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General traditional theory asserts that when under stress, the body’s meridian system becomes imbalanced. Many factors cause stress, including physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual challenges, psychological issues, biochemical problems, and even electromagnetic difficulties such as geopathicstress. Even natural environmental factors such as excess cold, damp, wind, dryness, or heat can create imbalance. Under duress, the blood, chi, and fluid cannot flow normally, usually leading to congestion (excess or blockage) or depletion (deficiency or weakness). Symptoms of these imbalances can be found through the meridians even before they manifest physically. Once these problems appear physically, these underlying causes can impede the body’s healing ability. The meridian therapist essentially stimulates the acupuncture points to restore balance. Stagnant chi calls for stimulation. Cold chi needs warmth. As we will see in the section on meridian treatment modalities, diagnosis, and treatment, there are many paths open to a meridian specialist, including needling and non-needling techniques, massage, energy work, diet, herbs, and more. YIN/YANG Yin/yang is a synthesis of the other categories. Yin equals interior, empty, and cold. Yang equals exterior, full, and hot. It can also describe two kinds of emptiness: deficiency (not enough yin or yang) and collapse (critical “collapse” or recession of yin or yang).
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