Emotional Freedom Technique and other modalities that use acupuncture points
Deepest Health reader Jason left a comment on the last podcast post that got me thinking. He said,
“Something that I’ve found helpful is Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) which is a real simple method of locking onto an emotional disturbance and neutralizing or at least diminishing its “charge” by tapping certain acupressure points. It works even better when combined with affirmations.”
My partner, Amanda, has done a little research into EFT and I know some folks at school who have used it to get over a variety of minor psychological difficulties such as insomnia and social anxiety. I know that it makes use of acu-points. There are other modalities of bodywork and energywork that make use of the channels and associated points along those channels, but that are not directly associated with the East Asian medical lineages that we normally associate with “Chinese medicine.”
I have to admit that I have traditionally regarded these modalities with some standoffishness. This is my nature being inherently conservative and a lover of all things ancient. The closer to the source, the better, I say. But, some have pointed out that these theories are universal and should not be attached to any particular era or people. I can see the wisdom in that stance. It does not eradicate my essential worry about systems that use the points and channels, yet mostly ignore the thousands of years of understanding that have developed the simple recognition of energy pathways into a complex system of theories that can elegantly rectify any imbalance in the human being.
I’d be interested to hear readers’ take on this - do you have experience with any of these systems of healing? What were your results? How do you feel that they fit under the umbrella of “Chinese medicine” or, at least, “East Asian medicine?” Leave your responses in the comments, providing URLs of relevant sites if possible. I look forward to hearing from all of you.
Eric
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If you’re looking to work in this way, then the answer without a doubt lies in the work of Leon Hammer. A look through some of his articles published on dragonrises.com (like the article regarding treatment of the Qi Wild condition) will demonstrate usage of points thus, except with Dr. Hammer’s mountain of experience and rigor behind it. His usage of the torso Kidney points alone are mindblowing. Go look!
My understanding is that the techniques use the points. When I read a book on EFT nothing was stated about Chinese Medical theory–just that they used certain points (and I believe they called them acupuncture points). However, I never really felt like this was anything based on the theory of Chinese medicine–merely using the tools that we have. Did that make sense?
In that sense I don’t have a problem with it. I would have a problem with a practitioner deciding they understand all about Chinese medicine because they read this book and can tap some points…
Personally I’ve run into people who use it some and seem to love it. It doesn’t really do much for me–either working with the person who does it or using it alone as self care.
I have studied Jin Shin Do, which isn’t a classical technique, but based on some bodywork and meridian theories. I think it makes me look at channels differently than I did before and in ways I might not if I were only accessing via the needles.
This works for me and really shows me the power of the points with intention rather than the tools.
In asking if this works for me leads me to wonder: does the adaptation of an ancient medicine work for me or do I sort of automatically use what makes intuitive sense based on my understanding of Chinese medicine and toss out the rest? Do I as an acupuncturist get better results than someone who is not an acupuncturist? I can’t answer that.
However, as you go beyond the basic treatments set forth in the Jin Shin Do handbooks you get in classes, it does require a good understanding of the points and their actions and indications as well as a good understanding of the channels. In that I have an advantage because I’ve had years of theory rather than 7 really intense three day weekends to try and grasp Chinese Medical theory (and no they don’t pull any punches–it’s pretty thorough!)
Oh wow, I wasn’t expecting to get quoted. I’m going to have to start my own blog at this rate :) But yeah, some further thoughts on EFT (and the like)…
My experience at massage school exposed me to a lot of New Age thinking and techniques, and my initial reaction was exactly the same as yours, Eric - standoffishness, or perhaps even more honestly, flat out contempt and dismissal.
Because it does seem like a lot of it wants to find the easy, fluffy way out of existential challenges. But what I recognize is that this reaction comes out of a place of ego, superiority and aversion (and this speaks to your post about Buddhism and boredom in certain classes) and does not serve me. It only closes me off to learning something that could potentially prove useful.
One of my other lessons has been to realize that I am strongly identified with my reason, and someone who demands rigorous explanation and coherent systems. This has also been a disservice to the extent that it has made it very difficult to listen to my intuition. In that respect I’ve come a long way.
So in allowing myself the humility to see what EFT can do without prejudging, I have come to value it as an easy, quick and frequently effective tool for addressing anxiety issues. Its relation to Chinese medicine is dubious, but I believe what makes EFT really effective is the discovery of “setup phrases” that strike the appropriate emotional truth/chord, an affirmation of unconditional self-acceptance, and the intention of release (whether this is assisted or not by the specific points tapped I cannot say). The most effective examples of this seem to utilize neuro-linguistic programming, or just using intuition to find the right words. The proof and validation of EFT comes in witnessing someone acknowledging something important and being able to release it.
