EFT Tapping | Emotional Freedom Techniques

I have now been using EFT tapping regularly for about three months. I first heard about EFT 20 years ago when my mom gave me a few pages copied from a magazine. Yes, that's how we did things back then, copying pages here and there. I tried it a bit and liked it, but then it fell into oblivion. EFT has been coming back to me more and more often in recent years, and now the time has opened up for me and I have made it a routine for the past three months.

I use EFT to activate energy or qi (super cool) and to manage feelings of anxiety, anger, and inner resistance. EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Techniques and is often called tapping. The method combines light tapping on specific points on the body with verbalizing current emotions, thoughts, or experiences. This can involve stress, anxiety, old memories, or a feeling of imbalance. 

What is EFT tapping?

EFT tapping is based on the idea that emotional reactions and mental patterns are connected to the body's energy system. By tapping with fingertips on specific points while focusing on a particular theme, the body is given the opportunity to release tension and find a new inner state.

The tapping is gentle and is most often done on points on the face, upper body, and hands. At the same time, one formulates short sentences that describe what is being experienced, without trying to change or improve it directly. For me, it has been important to confront what is there, rather than to force a certain outcome.

How does EFT tapping work?

A tapping session usually begins with identifying a theme. This could be an emotion, a thought, or a situation that feels charged right now. After that, simple sentences are formulated that express the experience, such as how it feels in the body or what thoughts keep recurring.

While repeating these sentences, one gently and rhythmically taps on different points on the body. The tapping is done with the fingertips and usually follows a specific sequence. A session can take anywhere from a few minutes to longer periods, depending on the need. For me, it works best to view tapping as something one can return to regularly, for example, during a short break in the workday. I drop a couple of drops of lavender on my wrists and then start tapping. I begin with the point at the wrist, then tap around the eyes, under the nose, mouth. I make my way down to the collarbones and then under the armpit and finish at the head. See the picture below. Done!

How did the method originate?

EFT was developed in the 1990s by Gary Craig, who simplified earlier energy psychology methods. He was inspired by traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture, which work with the body's energy pathways/meridians, but replaced needles with gentle touch.

The idea was to create a method that was easy to learn and possible to use on one's own. Since then, EFT has spread worldwide and is now used by both therapists and individuals.

Meridians, qi, and life force

In traditional Chinese medicine, qi, the body's life force, is spoken of as moving through a network of energy pathways called meridians. These pathways are connected to organs, functions, and flow in the body, both physically and emotionally. When qi moves freely, a sense of balance is often experienced, while stagnation can manifest as tension, fatigue, or anxiety.

EFT tapping is based on the same map of meridian points. By tapping on these points while directing attention inwards, tapping is seen as a way to influence the flow of qi and support the body's own regulation.

When I understood that EFT is based on traditional Chinese medicine and the meridians, I became even more interested. There is something there that we need to learn, which would make us feel much better. Qi or life force is everything. It is life force that creates balance and helps us find our way back to this balance when we have gone astray, become ill, or are struggling in other ways. When we learn to activate qi, we will be able to give ourselves much better support. 

The nine most commonly used points in EFT

In EFT, several points along the body's meridians are used, but there are nine that are particularly common and often used in the same sequence. These are: the side of the hand (sometimes called the karate chop point), the top of the head, the beginning of the eyebrow, the side of the eye, under the eye, under the nose, on the chin, at the collarbone, and under the arm. 

Each point is lightly tapped with two to three fingers, while speaking or thinking the sentence related to the theme. Together, the points form a whole where body, attention, and energy interact.

My absolute favorite point is the point below the collarbone. I tap a couple of times with each hand below each collarbone, and I quickly feel a sense of well-being spread. According to TCM, this point is the meridian for the kidneys. The point symbolizes anxiety and a feeling of being stuck. 

What do we use EFT for?

In addition to stress, anxiety, and anger, EFT is used to balance the vagus nerve, calm an upset stomach, improve sleep, and strengthen the immune system. 

What appeals to me about EFT is that it is an effective way for me to regulate my nervous system. It requires no tools and can be done almost anywhere. For me, it has become a complement to using herbs daily. I will continue to experiment with it and, above all, I want to find out if I can learn to activate my own qi. 

What do you think about qi, the life force within us, and EFT?