Yin-Yang imbalance is synonymous with disease and can be subdivided into: acute, chronic, and subacute or recurrent. Each state requires specific tonification and drainage techniques for its treatment with acupuncture.

Acute diseases

• 1 - 30 days
• Requires drainage.
• Full Yang
• Full Yin
• Full Yin and Yang

Chronic diseases

• 6 months or more
• Requires tonification due to lack of energy.
• Yang deficiency
• Yin deficiency
• Yin and Yang deficiency

Subacute or recurrent disease

• 1 - 6 months
• Tonify and drain: fullness and deficiency at the same time.
• Hyperactive Yang with deficient Yin.
• Stagnation and accumulation of Yin with deficient Yang.