering the Kidney Meridian? This month, we’ll be taking a look at the kidney’s sister meridian, the Bladder Meridian (BL).

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Yang to the Kidney Meridian’s yin, the Bladder Meridian is closely tied to our nervous system, governing our fight-or-flight response and all basic bodily functions.

With a whopping 67 acupoints, the Bladder Meridian originates near the eye, running to the top of and around the back of the head. From there, it travels down the side of the spine and through the leg, terminating at the little toe.

Major Bladder Meridian Acupoints

We have six major acupoints to cover: the Influential Point, Master Point, Accumulation Point, Source Point, Ting Point and Alarm Point. Let’s dive in first with the Influential Point!

The Bladder Meridian’s Influential Point is especially fascinating because there are three of them, abbreviated BL 11, BL 12 and BL 17. Known in English as the Great Shuttle, Wind Gate and Diaphragm Shu respectively, BL 11 and 12 are located near the top of the shoulder blade, with BL 17 located near the bottom of the shoulder blade.

• BL 11 – bone and painful joint disorders
• BL 12 – wind disorders, common cold and its symptoms
• BL 17 – blood-related conditions, menstrual conditions, skin disorders and more

The Bladder Meridian’s Master Point is located behind the knee. Designated BL 40 with the title Bend Middle, this acupoint is activated to assist with all lumbar, heat, skin and pain issues, including:

• All lumbar-related issues
• Heat conditions like heat stroke
• Skin issues with itching and inflammation
• Local leg and knee pain

Known as Metal Gate, with the designation BL 63, the Bladder Meridian’s Accumulation Point is located near the ball of the foot. Engaging this acupoint:

• Soothes local sinews
• Quickens connecting vessels
• Quiets the spirit

Next is the bladder’s Source Point, also located near the ball of the foot. Referred to as BL 64 and the Capital Bone, this acupoint:

• Clears heat
• Quiets the heart and spirit
• Aids with chest pain and mental confusion

The very last acupoint in the channel, the Bladder Meridian’s Ting Point is located in the little toe. Known as BL 67 and Reaching Yin, this point is engaged to aid with issues at the opposite end of the channel:

• Headache
• Eye pain
• Sinus pain

Lastly, we have the Alarm Point. Located just below the navel along the Conception Vessel at CV 3, this acupoint is known as the Central Pole and aids with a number of issues, including:

• Urinary disorders related to excess
• Yin excess accumulations
• Heat-related genital issues
• Gynecological disorders

LED Light Therapy as an Alternative to Acupuncture

There is remarkable overlap between the efficacy and benefits of acupuncture and LED Light Therapy — to the point that acupuncture using LED light instead of needles has taken on monikers of its own, including photopuncture, light therapy acupuncture, and others.

The main difference between the two is light therapy’s recent gains in popularity. This is most likely due to the lack of any physical puncturing of the skin — meaning no pain or discomfort, not bleeding issues, and no risk of infection. No wonder more patients are asking for it!

Practitioners of this new form of acupuncture have found the AAH Light uniquely suited to the task, thanks in large part to its range of colors and concentrated beam, allowing it to be directed to very specific points along the body’s meridians.

We invite you to explore the exciting developments in the field of light therapy found in this comprehensive database compiled by Vladimir Heiskanen of Helsinki, Finland.

And when you’re ready to learn more about the AAH Light and our 45-Day No Worries Guarantee, take a look at our variety of handheld LED light devices here.

Have a specific question about LED light therapy or the AAH Light? Contact us, we’d love to hear from you!

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Be sure to come back next month when we explore the Pericardium Meridian.