Acupuncture model. Side view of a model of a male human head and upper torso marked with acupuncture points (labelled dots) and meridians (coloured lines). Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese system of medicine. It supposes that the meridians act as channels for flowing life force or Qi. Each of the meridians is believed to connect through internal pathways to one of the internal organs. Diseases are considered to be due to interruptions in the flow of Qi. Inserting needles into the correct points is thought to restore the flow and cure disease.