Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), often referred to as “tapping,” is a structured therapeutic approach that combines gentle stimulation of acupuncture points with cognitive focus on a specific issue or memory. The technique involves tapping with the fingertips on points on the head and upper body along the body’s meridian lines, which are well-documented pathways in traditional Chinese medicine believed to carry the body’s energy. Because of this connection, EFT is sometimes described as an energy psychology or energy therapy intervention.
Over the past two decades, the scientific evidence supporting EFT has grown significantly. More than 100 clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses now document its effectiveness for many issues including anxiety, depression, PTSD, pain, and food cravings. Professor Peta Stapleton, a clinical and health psychologist at Bond University, has led some of the most influential research in the field. In one of her widely cited studies, participants experienced an average 43% reduction in cortisol levels, the primary stress hormone, after a single EFT session, compared with only a 19% decrease in a traditional talk-therapy group. These physiological changes mirrored reported emotional improvements, including reduced stress and greater calm.
Neuroscientific studies have further clarified this. Research from Harvard University demonstrated that stimulating acupuncture points, by tapping, sends a deactivating signal to the amygdala, the brain’s central stress response centre. The amygdala is responsible for triggering the fight, flight, freeze or fawn reaction, and its overactivation is associated with anxiety and trauma-related symptoms. By calming amygdala activity, tapping supports a rapid reduction in emotional arousal and promotes a state of regulation.
Scientists are also finding how this signal travels through the body. The process is known as mechanosensory transduction, in which the mechanical pressure of tapping is converted into an electrical signal. This signal is thought to move through collagen fibres in the connective tissue, which may act as a network for transmitting information to the nervous system. Several studies have noted that acupuncture points possess distinct connective tissue structures and electrical properties, which may explain their particular effectiveness in influencing brain activity.
Taken together, these findings provide a biologically plausible explanation for the observed effects of EFT. Clients focus on an emotionally charged memory or thought while tapping on specific points on the head and upper body. The tapping sends a signal through the connective tissue and nervous system to the brain, resulting in measurable reductions in stress and emotional distress. Brain imaging studies support these observations, showing decreased activation in the amygdala and related areas following acupoint stimulation.
The convergence of clinical trial data, physiological studies, and neuroimaging research supports EFT as a credible, evidence-based method for emotional regulation and stress reduction.
As the research base continues to expand, EFT is increasingly recognised as a scientifically supported mind-body approach that bridges traditional energy medicine concepts with modern neuroscience. Its simplicity, combined with growing support, makes it a valuable tool in clinical settings and a practical self-regulation tool for the general public.
Links to some of Dr Peta Stapleton’s EFT research studies.
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