Dr. Peta Stapleton has conducted significant research into the use of Clinical EFT. This is the tapping protocol that has been validated by research as described in the EFT manual and is behind much of the research described in her book ‘The Science of Tapping’. Initially a skeptic herself, she committed to learning more when seeing its impact firsthand.
Dr. Stapleton is convinced that EFT tapping contributes more than the current therapeutic models by introducing a body-mind approach that quickly and permanently shifts outdated emotional learning.
EFT is a semantic intervention that impacts hormone production, brain waves, blood flow, and gene expression.
Tapping engages the amygdala (stress center), hippocampus (memory center), and limbic system (emotional center) allowing recalibration of each.
Tapping calms the physiological response and reduces cortisol and the level of arousal.
It has been shown to be effective in treating claustrophobia, car accident trauma, food cravings, general anxiety, public speaking anxiety, test anxiety, athletic stress, psoriasis, depression, addiction, pain, OCD, PTSD, fibromyalgia, headaches, insomnia, learning disabilities, frozen shoulder, and more.
Some key research outcomes from ‘The Science of Tapping’
One study showed a reduction of 24% in cortisol levels after an hour of EFT, High cortisol is in term associated with problems concentrating and sleeping, loss of muscle, low immune function, blood sugar imbalances, and increased belly fat.
EFT has also been used for cigarette addiction by tapping through the feelings when cravings for cigarettes occur. By focusing on aspects of being deprived, sad, lonely, and bored the urge to smoke was resolved.
In another study using tapping over the course of 8 weeks to treat food cravings, the emotional and physiological urges to eat were lost. Subjects also experienced a loss in anxiety and depression. in further related studies, brain imaging showed a reduction in the active imagination of eating the craved food.
It has also been powerful in the direct treatment of depression. Tapping provided relief for ongoing sadness and emptiness, a lack of interest in activity, and recurrent thoughts of death that were maintained over time.
After EFT treatment for PTSD, 90% no longer met the criteria and 80% still healed after 6 months. In other research with genocide survivors in Rwanda trauma symptoms were reduced including flashbacks, nightmares, depression, isolation, aggression, jumpiness, and difficulty concentrating.
There has also been a demonstrated impact on gene activity. With 1 hour of tapping genes to do with inflammation were switched off and immunity resources were switched on. Similarly, PTSD genes are downregulated.
Check out Dr. Peta Stapleton talking about the research in these videos.
Image by Nevena M. from Pixabay
