Three Core Actions of Acupuncture: Yin-Yang Balance, Immune Support & Meridian Flow

Acupuncture and moxibustion treat disease by employing unique methods such as needling and moxibustion to achieve the goals of preventing and curing illness. They possess the actions of harmonizing yin and yang, supporting zheng qi and expelling pathogenic factors, and unblocking the meridians.

Harmonizing Yin and Yang

The occurrence of disease is, fundamentally, the result of the disruption of the relative balance of yin and yang, manifesting as states of relative excess or relative deficiency. For these pathological changes involving abnormal function of the zang-fu organs and meridians, the application of acupuncture and moxibustion can regulate yin and yang, rectify the imbalance and remedy the deviation, restore the relative balance of yin and yang, promote the state of "yin tranquil and yang secure," maintain abundant essence qi, achieve harmony between the physical form and qi, and preserve the spirit internally.

The yin-yang harmonizing action of acupuncture is primarily achieved through the combination of meridian acupoints and needling manipulation techniques. For example: toothache caused by exuberant stomach fire represents a predominance of yang heat; treatment should clear the stomach and drain fire, selecting the acupoint Neiting (ST44) on the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian with draining needling technique.

Stomach pain caused by cold pathogens damaging the stomach represents a predominance of yin pathogens; treatment should warm the middle burner and disperse cold, selecting Zusanli (ST36) on the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian and Zhongwan (CV12), the Mu point of the stomach, with draining needling technique combined with moxibustion.

Dizziness caused by kidney yin deficiency with liver yang hyperactivity belongs to the pattern of yin deficiency with yang hyperactivity. Following the principle of "treating yin diseases through the yang and yang diseases through the yin," treatment should nourish yin and subdue yang, selecting Taixi (KI3) on the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian with tonifying needling technique, and Xingjian (LR2) on the Foot Jueyin Liver Meridian with draining needling technique.

Chronic diarrhea caused by spleen yang deficiency belongs to yang deficiency with yin excess. Treatment should warm yang and disperse cold, selecting points such as Yinlingquan (SP9) on the Foot Taiyin Spleen Meridian with tonifying needling technique combined with moxibustion.

Since yin and yang can mutually engender and transform into one another, and mutually influence each other, treating yin must take yang into account, and treating yang must take yin into account. When harmonizing yin and yang, the method of "drawing yin from yang and drawing yang from yin" is often employed. Clinically, the most common application is the use of Mu points and Back-Shu points to regulate and nourish the yang qi and yin qi of the zang-fu organs.

Supporting Zheng Qi and Expelling Pathogenic Factors

The developmental process of disease is a process of mutual struggle between zheng qi (righteous qi) and xie qi (pathogenic factors). The ebb and flow of the strength of zheng and xie determines the progression and outcome of the disease. When pathogenic factors prevail over zheng qi, the disease worsens; when zheng qi prevails over pathogenic factors, the disease abates. Therefore, supporting zheng qi and expelling pathogenic factors is indispensable in ensuring a favorable disease outcome. Acupuncture and moxibustion treat disease precisely by exerting their effects of supporting zheng qi and expelling pathogenic factors.

The zheng-supporting and pathogen-expelling actions of acupuncture are primarily achieved through needling manipulation techniques and acupoint combinations. For example:

In terms of needling and moxibustion, the tonifying needling technique and moxibustion both have the effect of supporting zheng qi; conversely, the draining needling technique and blood-pricking therapy both have the effect of expelling pathogenic factors.

In terms of acupoint combination, points such as Gaohuangshu (BL43), Qihai (CV6), Guanyuan (CV4), and Mingmen (GV4) are often selected when supporting zheng qi; points such as the twelve Jing-well points, Shixuan (EX-UE11), and Renzhong (GV26) are often selected when expelling pathogenic factors.

For example, in cases of collapse syndrome presenting with a pale complexion, profuse sweating, cold extremities, and a faint pulse, treatment should restore yang and prevent collapse. Urgently apply large moxa cones at Guanyuan (CV4) and Shenque (CV8), and needle Zusanli (ST36) with tonifying technique. In cases of externally contracted warm-heat disease presenting with high fever, loss of consciousness, irritability, thirst, and a flooding, large, rapid pulse, treatment should drain heat and open the orifices. Prick the twelve Jing-well points with a three-edged needle to bleed, and needle Dazhui (GV14) and Quchi (LI11) with draining technique.

Supporting zheng and expelling pathogens are different methods, yet the two are mutually reinforcing and complementary. One may first expel pathogens and then support zheng, or first support zheng and then expel pathogens, or apply both simultaneously. The general principle is "support zheng without retaining pathogens; expel pathogens without damaging zheng." Only in this way can the expected therapeutic effect be achieved.

Unblocking the Meridians

The meridian system is distributed throughout the entire body, crisscrossing in all directions, linking the interior with the exterior and connecting the upper with the lower, forming the pathways for the circulation of qi and blood and maintaining the body's normal physiological functions. If, for various reasons, the meridians become obstructed, the zang-fu organs and limbs lose their warmth, nourishment, and moistening, and qi and blood become blocked and stagnant, then diseases will arise in abundance — whether stagnation or stasis, deficiency or excess, cold or heat, disharmony of qi and blood, or imbalance of yin and yang. Acupuncture and moxibustion can utilize their actions of "unblocking the meridians and harmonizing qi and blood." Based on the mechanisms of the mutual physiological and pathological connections and influences between the meridians and the zang-fu organs, certain acupoints are selected within the distribution routes and connection ranges of the meridian circulation, and needling or moxibustion is applied, so that the meridians become unobstructed, their circulation operates with proper measure, qi and blood are harmonized, and yin and yang are balanced.

The meridian-unblocking action of acupuncture is likewise achieved primarily through the combination of meridian acupoints and needling manipulation techniques. Taking the Foot Yangming Stomach Meridian as an example:

For swollen, painful gums caused by relative exuberance of the Foot Yangming meridian qi, select the point Neiting (ST44) on this meridian to drain heat, unblock the meridian, and relieve pain. For stomach pain caused by relative debilitation of the Foot Yangming meridian qi, select Zusanli (ST36) on this meridian to warmly unblock the meridian, tonify deficiency, and relieve pain. For disorders of rebellious and chaotic Foot Yangming meridian qi — including vomiting due to upward reversal of turbid qi, and abdominal distention and diarrhea due to failure of clear qi to ascend — Zusanli (ST36) on this meridian can also be selected to raise the clear and descend the turbid, harmonizing stomach qi. For pain and numbness in the thigh and hip region caused by obstruction of the Foot Yangming meridian qi, select points such as Biguan (ST31) and Futu (ST32) on this meridian to unblock the meridian qi and promote the smooth flow of qi and blood.