How does tapping work?
One of the best things about acupuncture is that we can talk about tapping and the science behind it. What exactly is tapping? Is it how we typically describe the sensation, such as a “grabbing” or “noise,” or is it a more detailed process? There are actually several theories surrounding how does tapping work. Some of these theories include the following:
The theory that is most prevalent in Western cultures is that the human body experiences a tapping sensation when it is stressed. This is thought to occur because the individual aspects of the body that is being stimulated are the stressors. Some of these stressors may include anger, fear, frustration, anxiety, and others. In this theory, tapping is actually occurring due to the stimulation of the stressors.
A second theory on how does tapping work involves the concept of the stress response. According to this concept, when an individual is faced with a stressful event, they will have a rapid and involuntary physiological response. This response may include increased heart rate, sweating, faster breathing, nervousness, and others. The purpose of this reaction is to create positive energy so that the individual can be able to respond more efficiently to their environment.
How does the tapping process occur? When individuals are faced with a stressful situation, they will first begin to feel anxiety and tension. When they begin to tap their feet or their muscles, they are engaging these meridian points in order to calm themselves. Tapping is most effective when the tapping process is focused on a single specific issue; however, the tapping process can be used to relax multiple individuals at one time.
In addition to the processes that I outlined above, there is also a neurological reason as to why the tapping occurs. The limbic system in the brain releases hormones when an individual is under extreme stress. These hormones make the individual feel both fearful and anxious. However, when they are confronted with a situation where they are likely to be emotionally intense, the tapping becomes an even more powerful response to the stress response. Individuals then begin to feel feelings of intense pleasure as the amygdala reacts to the stress response in the brain.
An example of the tapping behavior that is described above is when an individual taps their foot to gain relaxation from a tense situation. The tapping may be an intentional action – for instance, the tapping of the foot might be an attempt to focus all of the negative emotions associated with the situation into one area – such as focusing all of the worries and fears of an impending heart attack away from the heart and focusing them on the head, arms, or shoulders. Another example might be that an individual taps their fingers in an effort to relieve muscle tension after a long and hard day at work. It is important to keep in mind that the tapping should only take place for a limited amount of time in order to effectively control the emotional intensity of the situation. This technique, however, can be learned and repeated whenever needed.
The tapping technique used in energy healing is sometimes referred to as clairaudience – the ability to pick up the subtleties of others’ energies. With clairaudience, individuals are able to pick up the emotions of others – and in turn, they are able to create positive change in those surrounding them. For example, when you are around someone who is feeling down and sad, you can almost sense what is going on in their body and in their emotions. You can actually pick up on their emotions – even though at first glance, you may not understand what they are saying.
If you take the time to tap various parts of your body, you will be able to find areas that are tense and those that may need to release some of the tension. When this happens, you will have an opportunity to create positive change in that area. Many people with bad memories actually tap their fingers while looking at a photo of someone they want to forget about the bad memory. Some even tap in silent meditation – it all depends on the person and how comfortable they are with tapping. Even if tapping is not your strong point, it can be very helpful to master this skill. By mastering this one issue, you can begin to heal your entire body and relieve many ailments that you may be experiencing