What is EFT tapping and how can you start?

How many methods have you tried to help with relaxation and better downtime? EFT stands for "Emotional Freedom Techniques." It's a holistic therapy based on the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) about the body, and balancing its energy systems. The acupressure points of the body are important for EFT tapping, which can easily be practiced on yourself once you know the technique, in the comfort of your own home.

Curious? Click on to learn more about EFT tapping?

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Acupressure -

EFT is sometimes referred to simply as "tapping." It can also be called psychological acupressure. This links back to the idea that disruptions in energy flow are what cause negative emotions.

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Development of EFT -

EFT tapping was developed in the 1990s. It took much inspiration from the work of clinical psychologist Roger Callahan.

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Energy meridians -

The person who developed EFT, Gary Craig, believed that by tapping on the acupressure points of the body, you could help to restore balance.

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The body's pathways -

The meridians of the body are the energy pathways, through which life force flows. This is why an obstruction to them impacts our health and emotions.

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Energy meridians -

Balancing the energy meridians of the body, according to Craig, helps to relieve emotional and physical discomfort.

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Stress relief -

Those who advocate EFT as a holistic therapy claim that the tapping action sends signals to the part of the brain that controls stress.

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Stress relief -

Much in the same way that acupuncture needles help to relieve pressure in these areas, the light tapping action of the fingers keeps the energy flow moving.

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The mind-body connection -

Similar to activities such as yoga and tai chi, tapping functions on the basis that there is a strong mind-body connection.

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Exposure therapy -

EFT is what's referred to in psychology as exposure therapy. This is because it was created to help people overcome their fears, which are at the root of anxiety.

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Stress and anxiety relief -

One of the biggest reasons people turn to EFT tapping is to help with managing everyday stress and anxiety. In some small studies, it was found to be effective. However, more research is needed.

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Pain and cravings -

People might also receive relief from pain and cravings by practicing EFT tapping. In a meta-analysis of 20 studies, it was found tapping could help with both, as well as improve overall happiness.

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The point of the points -

Each EFT tapping point is said to connect directly to a specific meridian line. There are 12 main meridian points in the body, which connect to an organ or organ system.

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Eyebrow (EB) -

Close to the bridge of the nose, where the eyebrows begin, is the EFT eyebrow (EB) tapping point. This tapping point connects to the bladder and stomach meridian.

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Side of Eye (SE) -

Directly alongside the bone next to each eye is where the side of eye (SE) tapping point is located. This point connects to the gallbladder, triple warmer, and small intestine meridian.

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Under the Eye (UE) -

Directly under each eye is the bone where the under the eye (UE) tapping point can be found. This connects to the stomach meridian.

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Under the Nose (UN) -

The area directly above the upper lip, beneath the nose—also known as the cupid's bow—is the under the nose (UN) point. It connects to the governing vessel and large intestine meridian.

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Chin Point (Ch) -

The area in the crease below the bottom lip and above the chin is called the chin point (Ch). It connects to the conception vessel (central meridian) and stomach meridian.

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Collarbone Point (CB) -

Down an inch from where the collar bones meet in the center, and out an inch on each side, is where the collarbone point (CB) is located. It connects to the kidney meridian.

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Under the Arm (UA) -

Located about four inches beneath the armpit is the under the arm (UA) point, connecting to the spleen meridian line of the body.

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Top of the Head (TOH) -

Directly above the crown of the head, is the top of head (TOH) point. It connects to the bladder meridian in the body.

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Karate Chop (KC) -

The side of the hand, beneath the pinky finger, is where the karate chop (KC) point is located. It connects to the small intestine meridian.

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How to begin -

To begin with, there are two types of EFT tapping. They are standard EFT protocol (practiced by most people) and clinical EFT tapping (which must be carried out by a certified EFT professional).

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Standard EFT protocol -

The first step in the standard EFT protocol is to identify an issue in your life that's bothering you, and causing stress.

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Standard EFT protocol -

The second step is to rate the level of stress the issue is causing on a scale of zero to 10, with 10 being the most severe.

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Self acceptance -

Next, create a statement that has a component of self-acceptance in it. For example, "Even though I am stressed about completing a project at work, I fully accept and love myself."

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Start tapping -

Tap on each point several times, repeating a shorter version of your statement. Keep repeating it, taking note of the intensity score each time at the end, until the severity of stress reduces.

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Clinical EFT tapping -

A session with a certified clinical EFT practitioner can involve memory recall, verbal statements, and tapping a set of eight acupoints. This type of EFT has clinical research to back its effectiveness and is used to treat conditions such as PTSD, phobias, and clinical anxiety.

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A holistic, complementary therapy -

Like any holistic therapy, it's intended to complement your treatment of a specific issue. It's not a cure-all, nor should it be treated as such. But if you haven't tried it, it's a simple and effective modality, that requires no materials or financial investment to begin.

Sources: (Healthline) (Forbes Health) (Everyday Health) (Calm) (The Tapping Solution) (Vitality Living College)