
EFT: alignment of mind, brain and body
What is EFT?

EFT has been catching more attention from researchers and scientists, and is becoming a growing area of study. The evidence shows that we can best describe EFT as a blend of: modern psychology (cognitive therapy), Chinese medicine (meridian system), neuroplasticity (brain rewiring), and nervous system regulation (including epigenetics).
In other words, it’s a mix of ancient wisdom and modern science that truly aligns the mind, brain and body.
Chinese Medicine & the Meridian System
Chinese Medicine has long been based on the meridian system - energy pathways that run throughout the body. In acupuncture, needles are used to stimulate specific points along these lines to release blocked energy. In EFT (tapping), we use our fingers to tap on these points, achieving the same goal: unblocking energy and restoring balance.
Physiological effects
Nervous system regulation
When we tap on points along this Primo Vascular System, it generates an electrical signal that travels to the brain, especially to the amygdala.
Part of the limbic system, it plays a key role in our survival instincts. The amygdala’s job is to assess whether a situation is dangerous. When it senses a threat, it triggers the release of stress hormones, like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing the body for the fight or flight response.
But here’s where tapping comes in - EFT sends calming signals to the amygdala, helping to dial down the cortisol levels and reduce stress. This is why EFT is often called a powerful stress-reducing tool - it literally helps rewire the brain’s reaction to stress, bringing us back to a state of balance.
Brain & Neuroplasticity
Gene expression & epigenetics
Shared goal with Cognitive Therapy
EFT and cognitive therapy share a common goal: helping us break free from negative thought patterns and emotional distress. Cognitive therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts, teaching us to reframe them in a healthier way. EFT takes this a step further by combining cognitive awareness with a physical process - tapping on acupressure points - to release emotional charge from the body and the mind.
Does EFT tapping really work? Is EFT tapping evidence based?
- Out of the 600 recognised psychotherapy modalities, energy psychology ranks in the top 10%. With over 320 publications as well as case studies and 100+ papers in peer non-English journals, 99% of the studies indicate the effectiveness of tapping. And it’s not just about the positive subjective outcomes (when people say they feel better), research using functional MRI scans and DNA analysis show real, measurable changes in the brain and body. Science is catching up to what so many already know (and have experienced): EFT has a powerful impact on both our emotions and our physiology.
- Sixty-six studies involving 7,265 participants compared stimulation on acupressure points versus sham (non-acupoint) stimulation across various health conditions. The results? The real acupressure groups showed significantly greater effectiveness than the sham groups, proving that stimulating actual meridian points makes a measurable difference.
- In 2017, the Acupuncture Evidence Project revised over 13,000 studies and 2,500 reviews across 122 medical and psychiatric conditions and only five were rated at ‘no evidence of effect’. EFT proved effective for 117 conditions, highlighting its broad impact across a wide range of health issues.
