In the 1980’s, Gary Craig refined the work carried out by American psychologist, Roger Callahan, to form what is now known as the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). Callahan had devised a theory concerning Thought Field Therapy, similar in many ways to acupuncture. What Craig did was identify key areas of pressure, simplifying the concept from over 300 pressure points, to just 11.

The roots of EFT can be found in traditional Chinese medicine. They believed that negative emotions blocked the energy flow within the body, and that blockage needed to be removed in order for a person to be cured of any emotional problem. The technique is wide ranging and has been used to cure a wide range of problems, from smoking to alcohol, obesity to phobias. When using this technique, the patient is made aware that the smoking, for example, is not the problem, rather the patient’s solution to the problem. The person smokes to counter stressful situations, for instance. What EFT aims to do is replace the smoking with its therapy. When a person feels like a cigarette they perform the technique on themselves instead, eliminating the negative emotion blockage from their body, thus overcoming the problem.

Performing the technique is simple, it has been described as ‘acupuncture without the needles’. This is its great advantage, because after a couple of sessions with a professional, the patient can perform the technique at home on themselves, with no equipment necessary. It is important to recognise that more serious emotional problems may require a different type of help, such as hypnotherapy.

Here is an example of how EFT can be used. Say that a man thought he had been drinking rather too much and wished to cut down. When that man felt the urge for a drink, he would find the necessary pressure point (on the face or hand) and begin massaging it. He would then connect with his problem, by stating out loud what his problem was, and that he understood he had it. Next he would firmly tap all of the eleven pressure points, until the craving had been relieved. This is done because the tapping stimulates the neural receptors thus replacing the negative energy with positive.

EFT is a simple alternative medicine that anyone can learn after a couple of sessions with a professional. For those who are rather sceptical, there have actually been a surprisingly large number of success stories, covering a wide range of problems. Its strong point is its simplicity, and because of that it may well grow into mainstream use one day.