In regards to its use with affirmations, EFT helps to identify and clear out subconscious, self-sabotaging “tail-enders” that prevent you from fully believing your affirmation. Once the tail-enders are cleared, the affirmation may do its work. Just the practice of becoming aware of the voices in your head that say “no, I don’t really believe that” when stating an affirmation can be profoundly illuminating and encourages a lot of self-honesty.
My willingness to use EFT and experiment with it have not flipped off my critical faculties; I merely suspended them until I gave it a fair trial. I will say it seems far less effective for physical issues (unless it is very closely related to the emotional issue), and it’s hazy theories do not satisfy my methodical thinking. Also, its promise of quick and immediate emotional freedom seems to encourage most people’s aversion to the hard work of self-cultivation. For all these reasons and more is why I’m pulled to study Chinese medicine :)
I think that outta do it for my ramble.
I forgot to mention the website for EFT: http://www.emofree.com. You can download the free manual and read other people’s stories about their experience with EFT. Those will give you a sense of how flexible this technique is and all the creative ways to approach it.
@ Jason, thank you for mentioning the emofree.com site, and I just downloaded the free manual too thanx!
Thanks for all of the wonderful comments, everyone. While I’m still not sure about EFT, and after talking to a couple of professors even less sure, I do enjoy the exchange of information that’s going on here. Hopefully, I can do some kind of follow up. If anyone is interested in writing a brief primer of EFT and talking about its relationship (or lack thereof) to Chinese medicine - contact me directly - you may just get published on Deepest Health! :D
Eric
Eric, I just had another question. I am covering for another practitioner who uses a “modern” herbal company. I tend to think in terms of classical formulas but this company mostly modifies the classics and also suggests uses based on symptoms (with the use of the most obvious diagnosis)
As a classical herbalist, how do you feel about these companies that modify these formulas and make claims about how they are “better” and more balanced than the classics?
Bonnie,
You MUST know how I will respond to this. :) I, personally, make no attempt to improve on perfection. As you study classical formulas, you will find such tight structure, such elegant architecture, that you can’t imagine altering it for any reason. Now, it is possible to do modifications in line with classical principles, on a case-by-case basis for a particular patient with a particular pulse and symptom picture. But as a beginning herbalist (as I will always be) I would be highly unlikely to use a modification without first using the original formula (unless we’re talking about an original modification - as present in the SHL/JG).
Why? Because how on Earth can I tell whether the modification had the effect or if it was the classical formula. Thereafter, I would be paranoid to try the classical formula on its own, being unsure of the source of the positive affect. Likewise in a negative situation - was it the original formula, or my modification?
Starting simply with the variety of Classical formulas and their original modifications gives me a stable base on which to stand, and eventually, a stable base from which to spread my wings.
In my opinion, this is the most responsible way to proceed. I just can’t understand people who do otherwise. The only exception being if you have received authentic transmission from a teacher who uses some modification or some non-classical formula and your respect for the teacher and your observation of their clinical results compels you to use their prescriptions.
Eric
LOL. Of course not Eric. I think it’s a good potential discussion point, though, considering the wealth of manufacturers who do attempt to improve upon the classics (and as you say “perfection”).
Many (most) practitioners do not have the education you are getting in herbs (either because of school curriculum or lack of interest) and I see many people in my local area who send herbs based on the short information they glean from the herbal books they get from these manufacturers.
Hi Eric,
Just wanted to say how interesting it was to hear the comments on EFT. Especially Jason’s as my feelings and experience have been quite similar to both of yours. I had initially dismissed EFT as yet another pie-in-the-sky sort of faddish alternative treatment that requires no training and expertise from the therapist. I suppose it insults my ego’s need to be considered ‘professional’ as a massage therapist in the UK where telling people what I do usually results in a nudge, nudge, wink wink sort of reaction. But on the recommendation of a fellow therapist, who gave me the CD’s showing how to use it, I gave it a trial.
At first I thought the affirmation was the key to providing a useful treatment, but I have found that phrases like “even though my knee is hurting” work. One patient called me the next day after I had taught her the sequence to say how miraculous it was that her arthritic knee was completely painfree for the first time in years. Anecdotal evidence is mainly what you find on the emofree site, and I didn’t believe it until I tried it on others.
Now as I start my second year in my acupuncture degree, perhaps I will revisit the points used and the directional influences to understand it better in light of TCM (sadly my course is not classical - in fact I’m slightly outraged that none of the classic texts have been mentioned in one year of classes!) And in the EFT CD’s I watched there was only reference to the ‘points’ not acupoints or acupuncture points, but these Cd’s were a few years old three years ago.