healthmedicinet

• The treatment involves tapping acupressure points on the head and hands
• The researchers believe it should now be used by the NHS
• Tapping could also be used to boost performance in pressurised situations
  
• Once the technique has been learnt, patients can treat themselves at home, whenever they need it
  

By
Emma Innes

PUBLISHED:

06:55 EST, 16 January 2014

|
UPDATED:

07:24 EST, 17 January 2014

The technique, which the NHS could soon start using to treat mental health problems, involves tapping acupressure points on the head and hands

Experts are calling on the NHS to start using a new self-help technique, called tapping, after its effectiveness in treating a number of conditions was proved.

The technique, which involves tapping acupressure points on the head and hands, is showing promise as an effective form of therapy for anxiety, depression and anger.

It is also known as the emotional freedom technique (EFT).

Researchers at Staffordshire University are leading research into the effectiveness of EFT in the UK.

Professor Tony Stewart, who led a trial of the treatment in the Birmingham area, said: ‘EFT is a new and emerging therapy that can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions.

‘Patients gently tap with their fingertips on acupressure points, mainly on the head and hands, and relate this to the voicing of specific statements.

‘A growing number of studies suggest EFT is an effective and safe treatment, and with the predicted sharp increase in the demand for mental health services – and a corresponding decrease in NHS resources – we feel that the use of EFT should now be extended.’

The researchers studied 39 patients during the trial and say that most improved significantly as a result of the treatment.

Dr Ian Walton, GP and mental health lead for Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, said: ‘The effective use of EFT demonstrated in this study has not only influenced counsellors and therapists in Sandwell to be trained to use this method of treatment, but also local mental health charities are seeing the value in being trained to use EFT in the work that they do.’

Mark Willets, 39, was first referred to Professor Stewart with depression in 2012 after it started to impact on his family life.

He said: ‘I would describe the impact of these sessions like emotional first aid, it would allow me to refocus when I found myself hitting a bad patch and it brought me back into rational thinking.

‘I would say it created a cognitive shift and allowed me to gain a better perspective on the things I had achieved and really helped me to see more clearly and become calm and rational.’

The researchers say that one of the key
benefits of EFT is that, once learnt, it can be easily self-administered
meaning patients can use it on themselves for any issue, whenever it is
required.

Dutch pole vaulter Rens Blom believes tapping was responsible for his surprise victory in the 2005 World Athletics Championships

WHAT IS TAPPING?

Tapping or the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) is a new alternative therapy.

It is a form of acupressure, based on the same energy points used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments.

Instead of using needles, tapping with the fingertips is used to input kinetic energy onto specific meridians on the head and chest while a person thinks about their specific problem and voices positive affirmations.

This combination of tapping and voicing is supposed to clear the ‘emotional block’ from a person’s ‘bioenergy system’ and restores balance in the body.

A further study using Staffordshire University students has provided evidence that EFT could also boost performance in pressurised conditions.

Some 100 students were approached randomly to either receive an inspirational lecture or an EFT session ahead of giving a marked presentation.

The 50 students who received the EFT remained calmer and achieved higher results.

On average, it has been determined that just over five sessions are required to treat clients. This compares well with other therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), where between six and 20 sessions may be required, depending on the condition and severity.

Dr Liz Boath, Associate Professor in the School of Social Work, Allied and Public Health at Staffordshire University, said: ‘Both clinical and statistical significance have been demonstrated through our studies, the findings of which have been presented at three NHS conferences.

‘Our view is that all new therapies and treatments start with little or no evidence, and further good quality studies into EFT would confirm its effectiveness, safety and potential within the NHS.

‘It may be a bridge too far for now, but we also feel that EFT could be delivered within communities to provide fast access to mental health services.’

The research was published in the Journal of Psychological Therapies in Primary Care.

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Comments (44)

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The comments below have not been moderated.

judgenot,

Manchester,

2 hours ago

anybody else find her annoying?. .

ElecEng,

Dubai UAE,

5 hours ago

I wish Lily Allen would use it to control her singing habit if it’s so effective.

ElecEng,

Dubai UAE,

5 hours ago

To quote Tim Minchin: “What do you call alternative medicine that works? Medicine â?

If it passes double blind scientific trials then fine, go ahead.

Steve,

Christchurch,

18 hours ago

NHS have been doing this for years but rather than it being called ‘Tapping your head acupuncture points’ it’s been called ‘banging your head against a brickwall’ !!

PTSD-Trauma,

Lytham St Annes, United Kingdom,

12 minutes ago

why would you post such a negative comment Steve, EFT works on a huge proportion of the population. The NHS hasn’t been doing this for years at all, The NHS only recommends CBT, EMDR or counselling so far and those can be ineffective. The great thing about EFT is that the client /patient isn’t re traumatised during treatment. the emotional charge is released so that they can think about the traumatic memory without getting upset.

Suzannah,

London, United Kingdom,

18 hours ago

A few times a week I feel like hitting my head on a wall or the nearest hard object. Is this a variation of EFT? I hope the NHS doesn’t go that far.

PTSD-Trauma,

Lytham St Annes, United Kingdom,

51 minutes ago

Why would you hope the NHS isn’t going to research an advancement in therapeutic techniques Suzannah, that doesn’t make any sense at all. EFT has been found to work in multiple trials all over the world.

Judder007,

Manchester, United Kingdom,

19 hours ago

It’s not fair I think it’s really mean!

GKJ,

UK,

20 hours ago

What a waste of money this would be. There should be better research into real treatments instead.

PTSD-Trauma,

Lytham St Annes, United Kingdom,

8 minutes ago

GLK why would you think that reducing peoples anxiety and stress with EFT isn’t a real treatment? If you asked my PTSD clients if they had a real treatment with EFT they’d tell you how good they feel now they have a quality of life free from the nightmares,flashbacks, fears that they had on a daily basis

Amy,

Newcastle, United Kingdom,

20 hours ago

No evidence base supported by double blind trials (to rule out bias) =load of rubbish until proven otherwise. NICE will never approve for widespread use as a result.

Anthony Holland,

Ilfracombe, United Kingdom,

16 hours ago

A double blind trial means that neither the patient nor the clinician knows which treatment they have received. I wonder if we could realistically do this in EFT? Thats why we do RCT,s instead,you obviously don’t know what your talking about .

vecten,

medway, United Kingdom,

20 hours ago

This therapy has been used in the NHS for the past 8 years to my knowledge.

jason,

Harrogate,

21 hours ago

It’s an alternative therapy because it’s either not been proved to work or been proved not to work. Nothing more than the placebo effect. You should stop giving space to such rubbish!

PTSD-Trauma,

Lytham St Annes, United Kingdom,

1 hour ago

ot true of EFT Jason, there’s lots of evidence done in trials all over the world, and quite a few by professors in the UK and have been published, its just that you haven’t read them yet.

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