Introduction
The emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) combines ancient Chinese medicine’s wisdom with modern psychology’s principles. This approach is built upon the meridian system, a concept from TCM that maps the body’s vital energy pathways. We explore EFT tapping points, the integral parts of the meridian system, and how they facilitate emotional and physical healing.
The Meridian System in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
At its core, we find the intricate meridian system, a network of energy pathways crisscrossing the human body. They are much like the branches of a grand tree. Often Compared to vital rivers, acting as conduits for ‘Qi’, the life force that flows through us, giving nourishing energy.
The holistic philosophy of TCM, disruptions or blockages in these energy channels underlie many health challenges.
Hindered Qi, creates disharmony and discomfort, manifesting as physical ailments or emotional distress.
Enter the profound wisdom of EFT, which draws inspiration from this age-old knowledge. EFT, often referred to as “tapping,” is a practice that aligns perfectly with the principles of TCM. It’s a method that aims to unblock, redirect, and harmonize the flow of vital energy within the meridian system.
Picture This:
Each gentle tap, calls to the body’s inner wisdom, an invitation to clear away the impediments. Much like a gardener nurtures plants, with every tap on specific meridian points, the flow of Qi is encouraged to find its natural rhythm once more.
In essence, EFT acts as a bridge, connecting the ancient wisdom of the meridian system with modern emotional healing. It’s a bridge that allows individuals to regain balance and vitality, much like a skilled conductor guiding an orchestra to a crescendo of well-being.
Overview of Tapping Points in EFT
Tapping Points On The Head
The Crown (Top of the head): This point is right at the top of your head. Tap here to influence the balance of the entire body’s energy system. Connecting with wisdom and spirituality. This reinforces the balance and healing across all meridian points.
The Inner Eyebrow (Beginning of the eyebrow): The bone bordering the inner corner of the eye, at the brow. This point links to peace and calm. allowing the free flow of thoughts and emotions, reducing fear, and promoting relaxation.
The Side of the Eye (On the Bone): The bone at the outer corner of the eye. Tapping here connects to the gall bladder meridian. It reduces feelings of resentment and anger, helping our decision-making and enhancing assertiveness.
Under the Eye (On the bone): This spot is located on the bone under the eye connecting to the stomach meridian. Helping improve confidence, enhancing comfort and security, reducing anxiety, and promoting tranquillity.
Under the Nose: This point is between the nose’s bottom and upper lip. Connected to the governing vessel meridian, helping support back health and head functions. Promoting clarity of thought and emotional grounding.
Chin (In the crease): This point lies midway between the bottom lip and the point of the chin. Connecting to the central vessel meridian. Helping in releasing confusion, uncertainty, and feelings of shame or embarrassment.
Tapping Points On The Body
Collarbone: On the collarbone on either side of the throat. Connecting to the kidney meridian. Helping with Courage and willpower moving us forward to achieve our goals, and overcome fears.
Under the Arm: Located on the side of the body, about a hand width from the armpit. Connecting to the spleen meridian, used to address guilt, worry, and low self-esteem. Helping to improve digestion and boosting the immune system.
Hand: The last points, located on the side of each finger about a half inch from the base of the nail. The lung (thumb), large intestine (index finger), liver (middle finger), and heart (little finger) meridians. Triple warmer ( On top of the hand) between the little finger. Helping to support grief and loss, and bringing balance, harmony, joy, and happiness.
Each point corresponds to different emotions and physical components. By tapping on them while focusing on a specific issue it can help to unblock the energy flow. Thus, leading to relief and healing. By understanding the significance of each point, you can tailor your EFT practice to address specific issues.
Tapping Into The Energy Points: A Guide to EFT Meridians
Tapping into your body’s natural energy system can be a transformative experience. Let’s explore these vital tapping points and their associated benefits.
Top to Bottom: The Points and Their Power
- The Crown (Top of the Head)
- Location: Right at the top of your head.
- Impact: Influences the whole body’s energy.
- Extra: Connects with wisdom and spirituality.
- Transition: In essence, tapping here aims to balance and heal all meridian points.
- The Inner Eyebrow (Beginning of the Eyebrow)
- Location: On the bone by the inner corner of the eye.
- Impact: Brings peace and calm.
- Extra: Frees flow of thoughts and emotions.
- Transition: Consequently, it helps reduce fear and promotes relaxation.
- The Side of the Eye (On the Bone)
- Location: Bone surrounding the outer corner of the eye.
- Impact: Alleviates resentment and anger.
- Extra: Enhances assertiveness.
- Transition: Therefore, it aids in better decision-making.
- Under the Eye (On the Bone)
- Location: Directly under the eye.
- Impact: Improves confidence.
