A simple finger tapping technique can reduce anxiety within minutes, according to a study.
In this method, eight specific parts of the body are tapped with the knuckles of the index finger and the middle finger.
These acupuncture points are located at the ends of ‘Meridians’. Meridians are pathways in the body that traditional Chinese medicine believes carry the flow of energy.
Research has used this tapping method along with mental exercises in a program called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT).
The researchers studied 22 people with different phobias. Individual results were not released, but these people reported a reduction in stress caused by their fears after treatment.
These individuals also reported a reduction in anxiety in relation to fearful situations and a reduction in difficulty coping with fear.
In these individuals, all three problems improved significantly after EFT compared to deep breathing exercises, and none reported any harm.
Research published in the journal Explore found that this method was more effective than deep breathing for reducing anxiety.
EFT is a non-pharmacological method that combines acupressure (an ancient Chinese method of applying pressure on different parts of the body), exposure therapy (treating by facing the feared object) and mental restructuring. Factors include:
In the study, subjects with various fears such as red bags, snakes, syringes and heights were asked to focus on their fears while doing deep breathing or EFT acupressure exercises.
The researchers then assessed their anxiety with a questionnaire that asked them about their physical and mental symptoms of anxiety when thinking about their fear.
The review found that those who did EFT had a greater reduction in anxiety than the group that did the deep breathing technique.
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