Scientists in both the UK and Australia are now actively investigating EFT for chronic pain, anxiety, insomnia, PTSD and just plain, old everyday life stress. “Research into EFT suggests it can be effective for a whole range of conditions,” says Dr Adam Boughey, a lecturer at Staffordshire University. “When you look into those papers, the effects are actually quite significant.”
Others believe that the benefits stem from the particular tapping points themselves, which are taken from acupuncture, another form of alternative therapy which stems from traditional Chinese medicine. Acupuncture is also used to treat anxiety and pain and involves inserting needles into various pressure points around the body.
How does tapping work?
Peta Stapleton is an associate professor at Bond University in Australia, and a registered health psychologist with an interest in EFT. She believes the core concept of acupuncture is that there are various electrically sensitive points on the skin, the ends of pathways in the body known as meridian, along which energy flows. She claims that through applying pressure to those points, it is possible to induce changes in brain regions associated with fear and pain.
“The effect of acupressure as used in EFT echoes that found in studies of acupuncture needling,” says Stapleton. “In a 10-year research program conducted at Harvard Medical School, magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated that the needling of acupoints consistently produced changes in activation in the hippocampus, amygdala and other brain areas.”
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
