What is EFT Tapping? Can it help with my stress?

EFT is also known as Emotional freedom technique. It is an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s also referred to as tapping or psychological acupressure.

Studies have shown that Tapping helps decreases cortisol (our stress hormone) in the body. The World Health Organization has announced that stress is the health epidemic of the 21st century.

Tapping is based on Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it focuses on meridian points which in TCM are areas of the body where energy flows through. These pathways are thought to help balance energy flow to maintain health. Imbalance is thought to influence disease or sickness.   

When we perform EFT,  we are directly stimulating these meridian points much like acupressure and acupuncture. EFT has been shown to help reduce stress or our feelings towards negative emotions from our concern. The goal is to help you identify and accept the problem to create safety and reduce our negative response to the situation. 

This Youtube video explains EFT Tapping really well. 

There are 5 key steps to follow to gain maximum benefit from this practice.

1. Identify your concern and focus on one problem at a time

2. Set up your phrase or mantra. The common setup phrase is: 

“Even though I have this [fear or problem], I deeply and completely accept myself.” You will repeat this throughout the tapping session.

3. Tapping. There are 12 major meridians that mirror each side of the body and correspond to an internal organ. EFT focuses on the below nine meridian points:

  • Karate chop (KC): small intestine meridian
  • Top of head (TH): governing vessel
  • Eyebrow (EB): bladder meridian
  • side of the eye (SE): gallbladder meridian
  • Under the eye (UE): stomach meridian
  • Under the nose (UN): governing vessel
  • Chin (Ch): central vessel
  • Beginning of the collarbone (CB): kidney meridian
  • Under the arm (UA): spleen meridian

4. Starting off by tapping:

  • Karate chop. This is the side of the hand you have your pinkie finger. Start your mantra “Even though I have this [fear or problem], I deeply and completely accept myself.” and repeat this for each meridian point. 
  • Eyebrow 
  • Side of the eye (temple) 
  • Under the eye 
  • Under the nose on the upper lip area
  • Chin, tap on the crease 
  • Tap your palm on the collarbone
  • Under the arm pit, about a palm distance down (bra strap area) 
  • Top of the head - finish on this point while repeating your mantra 

5.  At the end of the session, check in on yourself. Has the intensity of your concern reduced? How do you feel on a scale from 0 to 10. Compare your results with your initial intensity level. If you haven’t reached 0, you can keep repeating this process. 

 

EFT is a beneficial practice that can be done anywhere, anytime.  EFT has many clinical studies demonstrating benefits when it comes to treatment of anxiety, physical pain, depression, stress and trauma. 

      EFT Tapping

 

Clinical studies and resources:

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