I was first introduced to the Tapping Solution app by a physical therapist who thought it might help with some chronic pain I was experiencing. I am a research nerd and did my due diligence to find out what I could about this thing called “Tapping.”
The big news? Research does support the claims that it can help decrease anxiety, insomnia, and even weight loss.
What Is Tapping?
Tapping, also known as EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), is based on a combination of principles from Chinese acupressure and modern psychology. While focusing on a negative emotion, you tap 5-7 times on nine specific meridian points of the body with your fingertips. This is supposed to send a calming signal to your brain. Tapping is purported to help decrease stress and the many negative ways that can impact your body.
There are YouTube videos demonstrating Tapping. There is also an app that has a multitude of meditations that can be used to address different concerns.
Tapping for Stress, Insomnia, & Weight Loss
Much of the research on EFT has looked at the impact it has on stress and anxiety. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease published results from a randomized controlled study that looked at the effect of Tapping on cortisol levels and symptoms of psychological stress; cortisol is often referred to as the stress hormone.
There were 83 subjects who were assigned to one of three groups. The group that received training in Tapping had decreased levels of cortisol and reported decreased anxiety after the intervention. A meta-analysis looked at the data from 14 different studies and the authors concluded that EFT resulted in decreased anxiety scores.
Similarly, a weight-loss study involving 76 participants focused on controlling emotional eating through the use of Tapping. Study subjects lost an average of one pound a week during the six-week program.
A study on insomnia that offered positive results had only ten subjects; however, other studies have shown reducing anxiety can be helpful when trying to combat insomnia.
There are people who may be skeptical of EFT Tapping, but The Tapping Solution’s CEO, Nick Ortner’s experience these people are simply asking for more information.
“It’s not so much that they don’t believe that Tapping works, it’s just that they’d like to see some concrete evidence to prove its efficacy,” he tells Parentology. “Fortunately, there have been numerous peer-reviewed studies in both psychology and medical fields that we can reference to show what exactly happens in the brain and body when tapping on the meridian points that we teach.”
Ortner adds that he has seen amazing changes in the people he’s worked with. “From healing the body to eliminating fears and phobias to relieving the suffering of PTSD symptoms, and much more,” he says. “Tapping is a safe, effective, self-empowering technique that everyone of all ages can learn and apply. Why not give it a try?”
More People Are Trying Tapping
So, has there been an increase in subscriptions to The Tapping Solution since the pandemic began? The answer is a profound, Yes!
“While most people experience stress and anxiety on a regular basis in their day-to-day lives, the pandemic has certainly increased the level of fear and uncertainty around the world,” Ortner says. “We knew many would be looking for a way to get relief from all of these intense emotions, so we reacted quickly to create the Coronavirus Stress & Anxiety Support Collection in The Tapping Solution App.”
Ortner and his team also made the collection available for free. That way anyone, including those new to EFT Tapping, “could experience just how well Tapping can support their emotional health in times of crisis. Since the pandemic began, we’ve seen an increase in app downloads of nearly 100%, with 13% of all tapping sessions being from the Coronavirus Support Collection alone.”
Tapping Solution App Price
Some of the features on the app are free, while others are only available by subscription. To access everything on the app, you can purchase a one-year subscription. It is currently available at a 50% discount for a price of $46.99. The first 14 days are free. If you don’t want to commit to a year, there is a monthly option, with the first seven days free. It is currently 33% off the monthly plan at a cost of $7.99/month.
Tapping Solution App — Sources
Tapping for PEAS: Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) in reducing Presentation Expression Anxiety Syndrome (PEAS) in University students
The Effect of Emotional Freedom Techniques on Stress Biochemistry: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Naturally Thin You: Weight Loss and Psychological Symptoms After a Six-Week Online Clinical EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques) Course
A Preliminary study for the evaluation of the effects of EFT-I (EFT program for insomnia) for insomnia in the elderly
Emotional Freedom Techniques for Anxiety: A Systematic Review With Meta-analysis