In traditional acupuncture, man functions harmoniously within an orderly universe. Health, disease and treatment relate to harmony or disharmony within the universe.
The Chinese use Yin and Yang to describe the body and explain disease. Three Yang channels (meridians) are down flowing and connect with 3 Yin up flowing channels. The six channels are found on both sides of the body and make up the 12 meridians. The 12 principal meridians are the major highway in the acupuncture network.
The goal of acupuncture is to balance the Yin and Yang. They are opposites that should exist in harmony. Acupuncture is used to treat any disharmony of yin or yang. There are four states of imbalance. These are excess yin, excess yang, deficient yin and deficient yang. Yin is associated with darkness, cold, structure, deficiency, moisture and rest. Yang is associated with light, heat, function, excess, dryness and activity. Nothing is pure yin or pure yang.