It is clinically essential to differentiate excess type from deficiency one. Stagnation of liver qi and gallbladder qi, blood stasis caused by qi stagnation, heat accumulation in the gallbladder, and damp heat in the liver and gallbladder are of the excess type; deficiency of liver yin and kidney yin, and deficiency of spleen yang and kidney yang belong to 'the deficiency type. Concerning the treatment principle, it is to soothe the liver, increase bile secretion, promote descending and dredge fu-organs. For the excess type, it is to purge fu-organs to eliminate heat, while for the deficiency type, tonic therapy and purgative therapy should be used at the same time.

Essentials for Diagnosis 
(1) The chief clinical manifestation is frequent recurrence of pain in the epigastrium, usually on the right or in the middle, radiating to the right infrascapular region. The pain usually attacks at night or after heavy meals. During the intermission of attacks, there may be stuffiness and discomfort sensation in the right epigastrium accompanied by burning sensation in the stomach, nausea, belching, acid regurgitation and impaired appetite, which are usually aggravated by intake of greasy food.

(2) The chief physical signs are tenderness in the right epigastrium and positive Murphy's sign. A cystic mass is palpable in the right epigastrium.

(3) Cholesterol crystal, sediment of calcium bilirubinate and a large number of white blood cells, especially bile-stained pus cells can be found in the bile by duodenal biliary drainage examination. Pathogens may be found in the bacterial culture of the bile.

(4) Ultrasonography B is helpful in detecting the size of gallbladder, the thickness of gallbladder wall and the existence of gallstone.

(5) X-ray plain film reveals radiopaque calculus, calcification, and enlargement of gallbladder. Intravenous cholecystography shows radiopaque stone, enlarged or shrinked or deformed gallbladder, ill concentrating and contracting function of the gallbladder, and undeveloped or underdeveloped opacity of the gallbladder.