How does EFT work to produce remarkable results from just saying a few words and tapping on meridian points?
The results can be hard to believe, but the ideas behind how EFT works have existed for thousands of years. EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) is based on the subtle energy system of acupuncture meridians that was discovered by the Chinese about 5,000 years ago.
It also includes Albert Einstein's idea that everything is composed of energy and ongoing discoveries in Quantum Theory.
For the Chinese, the application of the discovery of the subtle energy system took many forms including acupuncture and internal martial arts. EFT is a Western application developed by Gary Craig out of Dr. Roger Callahan's 1980 Thought Field Therapy (TFT) discovery.
How does EFT work with subtle energy?
Look around and observe how life grows and is nourished by energy. Energy sustains all life, from plants to humans to the creation of stars. Life-giving energy comes in many forms, not just those considered "essential" to life; such as sunlight, water and food. There is also good music, good feelings, physical touch, words of kindness, good company, an uplifting thought, and a smile from a stranger--to name a few.
All forms of positive energy energize us. This energy is transported throughout our body via acupuncture meridians. Sometimes this energy can be disrupted, and we experience its effects: unease, discomfort and pain. With physical tapping at specific points along our energy meridians, EFT "taps" into our energy system to balance it and keep it running smoothly.
How does EFT work at the physical level?
Gary Craig, Founder of EFT, answers the question, "How does EFT work?" by instructing us to think of our bodies as electric. He states in The EFT Discovery Statement:
“The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.”
The acupuncture meridians act like energy circuits conducting currents of energy. If these circuits are disrupted, emotional and physical discomfort is experienced.
When the flow of energy is disrupted in people, some parts of the body experience a shortage of energy and others too much.
The physical EFT tapping with the tips of the fingers on acupuncture points on the face and body clears this disruption. This is how EFT works by helping to balance and open the way for the energy travelling through these channels to flow freely throughout the body.
Please note: the strong mind-body connection between illness, emotions and stress is acknowledged by Dr. Gabor Maté in this interview.
How does EFT work with respect to the tapping points?
These points correspond to acupuncture points on our major meridians. Our fingertips contain points where the three main energy channels (Central, Right Main, and Left Main Channels) meet. According to Taoist Chi Gung Theory, these three main channels come into existence first while still in the womb. Then they create the other acupuncture meridians.
The Central and Right Main Channels flow through the right EFT "sore spot" (a point about 3 inches to either side of the thymus gland, where lymphatic congestion occurs) and the right-hand karate chop point. These two points can be used interchangeably during the setup part of the tapping process. The Central and Left Main Channels flow through the left EFT "sore spot" and the left-hand karate chop point.
How does EFT work at the emotional level?
Our energy meridians form the transportation system that carries energy, or information to its destination. They are information highways.
Every day we absorb huge amounts of information. Everywhere we go we collect impressions of our environment, of other people or our experiences, just to name a few. We are even subconsciously receiving information from our body's inner workings such as temperature, sugar balance and PH levels.
How does EFT work to help us process so much information?
EFT focuses our attention inward bringing up information associated with what we are tapping on that was hidden from our conscious awareness. Negative feelings provide the link to this information and alert us to energy disruptions.
By tapping to release negative emotions, we clear energy blocks before they have time to affect the corresponding physical areas of our bodies and express disease.
Because dramatic events in our life, like trauma, are loaded with strong negative emotions, it is often difficult to process and release them all. We may feel overwhelmed and unable to handle them.
As a result, many of us developed unhealthy ways to cope with strong emotions. We often stuff them, pretend they are not there or avoid them by keeping ourselves distracted. By not acknowledging them we close the passage out for them to release.
In this manner, we keep short-circuiting our energy meridians each time these emotions begin to surface as the memory of the trauma gets triggered into awareness.
These emotions will keep trying to find a way out because this is how our energy system clears the disruption and fixes itself.
Do you have unwanted emotional charges trapped in your body and want to clear them? Click here and book a complimentary consulting session now.