How Does EFT Work?
Modern science has not caught up with the phenomena of EFT yet and cannot answer the question ‘how does EFT work’. There is an increasing but as yet incomplete body of research see the searchable database maintained by EFT International . I can teach you the art and craft of skilful EFT but I can’t teach you how it works. Here though, is my understanding and explanation from the basics of traditional chinese medicine and many years of practice helping people with EFT. Maybe this answers how does EFT work?
Energy Psychology
EFT helps mind and body by combining the elements of western talk therapy and eastern energy medicine. We use simple questions to focus our words on an aspect of a problem: at the same time we tap gently with our finger tips on acupressure points on the face and body. We test as we go. The tapping is very simple: the skill lies in the questions and the testing.
Meridian Energy
Eastern medicine focuses on the flow of subtle electro-magnetic energy known as Qi, Chi, Ki or Pranna. This energy can be measured and flows throughout the body along pathways of lower electrical resistivity in the fascia and connective tissue. These pathways are like your energy motorway (or interstate) system only they all connect: one ends and the next begins. You can imagine big roundabouts at these energy motorway junctions.
Flow = No Pain
What we call emotion is our conscious awareness of the flow of Qi in these energy motorways. When Qi is flowing smoothly you feel calm, think clearly and get stuff done. Acupuncturists say: Flow = No Pain, Pain = No Flow. This applies equally to emotional pain as it does to physical pain. When there is stagnation or turbulence we feel distress or agitation, we can’t think straight and we can behave irrationally. Different disturbances in this flow in different parts of the energy system will be experienced as different emotions.
Fear is an Energy Pattern
A snarl up in one part of your energy traffic system may be experienced as anger, a different stuck pattern as fear. We all know that there are countless ways that traffic can get snarled up and that it can be continually changing. Turbulent or stuck energy can be experienced as strong emotions; irrational or unwanted behaviours; physical pain or sensations; or as loaded and obsessive thoughts.
Words Target: Tapping Clears
EFT uses words to tune in to stuck patterns and tapping to loosen them. The points were we tap are the major junctions of the energy motorways – like the big roundabouts where two motorways meet. If we get the junctions flowing we get the system flowing. We talk about an aspect of the problem as we do the tapping routine, then we notice what is different. EFT is most effective at the level of sensory detail. Getting there is where the skill lies.
Try EFT for Yourself
The best way to get started is to find someone who knows how to tap skillfully. An EFT practitioner is like a personal trainer. You can go to the gym on your own yet you do so much more with a trainer.
Getting Started
EFT is something you get through an experience rather than an explanation. Try the simple five minute self-help Traffic Lights Tapping routine.
