I specialise in chronic pain and injury – and am fascinated by the effects of EFT for pain.
I have watched and listened to many experts talking about and discussing pain. However, my quest for answers as to how EFT works, and why, are yet to be answered.
Due to this I have come up with my own theory, thanks to the work of Allan Basbaum, Dawson Church Ph.D, Dr. Moseley Dr. Butler, and David Feinstein Ph.D.
In this video Allan Basbaum explains that the brain has it’s own pain relieving system. This happens when endorphins are released, as they are a pain relieving substance.
Now, this fits in with research that Harvard Medical School have done on EFT. They say that EFT reduces blood flow to the Amygdala, RELEASES ENDORPHINS, and increases GABA waves.
In my mind this is the first part of the theory as to how EFT for pain works.
The second part of the theory is that EFT cannot be a placebo. There are several reason for this. Firstly, Allan states that children are immune to placebo’s. EFT works just as well with children as it does adults. Secondly, nobody that I have EVER worked with (using EFT) has EVER had any belief in it whatsoever. I mean come on …. it’s looks totally bonkers … and generally people feel quite uncomfortable on first trying it (at least the clients that i attract, anyway).
Allan also talks about how pain can change when perceptions are changed, when the brain is manipulated.
Dr. David Feinstein explains this further with the following quote:
“neuroscientists have demonstrated that every memory is encoded in the brain with an emotional charge. This charge creates a neural pathway to signal an appropriate physiological response when you are reminded of the experience, or encounter a similar one. These neural pathways were once protective – a swift fight or flight reaction to an encounter with a lion could keep you alive – the trouble is the brain can’t differentiate between a lion and a modern stressor like a computer crash, so innocuous situations end up being encoded in the brain as dangerous. Tapping (EFT) can help rewire these neural pathways”.
Clinical Psychologist Fred P. Gallo Ph.D says “whenever you think about a stressful experience, the brain activates an alarm response in the Amygdala, the part of the limbic system that governs our emotions, and stimulating acupressure points reduces arousal in the Amygdala. These opposing signals quickly communicate to the brain that there is no danger and reprogram the circuitry so the trigger no longer evokes anxiety, fear or other negative emotions.”
I am interviewing Dawson Church this evening where I will be asking lots of questions about EFT and how EFT for pain works.
Enjoy xx
THE BRIDGE 