According to traditional Chinese medical theory, acupuncture is based on the understanding that a network of pathways, called meridians, runs through the body -- much like blood vessels and nerves do -- connecting the internal organs and their functions with the body's exterior.  Just as blood moves through the blood vessels and nerve impulses travel along the neural pathways, Qi (pronounced CHEE) flows through the meridians.  The quality and quantity of the flow of Qi in the meridian system has a direct relationship to our states of health and illness.  Qi can be manipulated at certain points along the meridians, typically by inserting needles, applying heat or applying pressure. Stimulating acupuncture points causes both the local area being needled and remote areas of the body to be affected.  This is the means by which balance, and therefore health, is restored.  Scientifically speaking, the mechanism by which acupuncture works has yet to be thoroughly elucidated, but it is thought, in part, to have effects upon physiological function in the nervous, endocrine and immune systems.