All About Tapping: A Scientific Perspective on Emotional Freedom

In times of unrelenting complexity and ambient tension, the innate intelligence of the human body offers a gentle, potent method of support: Tapping, formally known as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT).

At This Place, where we bridge ancient wisdom with contemporary scientific understanding, we recognize tapping as more than a stress management tool; it is a profound conversation between mind and body.

Rooted in the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, neuroscience, and psychology, tapping invites us to address emotional or physical discomforts directly. Through the light, rhythmic stimulation of specific acupressure points, particularly on the face and torso, we can disrupt entrenched patterns of fear, pain, and anxiety. This deliberate act helps recalibrate the body's stress responses, dissolving the residual echoes of fight-or-flight mechanisms that so often linger unnoticed within us.

When Gary Craig introduced EFT in the 1990s, he offered more than a therapeutic technique: he revealed a pathway to reclaim autonomy over one's emotional terrain. Modern research substantiates tapping's impact: clinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy in lowering cortisol levels, alleviating anxiety, managing chronic pain, and even supporting those with PTSD.

Particularly compelling is tapping’s capacity to harmonize the mind and body, offering a tangible method to release subconscious blocks that impede resilience and creativity.

The Basics of Tapping

Tapping addresses emotional and physical discomforts by intentionally bringing them into consciousness, accepting their presence, and gently releasing them.
Often described as a form of psychological acupressure, EFT unites tactile stimulation with cognitive focus.

By rhythmically tapping specific acupressure points, while focusing on a troubling thought, calming signals are sent to the brain, helping to rewire the nervous system’s habitual stress responses.

As Jessica Ortner, bestselling author and founder of The Tapping Solution, explains:

"By focusing on a stressful thought and gently tapping specific points, you send a calming signal to your brain."

What the Science Says

The growing body of research supporting tapping is striking.
Clinical studies have shown that tapping can:

• Reduce cortisol levels significantly (the body’s primary stress hormone),

• Alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression,

• Ease physical pain,

• And support veterans suffering from PTSD.

A pivotal randomized controlled trial published in The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease found that a single EFT session led to a 24% reduction in cortisol levels compared to control groups.

This was further confirmed by a replication study showing a 43% cortisol reduction, underlining tapping’s biological effects.

Moreover, EFT has proven effective in PTSD treatment:
A controlled study among veterans found that tapping significantly reduced PTSD symptoms, with sustained improvement over time.

As Ortner summarizes:

"When we release stress through tapping, we not only heal ourselves but become more creative, compassionate, and resourceful when facing life’s inevitable challenges."

How to Tap

The elegance of tapping lies in its accessibility like our short rituals. You may engage in a simple five minute practice, or seek deeper facilitation with a trained practitioner.
Applications such as the Tapping Solution App offers personalized sequences for daily support.

If you wish to begin now, here is a simple structure to follow:

1. Identify an Issue

Choose a specific emotional or physical focus. Examples:

• "My financial anxiety,"

• "My lingering headache,"

• "My discomfort of public speaking."

2. Give It a Number

Rate its intensity on a scale from 1 to 10.

3. Start with the Hand

Tap the side of your hand (small intestine meridian) while repeating a set-up phrase, such as:

"Even though I have [this issue], I deeply and completely accept myself."

Repeat while breathing deeply.

4. Tap Through the Sequence

Continue tapping gently through these key points:

• Eyebrow (Bladder Meridian)

• Side of Eye (Gallbladder Meridian)

• Under Eye (Stomach Meridian)

• Under Nose (Governing Vessel)

• Chin (Central Vessel)

• Collarbone (Kidney Meridian)

• Under Arm (Spleen Meridian)

• Top of Head (Governing Vessel)

At each point, repeat a short phrase referring to your issue, like "this discomfort" or "this headache."

5. How Do You Feel

Reassess the intensity after one round.
If needed, continue tapping until you experience a shift in sensation or emotional relief.

A Gentle Path to Profound Change

At This Place, we believe that healing does not always demand grandiose effort, it can begin with a single, conscious touch. Tapping offers not only stress relief, but a rediscovery of the body’s innate wisdom and a tangible reconnection to inner resilience.

As you explore this practice, elegant in its simplicity and profound in its effects, may you find that even amidst life's complexities, calm is always within reach.

It is time to connect with yourself.