Acupuncture diagrams. Historical diagram of the acupuncture channels of a human body. The title is Tsoe Bosi. Frontal and rear views are shown, along with different sorts of needles (across bottom). Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese system of medicine. It states that meridians (imaginary routes throughout the body) act as channels for the flow of the life force or Qi. Diseases are thought to be due to interruptions in the flow of Qi. Inserting needles into the correct points (also labelled) is said to restore the flow and cure disease. This is a lithograph by Langlume. It was published in Memoire sur l'electropuncture by J.B. Sarlandiere (Paris, 1835).