Damp heat in the bladder

The physiological function of the bladder is to store and discharge urine. So pathological changes of the bladder chiefly manifest as abnormal urination.

The bladder is located in the lower abdomen. Its meridian connects with the kidney with which it is externally - internally related. The main function of the bladder is the temporary storage of urine, which is discharged from the body through qi activity when a sufficient quantity has been accumulated. This function of the bladder is performed with the assistance of the kidney qi. Disease of the bladder will lead to symptoms such as anuria, urgency of micturition and dysuria ; failure of the bladder to control urine may lead to frequency of micturition, incontinence of urine and enuresis.

Clinical manifestations : Frequency and urgency of urination, burning pain in the urethra, dribbling urination or discontinuation of urination in mid - stream ; turbid urine, deep - yellow in color, hematuria ; or stones in the urine ; possible lower abdominal distension and fullness or lumbago ; a yellow, sticky tongue coating and a rapid pulse.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome may be due to invasion of exogenous pathogenic damp - heat which accumulates in the bladder. It may also result from excessive eating of hot, greasy and sweet food, leading to downward infusion of damp heat to the bladder. Accumulation of damp heat impairs the function of the bladder, resulting in frequency and urgency of urination, burning pain in the urethra, dribbling urination and yellow urine. Condensed by heat, the impurities in the urine form stones, which cause sudden discontinuation of urination in mid - stream, turbid urine or stones in the urine. Damp heat may injure the vessels and thus hematuria occurs. Blockage of the bladder is the cause of lower abdominal distension and fullness. Since a disorder of a fu organ may affect its corresponding zang organ, lumbago appears. A yellow, sticky tongue coating and a rapid pulse are both signs of accumulation of damp heat in the interior.