Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a relatively new form of emotional and psychological acupressure and is now recognised as one of the Alternative Therapies of Natural Healing . EFT is the combination of ancient Chinese acupuncture therapy and modern psychology that involves the stimulation of meridian energy points on the body by tapping them with fingertips in order to release blocked emotional energy.
Many emotional stressors such as work place stress, trauma, difficult relationships and anxiety have a negative effect on a person’s mental and emotional wellbeing. The negative emotions that arise as a result of stress block the flow of energy around the body, this is said to cause the physical and emotional symptoms of stress.
A recent study conducted by the School of Medicine at Griffith University, Australia, has reported that Emotional Freedom Technique, when taught to people clinically diagnosed as obese, show greater food craving restraint and develop a greater subjective power over food.
Ninety-six overweight or obese adults were recruited for the study; they were assigned to either the EFT treatment group or four week waitlist condition. The extent of food craving, restraint capabilities, perceived power over food and psychological factors associated with obesity were assessed pre- and post- a four-week treatment program and again six-month after the EFT intervention.
The positive effect of Emotional Freedom Technique on the obese participants were said to last after the initial intervention for those adults who maintained active EFT practice .