EFT is Not a Placebo

Background: The manual stimulation of acupuncture points has been combined with components of cognitive and exposure therapies into a clinical and self-help approach known as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT). More than 40 clinical trials and four meta-analytic reviews of EFT treatments have demonstrated large effect sizes with a range of conditions, including pain, PTSD (in both civilian and military veteran populations), phobias, anxiety, and depression.

Objective: This review describes the approach, with a focus on PTSD in veterans and service members, provides an overview of how EFT is most commonly applied, and outlines obstacles and cautions related to its implementation.

Methods: Peer-reviewed clinical trials and meta-analyses of EFT in the treatment of PTSD are assessed to identify the characteristics of the approach that render it suitable for the treatment of PTSD.

Results: The literature demonstrates that remediation of PTSD and comorbid conditions is typically accomplished within brief time frames, ranging from one session for phobias to between four and ten sessions for PTSD. Clinical EFT has been shown to regulate stress hormones and limbic function and to improve various neurologic markers of general health. The epigenetic effects of EFT include upregulation of immunity genes and downregulation of inflammation genes. Six dismantling studies have indicated that the acupressure component of EFT is an active ingredient and not placebo.

Conclusions: Seven empirically supported strengths of the approach were identified that make it especially suitable for use with veterans and active military: (1) the depth and breadth of treatment effects; (2) the relatively brief timeframes required for successful treatment; (3) the low risk of adverse events; (4) the minimal training time required for the approach to be applied effectively; (5) the simultaneous reduction of physical and psychologic symptoms; (6) the utility and cost-effectiveness of clinical EFT in a large group format; and (7) the method's adaptability to online and telemedicine applications.

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Are You Suffering From Similar issues?

If you or someone you know is suffering from similar issues or signs of emotional trauma, please contact a professional GoE EFT Practitioner to see if EFT can help:

• Find an EFT practitioner near you on the interactive Energy Map
• Browse EFT practitioner listings

How Do I Become Qualified in EFT?

The GoE is a non-profit organisation established in 1998 and was the first provider of professional EFT training. We have since gone on to support Energy EFT which is a more up-to-date tapping technique. For information on Energy EFT training courses available via live training and distance learning see the following pages:

• GoE Energy EFT Foundation Training
• GoE Energy EFT Master Practitioner
• GoE Modern Stress Managment

GoE and EFT - Further Information

Alongside Energy EFT training programs and maintaining a public register of certified EFT Practitioners, the GoE provides the following additional information and services:

• History of the GoE
• Developmental History Article of EFT and the Tapping Techniques
• Listing of EFT Studies & Research
• Attend GoE Energy Conference in November
• Subscribe to the GoE to gain membership benefits such as The Energist magazine, access to members resources and more
• Contact The GoE