What is EFT tapping?
Emotional freedom technique (EFT) is an alternative treatment for physical pain and emotional distress. It’s also referred to as tapping..
According to its developer Gary Craig, a disruption in energy is the cause of all negative emotions and pain. It is based upon healing concepts that have been in practice in Eastern medicine for over 5,000 years. Tapping on Meridian which consists of techniques that utilize the body’s energy meridian points You can stimulate these meridian points by tapping on them with your fingertips. Meridian Tapping provides relief from chronic pain, emotional problems, disorders, addictions phobias, post traumatic stress disorder and physical diseases.
The body, like everything in the universe is composed of energy. Restore balance to the body’s energy, and you will mend the negative emotions and physical symptoms that stem from the energy disruption.
The basic technique requires you to focus on the negative emotion at hand a fear or anxiety, a bad memory a pain in a certain area. While maintaining your mental focus on this issue use your fingertips to tap 5-7 times each on 9 of the body’s meridian points.
This concept referred to the body’s energy as “chi” Meridian Tapping is similar to acupuncture which achieves healing through stimulating the body’s meridians and energy flow. Meridian Tapping does not involve needles which is an advantage. It is simple, painless and efficient.
EFT Tapping in 5 Steps
- Identify the issue
- Test the initial intensity
- The set up
- EFT tapping sequence
- Getting ready to begin Tapping
Meridian Points for Tapping
Research and Clinical Studies
Study 1
Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health
March 15, 2020
Citation: Bach, D., Groesbeck, G., Stapleton, P., Sims, R., Blickheuser, K., & Church, D. (2019). Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Improves Multiple Physiological Markers of Health. Journal of evidence-based integrative medicine, 24, 2515690X18823691. https://doi.org/10.1177/2515690X18823691
Study Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6381429/ | Download PDF
Study 2
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Modalities of Group Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Intervention for Food Cravings: Online versus In-Person
March 2, 2020
Citation: Stapleton, P. and Stewart, M. (2020) Comparison of the Effectiveness of Two Modalities of Group Delivery of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) Intervention for Food Cravings: Online versus In-Person. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 8, 158-181. doi: 10.4236/jss.2020.82014.
Link to full paper: https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=98546 | PDF
Study 3
Emotional freedom techniques and breathing awareness to reduce childbirth fear: A randomized controlled study
June 13, 2019
Citation: Vural P.I., Aslan, E., Emotional freedom techniques and breathing awareness to reduce childbirth fear: A randomized controlled study, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 35, 2019,
224-231, ISSN 1744-3881.
Link to original paper and abstract: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.02.011
Study 4
Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Techniques for Food Cravings and Weight Management: 2-Year Follow-Up
December 2, 2019
Citation: Online Delivery of Emotional Freedom Techniques for Food Cravings and Weight Management: 2-Year Follow-Up
Stapleton, P., Lilley-Hale, E., Mackintosh, G., and Sparenburg, E., J Altern Complement Med. 2019 Nov 25. doi: 10.1089/acm.2019.0309
Full PDF of paper available with free 30 day access at http://bit.ly/37G22gT
Study 5
Efficacy of Fifteen Emerging Interventions for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review
January 13, 2019
Citation: Metcalf, O., Varker, T., Forbes, D., Phelps, A., Dell, L., DiBattista, A., … & O’Donnell, M. (2016).
Efficacy of Fifteen Emerging Interventions for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A
Systematic Review. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 29(1), 88-92. doi: 10.1002/jts.2207
Study 6
A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study
November 16, 2017
Citation: Gaesser, A., Karan, O. A Randomized Controlled Comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to Reduce Adolescent Anxiety: A Pilot Study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, Volume 00, No. 0, 2016.
Study 7
(EFT-I) and Sleep Hygiene Education (SHE) in a Geriatric Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial
November 15, 2015
Citation: A Comparison of Emotional Freedom Techniques-Insomnia (EFT-I) and Sleep Hygiene Education (SHE) for Insomnia in a Geriatric Population: A Randomized Controlled Trial Jung Hwan Lee, Hyeminseo Korean Medicine Clinic, Seoul, Korea Sun Yong Chung and Jong Woo Kim, Department of Oriental Psychiatry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea, Journal of Energy Psychology; Theory, Research and Treatment, vol. 7;(1) p. 22-29, May 2015.
Study 8
Single Session Reduction of the Intensity of Traumatic Memories in Abused Adolescents after EFT
April 3, 2015
Working with Abused Adolescents; Single Sessions of EFT Demonstrates Decreased Intrusive Memories and Avoidance Symptoms.
Citation: Church, D., Piña, O., Reategui, C., & Brooks, A. (2011). Single session reduction of the intensity of traumatic memories in abused adolescents after EFT: A randomized controlled pilot study. Traumatology. doi:10.1177/1534765611426788 Click here to view Abstract http://goo.gl/cQYrxy