Body acupuncture is the foundation of most acupuncture treatments. Body acupoints are typically located on the twelve main meridians, each connecting and representing a specific organ system, and two of the eight extra meridians. There are also extra points not on the meridians viewed more as functional points. The body acupoints commonly used in the United States number about four hundred. Although the number of acupoints identified on the meridians is constant, there are a great many more functional points.
The existence of the meridians and acupoints has been much debated and researched but has become generally accepted worldwide as a result both of research evidence and of the overall demonstrated effectiveness of acupuncture treatment. In fact, acupuncture has been endorsed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) since 1997. For more information refer to:
http://www.emofree.com/Research/meridianexistence.htm
http://michiganacupuncture.org/Scientific-Print.html
http://www.healingpeople.com/ht/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=345&Itemid=152