Emotional Freedom Technique
Often, cancer patients, including those battling mesothelioma, are seeking ways to relieve pain, anxiety, and the other issues that accompany life with their disease without adding more mesothelioma chemotherapy drugs or radiation treatments to their daily regimen. Hence, they turn to therapies that are natural and non-invasive. Many complementary therapies profess to help with these issues, and these treatments are becoming more and more popular with cancer patients and those dealing with other serious illnesses as well.
The Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was first touted in 1993 when the inventor of the technique, Gary Craig, introduced EFT to the general public and began training others to deliver the treatment. Like several other forms of complementary therapy, EFT is based on the premise that negative thoughts and emotions can cause a disturbance in a person’s energy field. Both acupuncture and Healing Touch Therapy are also energy field-related therapies.
Many consider EFT to be a form of psychotherapy. Hence, for cancer patients, it is most often used to treat the anxiety and depression that accompany a cancer diagnosis and living with the disease. Practitioners believe that they can help a patient manipulate the body’s energy field by having them “tap” on certain acupressure points while focusing on a traumatic memory or situation.
During the initial EFT session, the therapist will spend time talking to the patient about their concerns and what issues they wish to address. For cancer patients, including those battling malignant mesothelioma, the wish to feel less anxious or depressed is often what is being sought through the use of EFT, though some practitioners note that cancer patients visit them in hopes of relieving pain as well.
Next, the EFT practitioner will teach the patient how and where to tap. Tapping is usually done in a particular sequence - the top of the head, eyebrow, temple, under the eye, under the nose, chin, collar bone, under the arm, and the wrists. While tapping, the patient is taught to repeat certain affirmations. For example, he may be asked to repeat a phrase such as, “Even though I have a problem with depression, I deeply and completely accept myself.” Acknowledging the problem and self-acceptance of it will allow the energy field to become unclogged and realigned, proponents of the therapy note.
Though founder Gary Craig has done research with cancer patients and notes improvement in a large majority of the individuals treated with EFT, there is no scientific evidence that proves the treatment can reduce pain, relieve anxiety and depression, or - as Craig noted in some of his reports - slow the progression of the disease. However, many patients do indeed report a better emotional outlook after taking part in this therapy, and because it is non-invasive, there are no risks involved and it does not interfere with conventional treatments.
Emotional Freedom Technique Directory
For your convenience, we have assembled a directory of emotional freedom technique resources in your geographic area. Please enter your city and state, or 5-digit postal code into the field below to learn about resource available near you.
Sources
World Center for EFT
www.eftuniverse.com
Healing Cancer Naturally
http://www.healingcancernaturally.com/eft-cancer-pain-treatment.html
Mercola.com
http://www.mercola.com/forms/eftcourse1.htm
Free Mesothelioma Information Packet
Enter your information to receive a comprehensive mesothelioma packet free of charge at your doorstep within 24 hours.
