If you’re an avid watcher of this year’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here, you may have heard of the term ‘tapping’ by now. Specifically, from singer Boy George who has used a tapping technique to help reduce anxiety on the show. But what exactly is tapping – specifically EFT tapping?
EFT stands for ‘Emotional Freedom Techniques’, and EFT tapping is a self-help tool and therapeutic technique useful for many stress-related issues (Forbes Health, 2022). It has roots in the 1970s when several doctors began stimulating acupressure points to help their patients deal with stress, fear, and phobias (WebMD, 2021) and falls into the category of body-centred therapies.
According to an article on WebMD, the tapping technique ‘draws on the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture, which teaches the body’s energy to travel along specific pathways.’ Certain points on these pathways are then stimulated to improve the flow of energy. In acupuncture and acupressure, the stimulation is done by inserting very thin needles or by applying pressure. Tapping is done by using fingertip tapping to apply pressure to specific areas of the face and body.
Those that use tapping say that it helps access the body’s energy and send signals to the part of the brain that controls stress. They claim that stimulating the meridian points through EFT tapping can reduce negative emotions, ultimately restoring balance to disrupted energy.
EFT tapping is a useful technique as it can be done anywhere – with Boy George being a prime example – whenever you are feeling stressed or anxious. Tapping practice can differ slightly, but most users use the heel of the hand, three locations around the eye, the area below the nose, the area below the lips, the collarbone, the underarm and the top of the head – with 7-9 taps on each spot.
The process has many advantages, including being painless, inexpensive, easy to learn and do and less time-consuming than other types of therapy.
Find out more about EFT tapping sequences at Healthline here.
Do you practise tapping? If so, and you’re interested in contributing your story of tapping and its benefits, contact our FHT magazine editor, Molly Denton, at editor@fht.org.uk