Posted by Jlx on October 22, 2006, at 9:49:37
In reply to Re: EFT and public speaking, posted by Snowbunnie on October 21, 2006, at 15:00:38
> Wow thank you for taking the time to write all that out. It sounds pretty intriguing, because from what you wrote and from what's written on the website, it seems like there's no rational explanation for why it works. Well they say it fixes your energy but is there any scientific evidence of this "energy system" in your body? Not to put down the method - I'm just skeptical about new things like this, that claim to be able to solve almost any problem. "You can use it from the common cold to cancer" as the website says. Hmm.
Well, it says you can "use it" -- as a technique -- which isn't quite the same thing as saying it will work. I don't think Gary Craig is suggesting that someone eschew conventional cancer treatments in favor of EFT. I think EFT may work as part of the healing process to the extent of the body mind connection to whatever one's ailment. That's how I see it primarily -- as that bridge. And I don't think we really know that much about the power of the mind to affect the body, or vice versa. I don't think we really know that much about the brain.
I just recently heard of "mirror neurons" and when I looked it up found this intriguing page: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sciencenow/3204/01-resup.html What other kinds of specialized neurons might we have?
Re scientific evidence of an "energy system" in the body, I don't know. I didn't read much on the website about the underlying theory, in part because I didn't want to influence myself with getting too "in my head" about it all as I wanted to just give it a good try. With the meridians, I believe they are referring to the concept of "qi", which the more literal minded deny exists. There's an interesting discussion of qi on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qi
I try to be reasonably skeptical about things, but at some point I'm willing to consider the metaphysical if it takes me where I want to go. Whether there is an energy field within the body and/or whether we are part of a greater energy field that we can affect with our minds, I don't know. Some people have described "doing EFT" only on a mental level -- not physically tapping -- which would seem to bely the meridian theory. Some others have talked about "surrogate tapping" as if they are participating in affecting matter one some level that defies current scientific explanation. I'm more inclined to believe that we're more likely affecting our own perception in those cases.
I started using EFT when someone on this board started a thread about TAT http://www.tat-intl.com/ and then someone else mentioned EFT. I haven't tried TAT as I like the physical aspects of tapping which I think may be similar to people using a rosary to pray or "worry beads" -- combining the distraction of the body movement with direction of our thoughts in a type of meditation we wouldn't achieve otherwise with ordinary thinking.
I don't care if EFT is a form of meditation, "mindfulness", suggestibility, self-hypnosis, placebo effect, the power of positive thinking, or something "real" affecting qi or energy as long as it accomplishes something I deem useful and effective. I think it's plausible that the body may have an energy system. I think it's also plausible that the brain may effectively use the concept of "the body has an energy system" whether there is one or not.
We live subjectively, in a world of perception and created reality -- not when it comes to such things as trying to defy gravity, of course -- but certainly in terms of emotions, the experience of physical and emotional pain, memory, meaning and connection. I see EFT as a tool to help me explore my world in a different manner from conventional therapy, journaling, relaxation or any of the other techniques I've used through the years to try to achieve more peace of mind and freedom from crippling emotions and negative beliefs.
I just like it. :)
JL
poster:Jlx
thread:696393
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/alter/20061013/msgs/696710.html