The body is covered with points that can be needled or otherwise stimulated by an acupuncturist. Pathways called meridians, which help to connect each part of the body to the whole, connect points, so that one point can have effects on multiple parts of the body. For example, an acupuncturist might needle points on the ankle, wrist, or hand to relieve neck pain.Acupuncture points can regulate the Qi (energy) of internal organs to resolve internal problems, or of a local area (the elbow, for example) to relieve pain.
The word Qi refers to both a substance of energy in the body and the functionality of organs. Regulating the Qi of an organ refers to restoring its functionality to benefit all internal organs. In a local area, the mechanism of acupuncture often refers to pain relief.
