Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) for Grief, Anger, Fear and Weight Loss

By Larry Burk, MD

E-motions can be thought of symbolically as “energy-in-motion.” Negative experiences can block the flow of energy or qi through the acupuncture meridians resulting in physical symptoms. EFT is an effective way of releasing these stuck emotions by tapping on acupoints on the face and chest to allow the energy to get moving again through the body.

Learn More About How EFT Can Benefit You

Five Emotional Freedom Techniques for Grief, Anger, Fear, Weight Loss and Food Cravings:

Healing Grief

Unresolved grief can result in sinusitis and postnasal drip which are often treated with antibiotics and anti-histamines. These annoying symptoms may include a chronic cough which can be resistant to conventional therapies. EFT can be useful in addressing the underlying somatic metaphor of inner crying sometimes resulting in rapid resolution of the sinus condition and preventing surgery.

Healing Anger

Anger can be trapped in the body resulting in chronic pain. If you have an acute injury that does not heal normally in 2 to 3 months you should suspect that the residual pain is due to an underlying emotional issue. Frozen shoulder also known as adhesive capsulitis is a good example of repressed anger manifesting as inflammation that can be healed through tapping.

Healing Fear

Fear can be associated with autoimmune disease where the immune system overreacts in a defensive way resulting in antibody attack of normal tissues. A possible metaphor for this situation is an imbalance of the root chakra or first energy center in the body due to adverse experiences in early infancy. EFT can be complementary to conventional therapies for these challenging conditions.

Dream Guidance for Tapping

Diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid or psoriatic arthritis can be associated with violent dreams of self-defense which may be useful in guiding the approach with EFT. Clues to tapping for pain may also come from angry dream content.  Visitation dreams of deceased loved ones can facilitate healing of grief with EFT in sinusitis and postnasal drip.

EFT for Weight Loss and Food Cravings

Emotional baggage may also manifest as weight gain through eating for comfort. Tapping is an evidence-based way to decrease food cravings with fMRI scans showing changes in the brain before and after EFT. The most successful food marketing slogan in history, “You can’t eat just one,” can be transformed into “One and done” by combining tapping with mindful eating.