Acu-points are the specific sites through which the qi of the organs and meridians is transported to the body surface. The Chinese characters for an acu-points mean respectively " transportation " and " hole. " Acu-points are not only the pathways for the circulation of qi and blood, but also the loci of response to diseases. In acupuncture and acupressure treatments, proper techniques are applied on the acu-points to regulate the functional activities of the body, strengthen body resistance so as to prevent and treat diseases. Medical practitioners of past ages have left plentiful recordings describing the locations and indications of acu-points, formulating a systematical theory.

There are numerous acu-points distributed over the human body. A great deal of work has been accomplished by medical workers in the past to generalize and systematize acu-points, which have been classified either " by meridians " or " by body parts. "