By Craig Weiner, DC, EFT TRN-3
What would you say if I told you that research is showing EFT is affecting what your genes are directing your brain and body to do as you are tapping and even after you stop tapping? That would be incredibly exciting, wouldn’t it? Well guess what…
A new study recently performed by Maharaj at Akamai University and published in the peer-reviewed journal Energy Psychology: Theory, Research, and Treatment documented altered gene expression immediately after an EFT session.
In a nutshell, four individuals were given a 50-minute session of EFT. Their full mRNA genome was measured by a new method of saliva testing and performed immediately before, immediately after, four hours after, and 24 hours after the tapping. Results showed 72 genes to be expressing differently immediately after EFT and 25 continued to be showing altered expression 24 hours later. Here is just a sampling of the epigenetically altered gene functions:
- – Inflammation and immune response (i.e., anti-viral activity)
- – Regulation of stress response
- – Tumor suppression
- – Enhancement of synaptic connectivity
- – Male fertility
- – UV damage prevention
- – Insulin regulation
While it would be inappropriate to state categorically that EFT affects and improves all these functions, this study is a first step in that direction.
To simplify the idea of epigenetics, here is an accurate but easy to digest explanation. Every person has a set of genes acquired from one’s birth parents. These genes and our entire genome (our full genetic library) are like a set of blueprints that determine everything from the color of our eyes and hair to the day-to-day creation of proteins involved in every aspect of our physiology, from hormones and digestive enzymes to our immune cells and much more. But as anyone that has every designed or remodeled a home knows, the blueprints and the final outcome can differ significantly depending on the perception that occurs during the building (or life) process.
The expression of many of our genes is continually in flux depending on what is needed by us (or perceived to be needed) at any moment. If it is determined that our genes need to make more proteins, then they are turned up (upregulated) or they may be dialed down (downregulated).
For example, inflammation genes or immune support or stress hormone (i.e., adrenaline or cortisol) genes may be upregulated when the body feels it is under attack. When the body goes into fight or flight, it turns on its stress response, signaling the HPA axis to go into high gear, which increases production of stress hormones to ready the body to prepare for survival mode against some external threat.
What is important to understand is that when we say that our genes our affected by our environment, the environment lies both outside our bodies (i.e., outside forces such as air, water, electromagnetic fields around our homes) and within our bodies, that which is external to the genes in our cells (i.e., the hormones coursing through our bodies, which are affected by the thoughts and emotions we experience).
The fields of neuroscience and psychology have demonstrated that when we have lived through adverse or traumatic experiences, our physiology is more likely to be triggered by events that evoke similar thoughts and feelings associated with that event. These triggering circumstances, which can be evoked by VAKOGS (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory, gustatory, and “self-talk” stimuli), are more likely to set off a fight-or-flight stress response (HPA axis), kicking our genetic protein production lines into gear.
So if EFT is shown to reduce our ability to get emotionally hijacked AND induce epigenetic changes that stimulate neural repair, increase immune response, and improve memory and learning, well then we have an impressive explanation for why EFT is such a powerful healing methodology, with objective science to support its effects.
For more specific details, including both possibilities for further study and study weaknesses, click here to read the study abstract and “Craig’s Comments.”
