Emotional freedom technique (EFT), which people often refer to as EFT tapping, is an alternative therapy for anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and some other conditions.
According to Gary Craig, the developer of EFT, tapping on different parts of the body helps balance energy and reduce physical and emotional pain. People can see an EFT practitioner for treatment or use this technique themselves.
There have been relatively few studies on EFT, but people may find it beneficial.
In this article, we discuss the theory and research behind EFT and explain how to practice this tapping technique at home.
EFT, also known as tapping or psychological acupressure, involves tapping specific points on the body, primarily on the head and the face, in a particular sequence. While doing this, the person focuses on the issue that they wish to treat.
The technique can be helpful for people with:
As with acupuncture and acupressure, tapping involves the body’s energy meridian points, which are a concept in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Proponents believe them to be areas of the body through which energy flows.
In this theory, blocks or imbalances in the flow of energy lead to ill health. According to EFT advocates, tapping on these meridian points with the fingertips restores the balance of energy to resolve physical and emotional issues.
It may also work similarly to mindfulness, as it can draw a person’s attention to their body and breathing. It may serve as a mental distraction from the issues that are causing anxiety or stress.
People often use EFT tapping when they are feeling anxious or stressed or when they have a specific issue that they would like to resolve. However, it may also be beneficial for a person before an event that they expect to cause stress or anxiety.
To use EFT tapping, follow these five steps:
1. Identify the issue
During this step, the person thinks about the problem they wish to resolve. They should only choose one issue to focus on at a time.
2. Test the initial intensity
A person should rank the intensity of the issue on a scale of 0 to 10, with 10 being the worst the issue has ever been. This ranking system allows the person to assess the effectiveness of the tapping at the end of the treatment.
3. The setup
Before beginning each round of tapping, the person should decide on a simple reminder phrase to repeat while tapping the karate chop point. This point is at the center of the fleshy part of the outer hand.
The reminder phrase should acknowledge the issue and convey self-acceptance in spite of it. For example, a person might choose to say:
“Even though I have [issue], I deeply and completely accept myself.”
4. The sequence
During this step, the individual taps on specific points on the body while repeating the phrase that they have chosen. If a practitioner is performing the treatment, they will carry out the tapping.
The tapping points, in sequence, are as follows:
- Top of the head (TOH): directly in the center of the top of the head
- Beginning of the eyebrow (EB): the beginning of the brow, just above and to the side of the nose
- Side of the eye (SE): on the bone at the outside corner of the eye
- Under the eye (UE): on the bone under the eye, approximately 1 inch (in) below the pupil
- Under the nose (UN): the point between the nose and upper lip
- Chin point (CH): halfway between the underside of the lower lip and the bottom of the chin
- Beginning of the collarbone (CB): where the breastbone (sternum), collarbone, and first rib intersect
- Under the arm (UA): at the side of the body, approximately 4 in below the armpit
When tapping, use two or more fingertips and repeat the tap approximately 5 times on each point.
While some points — for example, the EB, SE, and UE — have a “twin point” on the other side of the body, it is only necessary to tap on one side. However, individuals can tap these points on both sides if both hands are free.
5. Test the intensity again
Again, rank the intensity of the issue on a scale of 0 to 10. Ideally, this will have improved. Repeat the process until the intensity reaches 0 or plateaus.
Several recent studies suggest that EFT may be effective for some conditions, such as anxiety and PTSD.
However, the research to date is limited, and some studies are very small. One criticism is that some of the earlier studies have flaws in their scientific methods, which can make the results unreliable.
Therefore, more research is necessary before researchers can draw definitive conclusions on the effectiveness of EFT. In the following sections, we look at the current scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of EFT for anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
EFT for anxiety
The bulk of the research on EFT relates to the treatment of anxiety.
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The researchers reported that participants experienced significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and PTSD symptoms, as well as in pain levels and cravings. They also reported improvements in happiness.
Physical measures in a subset of participants showed improvements in heart rate, blood pressure, and levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
A 2023 review found similar improvements in anxiety scores across multiple studies.
EFT for depression
A 2022 review notes that several studies have found EFT tapping to be an effective adjunct treatment for depression symptoms.
For example, a randomized study from 2016 found that EFT tapping was associated with a “significant reduction” in depressive symptoms in participants.
However, as with many complementary therapies, further research is necessary to fully assess its efficacy. People experiencing depressive symptoms should speak with a licensed health professional before self-treating with EFT tapping.
EFT for PTSD
Military personnel who experience PTSD may benefit from EFT, according to some studies.
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It is important to note that these findings are self-reported by people who practice EFT. Practitioners often combine EFT with other approaches, including cognitive therapy, which may contribute to the treatment’s success.
However, more recent reviews have found correlations between EFT tapping use and improvements in PTSD scores among patients.
EFT tapping is a complementary treatment for certain emotional and physical conditions. Some research indicates that it may be effective for anxiety, depression, and PTSD, although more investigation is necessary.
While self-treatment with tapping may help some people feel better, it is also important to seek professional help for physical pain or emotional issues. Anyone considering using EFT should speak with their doctor first.