- Extra: Reduces anxiety.
- Transition: As a result, it promotes tranquility and enhances comfort.
- Under the Nose
- Location: Between the bottom of the nose and upper lip.
- Impact: Supports back health.
- Extra: Promotes clarity of thought.
- Transition: Additionally, it helps in emotional grounding.
- Chin (In the Crease)
- Location: Midway between bottom lip and chin point.
- Impact: Releases confusion.
- Extra: Helps reduce feelings of shame.
- Transition: As a result, it alleviates uncertainty and embarrassment.
Bonus Points for Extra Support
- Collarbone
- Location: On the collarbone on either side of the throat.
- Impact: supports fear & depression.
- Extra: brings confidence & willpower
- Transition: Therefore, it encourages you to achieve your goals.
- Under the Arm
- Location: A hand width from the armpit.
- Impact: supports guilt and worry.
- Extra: brings success & relaxation.
- Transition: Additionally, it encourages improved digestion and self-esteem.
- Hand
- Location: Side of each finger, half-inch from the base of the nail.
- Impact: Supports emotions & physical issues
- Extra: Brings balance and harmony.
- Transition: Consequently, it encourages positive emotions
- Triple Warmer
- Location: On top of the hand, between the little finger.
- Impact: Supports fight or flight and loss.
- Extra: Brings balance and harmony.
- Transition: In essence, encourages emotional presence and happiness.
- Karate Chop
- Location: On the side of the hand.
- Impact: supports the Setup statement.
- Extra: Brings balance to the brain.
- Transition: Additionally, it encourages regulation of your energy meridian.
Fingers: The Final Frontier
The last points are located on the side of each finger, about a half-inch from the base of the nail.
- Lung
- Location: Outside of Thumb
- Impact: supports grief and loss.
- Extra: brings joy and supportiveness
- Transition: Moreover, encourages learning from mistakes & letting go
- Large Intestine
- Location: Index Finger
- Impact: supports self-sabotage & disappointment
- Extra: brings high self-esteem & respect
- Transition: Thus, it encourages openness
- Pericardium
- Location: Middle Finger
- Impact: supports anxiety & fight or flight
- Extra: brings calmness & trust
- Transition: Above all, encourages flexibility & being present
- Heart
- Location: Inside of Little Finger
- Impact: supports jealousy and brain fog
- Extra: brings peace & understanding
- Transition: Similarly, encourages feeling safe and content
- Small Intestines
- Location: Outside of Little finger
- Impact: Supports forgetfulness and insecurity
- Extra: brings clear focus & peace
- Transition: In addition, encourages unconditional love, and good judgment
| Point | Location | Impact | Extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crown | Top of the head | Whole body | Wisdom |
| Inner Eyebrow | Inner eye corner | Peace | Relaxation |
| Side of the Eye | Outer eye corner | Anger relief | Assertiveness |
| Under the Eye | Below the eye | Confidence | Tranquility |
| Under the Nose | Between nose & lip | Back health | Clarity |
| Chin | Between lip & chin | Confusion | Shame |
| Collarbone | On the collarbone on either side of the throat | Fear & Depression | Confidence & Willpower |
| Under the Arm | A hand width from the armpit | Guilt & Worry | Success & Relaxation |
| Hand (Triple Warmer) | On top of the hand, between the little finger | Flight or Fight | Balance & Harmony |
| Hand (Karate Chop) | Side of the hand | Statement Setup | Brain balance |
| Lung | Outside of thumb | Grief & Loss | Joy & Supportiveness |
| Large Intestine | Index finger | Self-Sabotage & Disapointment | Self-Sabotage & Disappointment |
| Pericardium | Middle finger | Fight or Flight | Calmness & Trust |
| Heart | Inside of Little finger | Jealousy & Brain Fog | Peace & Understanding |
| Small Intestines | Outside of little finger | Forgetfulness & Insecurity | Clear Focus & Peace |
Whether you’re new to EFT or a seasoned practitioner, understanding these tapping points can greatly enhance your experience. So, why wait? Start tapping into your inner reservoir of peace and health today!
The Science Behind Tapping: How it Works
EFT works at the intersection of neurobiology, psychology, and energy healing. The practice involves tapping on specific meridian points while voicing negative emotions and affirmations. Additionally, this stimulates the energy flow and helps neutralise negative emotions and physical symptoms associated with them.
Therefore, from a neurobiological perspective, EFT is thought to influence the amygdala and the hippocampus, which play crucial roles in the processing and memory of emotional reactions. The amygdala, often called the brain’s “fear centre,” initiates the body’s stress response to perceived threats, whether real or imagined. The hippocampus, on the other hand, helps the amygdala to associate certain stimuli with emotional responses based on past experiences.
