EFT ? Emotional Freedom Techniques - is a new alternative form of treatment that its founder Gary Craig, states can allow you to restore the natural balance of your body by tapping a series of stress relief points on the body. This is derived from the theory that stressful situations can give rise to negative emotions, and these in turn, will lead to imbalances in the body's energy system. Emotional Freedom Techniques use the energy meridians in the body, which are the same energy channels used in traditional Chinese medicine and Aryuvedic medicine.

Doctors, psychologists and other EFT practitioners advise that the therapy be done with a licensed practitioner, especially if one is dealing with serious emotional and psychological issues, and in order to get the most out of the therapy. A very easy sequence of steps was devised by Gary Craig which can be applied to almost all stressful situations to restore the body to its natural balance.

The first step involves identifying the specific problem, pain, or anxiety that you have. Working with a trained EFT practitioner can help you do this, especially if you do not know how to explain or articulate a specific emotional or physical issue. A qualified practitioner can effectively guide you through the whole process so that you can safely identify the root problem and the effects. With this done, you can now make use of the setup statement, a form of affirmation that involves expressing your love for yourself and acknowledgement of self-worth despite the presence of the anxiety or the problem. Even if one is not fully convinced of the reality of the statement or even skeptical of it, practitioners emphasize this doesn't matter. As soon as a suitable affirmation is identified one can now start tapping the various parts of the body using the fingertips in a prescribed sequence, usually starting form the top of the head and ending with the tapping of the underside portion of the arm. You can tap each point five to seven times or more. This basic procedure is usually enough to provide relief but you can perform a longer version for greater effectiveness.

EFT can bring relief for a variety of ills and ailments including anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, stress, addiction, the common cold, multiple sclerosis, and even cancer. Encouraging studies have been published in psychology journals which showed the effectiveness of EFT. The first study was done in 2003 and published in the Journal of Clinical Psychology , while the second study, was published in The Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice. The third study was published in the Counseling and Clinical Psychology in 2005.

As with all forms of alternative therapies, EFT has its proponents and its share of critics.

Those looking for an instant or miracle cure should look away now. EFT is the new therapy on the block. However, new doesn't always mean bad. The basic materials are freely available for you to try the procedure at home before working with an experienced Practitioner to reclaim your full emotional health.