One of the most intriguing aspects of AQGM or EFT is its ability to induce rapid psychophysiological shifts. It has been noted that feeling calmer or “lighter” happens within minutes of Tapping. What could explain these effects? Several mechanistic pathways have been proposed and are under investigation:
- HPA AXIS DOWNREGULATION- reduction of stress hormones (especially cortisol)
- NEURAL DESENSITIZATION– altered activation of important brain regions
- AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM REBALANCING– increased vagal tone and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) activation
- ACUPUNCTURE MERIDIAN SIGNALING- calming signals through connective tissue or neurochemical pathways
Today let’s look at HPA Axis and Cortisol Reduction. In a landmark randomized controlled trial, Church et al.(2012) examined cortisol levels before and after a single Tapping session. Eighty -three people were randomized to one hour of Tapping, an active control (supportive talk therapy), or a non treatment rest condition. The Tapping group’s salivary cortisol dropped by an average of 24% post session, compared to about 14% in the therapy and rest groups. In other words within one hour, Tapping produced not just subjective relief but a measurable physiological change beyond natural relaxation or the effects of an empathic listening session.
Such a rapid reduction in cortisol suggests a potent calming of the hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenal (HPA) axis. Cortisol typically spikes during stress (fueling the “fight – flight” response) and remains chronically elevated in conditions like PTSD or anxiety disorders. By lowering cortisol, Tapping may help break the cycle of stress reactivity.
Notably, a replication study in 2020 by Stapleton et al. found an even larger cortisol drop with Tapping – about 43% on average and a 20% cortisol drop with talk therapy. The implication is that Tapping (AQGM OR EFT) may rapidly shift the body from a stressed state toward a more relaxed state by dampening HPA axis output. Lower cortisol can translate to improvements in mood, sleep, immune function, and cardiovascular benefits.
LEARN AND PRACTICE THE AQGM PROTOCOL (MOVEMENTS AND SONG) Y’ALL AND LETS GET TO TAPPING TO MAKE A BRAND NEW YOU!!
References:
Church, D., yount, G., & Brooks, A.J. (2021). The effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on stress biochemistry: A randomized controlled trial. Journa of Nervous and Mental Disease, 200(10), 891-896. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31826b9fc1
Church, D., Stapleton, P., & Sabot, D. (2020). App-Based delivery of Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques): Cross-sectional study of stress reduction in 96,000 users. JMIR mHealth and uHealth, 8(10), e18545. https://doi.org/10.2196/18545