Emotional Freedom Technique Hydrotherapy for Stress Management

The reported benefits of acupuncture have been scientifically proven, with some clinical studies showing easily measurable benefits between groups of people who experienced this Chinese needle technique, and those who didn't.

So it's no surprise that acupuncture is now gaining ground in other areas as well, and is being combined with other types of therapies for maximum effect.

One such therapy is known as the Emotional Freedom Technique, a type of talking therapy that works in conjunction with traditional acupuncture – only this time, without the use of needles - to free people from their painful past.

While there is no real scientific evidence to prove that it actually works, Emotional Freedom technique, or EFT, is gaining popularity with people who see it as a unusual alternative to conventional psychotherapy.

EFT Basics

The principle of EFT is fairly simple. The theory behind acupuncture is that it works by concentrating on specific meridians, or energy channels, in the body, which are connected to other parts of the anatomy.

EFT practitioners capitalise on tapping these meridian points, with hands instead of using needles, but they take things one step further. They ask their patients to concentrate on and verbalise a specific traumatic memory or problem while tapping on the meridian, to help release it from the body and, hopefully, dissipate into the ether.

EFT was started in the 1990s by Gary Craig, a self-proclaimed New Age healer who graduated from Stanford University with a degree in, surprisingly, engineering.

Craig says that he stumbled across the basic tenets of EFT through his mentor, the founder of Thought Field Therapy (a vaguely similar alternative therapy which believes that unlocking negative thoughts unlocks negative blockages of energy, which is the key to healing).

What Craig doesn't discuss, however, is the possibility of a placebo effect, in this case, people wanting to get better and placing their faith in a loving, caring practitioner who listens to their cries for help and promises to heal them.

When it comes to emotions, often the power of suggestion is all that's needed. And as most people seek help when they are emotionally ready to receive it, it's no surprise that EFT often works.

Typical EFT Treatment

A typical EFT treatment involves a patient sitting fully clothed in a chair, while the practitioner instructs you how to tap on specific meridian points during a talking session.

The idea is to concentrate on a past negative event that is bothering you or hindering you in the present, to rid it from your psyche.

There is no need to actually relive the trauma; instead, you can just concentrate on how it made you feel, or the negative emotions you experience while discussing it.

The practitioner will guide you throughout, telling you where to tap, how to tap, and what to say whilst tapping. The technique is painless and while you may feel drained after a session, soon you should feel much better.

Aims of EFT

EFT aims not only to cure emotional problems, but physical ones as well. Some of these include:

• Migraines
• Allergies
• Eating Disorders
• High Blood Pressure
• Depression
• Addiction
• Pain Management

The Emotional Freedom Technique is a relatively new alternative therapy that seeks to rid us of negative emotions that weigh heavily on our lives, and free us to look forward toward a new future. It is non-invasive and not designed to take the place of traditional medicine. Whether it will work for you remains to be seen.