Yahoo Lifestyle 
What is tapping?
What on earth is tapping (AKA emotional freedom technique)?
If you’re going through a period of anxiety or just can’t seem to clear your head, it can be almost impossible to find release. But what if we told you that simply focusing your thoughts while tapping certain parts of your body could be all you need? At least, that’s what proponents of a new alternative therapy - Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) - believe.
According to Nick Ortner, author of The Tapping Solution, “EFT tapping draws deeply on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, specifically those regarding energy meridians.” This philosophy believes the meridian lines that run through your body are in fact pathways for chi, or life force.
“With any trauma, physical or emotional, the flow of this chi can become obstructed,” explains Ortner. As with acupuncture, “various meridian points along these lines can be stimulated to restore the full flow of your body’s energy,” he adds. Think of it like an instant mood booster.
But how does it actually work?
Any stress triggers - from financial worries to work dramas - can cause your body to release a higher amount of the stress hormone cortisol. According to Ortner, stimulating meridian points can lead to a reduction in cortisol levels.
Here’s what you do: think of what’s causing you stress and put all your focus on that feeling. While tapping points on your body from your head to your hands to your torso, repeat a positive mantra such as: “Even though this causes me sadness, I still love and respect myself.” When combined with tapping, these positive affirmations relax the body and calm the nervous system. Music to our ears.
What does science say?
While EFT is considered an alternative therapy, there has been some research into its effect and benefits. In one 2013 study published in the Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, researchers studied the effects of tapping on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and found that 90% of those who tapped no longer showed signs of the disorder. An impressive start - and a promising sign that peace of mind could be just a few short taps away.
Did you know? One hour of tapping can reduce cortisol levels by 24%, according to a recent US study. Now that’s impressive.
