So how does tapping actually work?

The other day I was working with a health therapist friend who was feeling so frustrated with herself that she approached me for some tapping.

“But how does it work?” she asked. 

I explained what tapping was and how it used the meridian system (explained in the blog: “Meridians – aren’t they woo-woo?”) to send messages to the amygdala* in the brain, our main pathway involved in the fight, flight or freeze response.  I say main pathway because I’m quite sure there are many others – our bodies and minds are so intricately interconnected!

“Okay,” she said rolling her eyes, “I don’t want to sound like a sceptic, but these meridians – why do they make a difference?  And on so many different issues? Like, really?”

Fair enough questions! And yes, really!

It does sound perhaps far-fetched…until you get into the nitty gritty of what 'appears to be' happening. Here's another good point: these days, science can explain it!  

I say ‘appears to be’ because you never say something is proven – that isn’t good science.  Proven simply makes good stories! (Check out my blog “why science is never proven”.)

Onto her questions.

The side of hand point used in tapping

When you tap, the tapping pressure creates a small current of energy. This current travels through the meridian system to finally enter the amygdala* in the brain. The amygdala is considered the centre of the main stress response. 

Once we calm our amygdala and its usual stress response through what’s called the HPA axis**, the stimulated release of all those stress hormones and chemicals is reduced.  This is sometimes called the relaxation or ‘rest and digest’ response. After ceasing the release of stress hormones, we set in motion the relaxation response instead. Now we're able to discharge our relaxation-based hormones such as endorphins, dopamine, oxytocin and serotonin, and this allows us to drop the stressful effects in our bodies.

It’s often surprising how much tension we hold in our physical cells as a result of mental stresses. Tapping helps to lessen the stress response and boost that relaxation response - this can actually change us.

We refer to it as emotional freedom techniques because that stress in our bodies is ultimately tied to our emotions. When we visit our emotions through the words we say while we tap, the increased relaxation response frees that stress from the body.

But here's the good part: in every cell.

We notice the difference. 

With our bodies feeling less effect from our stress hormones, now we can think more clearly.  With an EFT practitioner, when we’re carefully taken through a large stress response that we’ve been holding onto, we can release stressful emotions. 

• We perceive things differently. 

• Our ability to rationalise differently has been activated. 

• We find ourselves able to let things go, even in situations where they’re emotions associated with physical pain.

  
  

In a few short rounds of tapping my previously frustrated friend gave me a hug.

“I feel such relief,” she said. “Who would’ve thought!” 

“It’s worth researching,” I suggested.

She laughed. “Oh, don’t worry, I will be! This is so amazing it's weird!"

* Originally Greek (amugdálē) then Latin for almond – medicine loves using big words!

** simply the follow-on effect by the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands.