(1) Connecting the interior with the exterior of the body

(2) Moving qi and blood and regulating yin and yang

(3) Preventing pathogenic factors and reflecting the nature of disease

(4) Accepting stimulation and adjusting deficiency and excess

The theory of meridians and collaterals in clinical use

(1) Indicating pathologic changes

(2) Instructing differentiation of syndromes according to the theory of meridians

(3) Guiding clinical treatment of acupuncture and moxibustion