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Emotional Freedom Technique - EFT Health Tips

What Is the Emotional Freedom Technique?

The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT, is defined as a psychological acupressure technique that is used to optimize emotional health. Practitioners believe that emotional health is essential for physical health and healing because regardless of how fit you are or what sort of diet you consume, you cannot achieve to your best ability if emotional barriers are blocking you from doing so.

EFT can be learned quickly and allows you to

  • Remove your negative emotions
  • Reduce feelings of pain
  • Eliminate food cravings
  • Implement positive goals

What Is the Theory Behind EFT?

EFT is based on energy meridians that have been used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments for over five thousand years. EFT differs from acupuncture however, because it is psychological, without the intrusiveness of needles. EFT involves simple tapping using the fingertips. This tapping inputs kinetic energy onto the meridians of the head and chest and the rest of the body. While tapping, you simultaneously consider a particular problem – this can be something that's troubling you, a specific event, an addiction, or a pain - and you speak positive affirmations to yourself. This will then clear your emotional block and restore your mind and body balance.

EFT is a technique that works by releasing blockages within the energy system which create emotional intensity and discomfort. Symptoms of blockages include lack of confidence or self-esteem, anxiety or depression, and compulsive or addictive behaviours. Many practitioners acknowledge that emotional disharmony can also play a part in physical symptoms and diseases.

Some people are initially sceptical of the principles of EFT. In fact, the electromagnetic energy that flows through the body and regulates health has only lately been acknowledged in the West. Other people are wary of, or amused by, the combination of tapping and affirmation methodology.

Where/Who Does It Come From?

EFT originates from Eastern discoveries about energy that are well over 5,000 years old. Originally utilised in Ancient China, the ideas have been largely ignored in the West. However, in recent times, the West has responded to the fact that the body is simply composed of energy, just as Albert Einstein reminded us in the 1920s.

In the 1990s, Gary Craig conceived of EFT, and in the years since then, EFT has been able to provide thousands of people with relief from a wide variety of problems and conditions, quickly and efficiently. EFT can restore bodily awareness and trust in us, so that we recognise the natural healing abilities of the mind and body. EFT techniques do not seek to discredit the medical and psychotherapeutic professions, but instead they should be viewed and used as part of a holistic healing process.

How Is It Performed?

EFT uses the fingertips to tap on energy meridians situated just beneath the surface of the skin. These energy meridians are in the same place that acupuncture or acupressure would be used, but in this instance there are no needles. EFT is non-invasive and as simple and as pain free as possible.

The basic EFT sequence is simple to learn and takes only a few minutes. It is important to tap the correct area, but you don't need to be absolutely precise; tapping the general area is fine. You tap with your fingertips that themselves contain acupuncture meridians. You use the index finger and middle finger of one hand. Fingers should be gently relaxed and form a slightly curved natural line. Aim to tap solidly, but without hurting yourself. You tap points on the body about 5-7 times, or for one full breath. To do this, you will need to familiarise yourself with the EFT tapping points.

What Are the Benefits of EFT?

You may choose EFT as a form of therapy for the following reasons.

  • It is a positive, proactive experience
  • It often seems to work where nothing else seems to
  • It gives rapid, long lasting relief from symptoms
  • Can be self-applied so there are no expensive sessions
  • Is calming
  • No drugs or equipment are required

Research Conducted into EFT

There are a number of important findings regarding EFT Research that can be located on the website http://www.theeftcentre.com/research.html/. As you might expect, until recently there was little in the way of scientific validation for EFT, but there have been a number of useful research studies carried out over the past few years producing excellent and credible results. For up-to-date results of research, visit the EFT website on the link above, which is constantly updated.

Online Resources for EFT

There are a range of excellent resources available online, including some websites with useful videos that can demonstrate the tapping technique required, and where on the body the energy meridian are located. Here are a few to get you started.

http://www.theeftcentre.com
http://eft.mercola.com/
http://www.theenergytherapycentre.co.uk/eft-explained.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKDhRohzSdU
http://www.youtube.com/user/eftwizard
http://www.tapping.com/
http://www.eftuniverse.com/

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