By Dr David Lake and Steve Wells (used with permission from www.eftdownunder.com )
The presence and flow of energy around and within the body has been extolled by
ancient cultures, notably the Indian and Chinese, although single-word definitions
can't begin to illuminate innate subtle meaning.
The Hindus call it prana and the Chinese call it Qi. While Western science has found
no conclusive proof of the organisation of energy systems, bioenergy has been
discovered to be vital to pain perception, healing and regeneration. Authorities
regard it as belonging to the Universal energy field as well as to the organism;
there is connection and flux.
Bioenergy paradigms conceptualise disease as a "disruption" of energy exchange, and "intoxication" of the body, especially through stress. Healing is based on the
principle of conducting cosmic energy through the healer, in particular the hands,
eyes, thoughts and words. Qi creates order out of chaos as it flows toward the "higher concentration" (unlike entropy, where energy flow is toward dissolution).
In the Chinese system of energy, there are 12 main meridians (circulation channels),
while the Hindu system emphasises 7 energy centres called chakras.
As Fred Gallo states in his book "Energy Psychology":
" energy resides at the most fundamental level of being.... if all is essentially
energy, it follows that this holds true for the hardware of our nervous system, the
neuro-chemistry and even thought and cognition. "
He goes on to suggest that one can assume that "psychopathology can be treated by
addressing subtle energy systems in the body".
Recently, a new group of behavioural interventions called "meridian-based therapies"
or "energy psychology" have been proposed to do just this, based on a growing body
of clinical evidence which indicates that these approaches can produce rapid
improvement in negative emotional states.
These "energy therapies" owe their origin to a discovery by US Clinical Psychologist
Roger Callahan who was studying the meridian system while treating a woman - Mary -
with a severe water phobia. Callahan took note when Mary said her fearful feeling
was located in her stomach and had her tap on a meridian point under the eye linked
to this region. She stated excitedly that the feeling was gone and proceeded to test
this by rushing to the pool and splashing water on her face. Her life-long phobia
was gone - all from a few simple taps under her eye!
Following many similarly startling clinical results Callahan hypothesised that
emotional problems are caused by "thought fields" which have "perturbations" that
disrupt subtle energy flow. Negative emotions result from these blockages. Tapping
on the energy system releases the blocks, allowing the energy to flow more freely.
Gary Craig (who trained with Callahan) identified a comprehensive set of energy
points that could be applied to treat any emotional problem. Rather than having to
use complex diagnostic procedures or remember numerous sequences, his one sequence
'covers all the points'. Craig found this approach, Emotional Freedom Techniques
(EFT), to have an excellent clinical success rate and has since developed several
improvements to enhance its results.
EFT is a true combination of Eastern and Western medicine. It can be thought of as
psychological use of the acupuncture meridians. It is a body-energy technique that
has profound psychological effects. It also positively influences body symptoms of
distress, pain and suffering from disease states.
EFT has been successfully applied to treat a wide range of emotional problems and
issues, including anxiety, fears, phobias, trauma, PTSD, grief, anger, guilt, etc.
It has also been applied to enhance performance and improve relationships.
Using EFT, many problems can be resolved very quickly, with most general
anxiety-based problems responding in 1-4 sessions. Other problems may require
persistence over a number of sessions with the client doing the tapping at home on a
daily basis. This persistence frequently results in complete relief - although
results with addictions and depression are often less spectacular.
The scientific validation of Energy therapies has lagged behind such extraordinary
results, although validating research is appearing. A study by Wells, Polglase,
Andrews, Carrington and Baker (2000) found EFT to effectively treat specific phobias
in one 30-minute treatment session, and results were superior to an alternative
treatment. A study on auto accident victims suffering PTSD (Pulos and Swingle, 2000)
found significant reductions in symptomatology following 2 sessions of EFT
treatment, and a study on children diagnosed with epilepsy found significant
reductions in seizure frequency and extensive clinical improvement in EEG readings
after 2 weeks of daily EFT treatment (Swingle, 2000). These and other studies in
progress indicate a very high success rate for the approach.
The idea of tapping on acupressure points will disturb many therapists as it both
provokes and requires a shift in some of our deepest beliefs. Only those who can
tolerate the resulting uncertainty will contemplate embracing Energy therapies.
Nevertheless they do work whether we believe or not. They also invite healing and
integration on many levels as body and mind work together.
In the future the role of the body's energy system in emotional and physical healing will be widely acknowledged and respected. In the meantime, this idea is still quite
revolutionary and as Gary Craig points out "We are on the ground floor of a healing
high-rise".
