EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Meridian tapping is a tool used to assist in calming the mind, releasing stress and reducing fear.
It’s a process that combines ancient Chinese acupressure points with the power of modern day psychology. It was developed over time by a series of professionals to help patients cope with negative emotions, reduce stress and in turn, boost immune function.
Started in the 1980's by a Dr. Roger Callahan, adjusted in the 1990's by Gary Craig, and refined by Nick, Alex and Jessica Ortner (siblings) more recently, EFT Meridian Tapping went from a complex sequence of tapping done in a professional setting, to a simple method of tapping that can be done anywhere anytime.
EFT has helped many people learn to reset their emotions and flight/fight response and it may do the same for you! Read on to learn more and make plans to visit our next event. We might just have an EFT Meridian Tapping expert you could chat with!
How does Meridian tapping work?
EFT tapping involves using the pads of your fingertips to tap on specific Meridian points throughout your body while concentrating on a negative emotion. The tapping sensation sends a message to the amygdala of your brain (the emotion and behavior center) letting it know it’s safe to relax.
Whenever your amygdala detects stress or fear, your body's stress response is activated, resulting in an increase in your cortisol levels. In order to escape or fight, your body's cortisol levels are increased. When cortisol is constantly elevated, you may suffer from a variety of illnesses related to chronic stress, food allergies, cancer, and autoimmune illnesses.
The idea behind EFT is to use the physical sensation of tapping along meridian points to essentially soothe your amygdala into believing there is no need for the stress response.
What are Meridian points?
Meridian points are acupoints found along the energy channels of your body. These meridians were defined by Traditional Chinese Medicine thousands of years ago, before modern medicine was born.
Each meridian governs a different area of your body and while one may be called "your heart channel" it doesn't necessarily mean that it associates directly with just the physical heart. It can also be associated with any physical, emotional, psychological or energetic aspect of your being that the heart channel "controls" or "accesses" though acupoints.
These acupoints respond to heat, pressure, and needling helping your body regulate energy and physical ailments. It is believed that Meridian points serve as circulatory pathways for energy in your body.
What is Tapping?
Tapping is an exercise that involves using your fingertips to tap 5-7 times on each of nine acupoints on the body while focusing on a negative emotion. This negative emotion can be hurt, grief, past trauma, stress, you name it.
Connecting the energy pathways of your body to the negative emotion you are concentrating on allows you to tap into your body’s energy and transform your energy back to its baseline state.
Benefits of Meridian tapping
A regular practice of tapping is said to help you regulate your nervous system, reduce cortisol levels, and take the strain off your immune, digestive, and endocrine systems. You may also notice deeper sleep, improved mood, and lower anxiety.
Many people who practice EFT Meridian Tapping also report improved energy after an illness or midday when most of us experience a lull in energy.
And while the research on EFT is fairly young, it's also very promising! And hey, what can it hurt to tap your body while holding a healing intention!
Be sure to visit our next event to find out more about meridian tapping. While we don't always have an EFT expert on hand, you're likely to bump elbows with someone who has 1st hand experience and/or knowledge on the subject, willing to chit chat about it.