When we experience stress or trauma, the amygdala triggers a cascade of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, preparing the body for a ‘fight or flight’ response. Chronic activation of this response can lead to various health issues, including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and even heart disease.
Generally, EFT tapping is believed to disrupt this stress response. Tapping while concentrating on the source of distress appears to “short-circuit” the amygdala’s alarm system. Similarly, the physical sensation of tapping provides a distracting stimulus that can reduce the intensity of emotional distress. Furthermore, affirmations can address the root cause of pain by rewiring the brain-body connections.
Additionally, using positive affirmations in EFT helps to counterbalance negative emotions and cognitions. This aligns with cognitive-behavioural principles, which posit that our thoughts (cognitions) significantly influence our feelings and behaviours.
In essence, EFT works by altering neural pathways and disrupting the flow of stress hormones, reducing the intensity of negative emotions and physical discomfort. While the scientific understanding of EFT continues to evolve, existing research points to its effectiveness in managing various emotional and physical conditions.
Benefits of Using EFT and Tapping
With its unique blend of modern psychology and traditional Chinese medicine, EFT offers a holistic approach to emotional and physical well-being. The benefits of EFT and tapping are numerous and well-documented, spanning various aspects of physical, emotional, and psychological health.
How To Improve Your Wellness
Emotional and Psychological Wellness: EFT has significantly reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). By addressing unresolved emotional issues and negative feelings, EFT promotes emotional balance, better mood, and improved mental health.
Stress Management: Stress is a common issue in today’s fast-paced world. EFT offers a hands-on, practical tool to manage and reduce stress levels. Tapping on meridian points while focusing on stressors helps diffuse the stress response’s intensity, promoting a sense of calm and relaxation.
Pain and Symptom Relief: EFT also manages physical symptoms such as chronic pain, tension headaches, and fibromyalgia. The mind-body connection in EFT can help alleviate physical discomfort by addressing pain’s emotional and psychological components.
How To Improve Your Performance
Performance Enhancement: EFT can help enhance performance in various fields, such as sports, academics, and public speaking. By reducing performance anxiety and stress, EFT allows individuals to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
Self-Empowerment: One of the critical benefits of EFT is the empowerment it offers. It’s a self-help tool that individuals can use to manage their emotional and physical health anytime, anywhere. It fosters resilience, self-confidence, and a sense of control over one’s well-being.
Sleep Improvement: EFT can help improve sleep quality by addressing anxieties, worries, or physical discomfort that might interfere with a good night’s sleep.
In summary, EFT and tapping offer a versatile, accessible, and potent tool for managing various issues and enhancing overall well-being. Whether dealing with stress, emotional distress, physical discomfort, or seeking to improve your performance, EFT has something to offer.
“In every tap, a story unfolds; EFT is the language of the soul seeking balance.”
Jacque
Practical Tips for Tapping
Being Specific: The more specific you are about the issue or emotion you’re dealing with, the more effective EFT tends to be. Rather than focusing on a general feeling of stress or anxiety, try to identify specific situations, experiences, or thoughts causing these feelings. For example, instead of saying, “I’m stressed,” you might say, “I feel stressed when I think about the upcoming presentation at work.”
Rate Your Emotional Intensity: Before you start an EFT session, rate your emotional intensity level from 0 to 10 (with 10 being the highest intensity). It helps you monitor your progress and see how your emotional intensity decreases after tapping.
The Reminder Phrase: As you tap on each point, use a reminder phrase to keep your focus on the issue. Like a short sentence that describes the problem, such as “This stress about the presentation.”
Tapping Pressure: Tap firmly enough to feel a slight sensation but not so hard that it causes pain or discomfort. The aim is to stimulate the meridian point, not to hurt yourself.
Using Two Fingers: Use your index and middle fingers to tap. These two fingers cover a larger area, increasing the chances of hitting the meridian points.
Switching Sides: EFT is performed on either side of the body. Feel free to switch sides if one side becomes tired or sore.
Persistence is Key: Sometimes, the emotional intensity doesn’t decrease immediately. Continue tapping and focusing on the issue. You may need to tap on the same subject more than once.
By incorporating these practical tips into your EFT practice, you can enhance the effectiveness of tapping and better harness its potential for emotional and physical healing.
Embrace the Power of EFT
You can tap into your body’s innate healing capacities by understanding and utilising the fundamental principles of EFT and the meridian system. Embrace the power of tapping and embark on your emotional freedom and well-being journey.
Remember, emotional healing is within your reach. To learn more about EFT and other powerful self-help tools, subscribe and continue reading our comprehensive series.
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Jacque bioreson8