Just wanted to say how interesting it was to hear the comments on EFT. Especially Jason’s as my feelings and experience have been quite similar to both of yours. I had initially dismissed EFT as yet another pie-in-the-sky sort of faddish alternative treatment that requires no training and expertise from the therapist. I suppose it insults my ego’s need to be considered ‘professional’ as a massage therapist in the UK where telling people what I do usually results in a nudge, nudge, wink wink sort of reaction. But on the recommendation of a fellow therapist, who gave me the CD’s showing how to use it, I gave it a trial.
At first I thought the affirmation was the key to providing a useful treatment, but I have found that phrases like “even though my knee is hurting” work. One patient called me the next day after I had taught her the sequence to say how miraculous it was that her arthritic knee was completely painfree for the first time in years. Anecdotal evidence is mainly what you find on the emofree site, and I didn’t believe it until I tried it on others.
Now as I start my second year in my acupuncture degree, perhaps I will revisit the points used and the directional influences to understand it better in light of TCM (sadly my course is not classical – in fact I’m slightly outraged that none of the classic texts have been mentioned in one year of classes!) And in the EFT CD’s I watched there was only reference to the ‘points’ not acupoints or acupuncture points, but these Cd’s were a few years old three years ago.

Many (most) practitioners do not have the education you are getting in herbs (either because of school curriculum or lack of interest) and I see many people in my local area who send herbs based on the short information they glean from the herbal books they get from these manufacturers.

You MUST know how I will respond to this. :) I, personally, make no attempt to improve on perfection. As you study classical formulas, you will find such tight structure, such elegant architecture, that you can’t imagine altering it for any reason. Now, it is possible to do modifications in line with classical principles, on a case-by-case basis for a particular patient with a particular pulse and symptom picture. But as a beginning herbalist (as I will always be) I would be highly unlikely to use a modification without first using the original formula (unless we’re talking about an original modification – as present in the SHL/JG).

Why? Because how on Earth can I tell whether the modification had the effect or if it was the classical formula. Thereafter, I would be paranoid to try the classical formula on its own, being unsure of the source of the positive affect. Likewise in a negative situation – was it the original formula, or my modification?

Starting simply with the variety of Classical formulas and their original modifications gives me a stable base on which to stand, and eventually, a stable base from which to spread my wings.

In my opinion, this is the most responsible way to proceed. I just can’t understand people who do otherwise. The only exception being if you have received authentic transmission from a teacher who uses some modification or some non-classical formula and your respect for the teacher and your observation of their clinical results compels you to use their prescriptions.

Eric

As a classical herbalist, how do you feel about these companies that modify these formulas and make claims about how they are “better” and more balanced than the classics?

Eric

My experience at massage school exposed me to a lot of New Age thinking and techniques, and my initial reaction was exactly the same as yours, Eric – standoffishness, or perhaps even more honestly, flat out contempt and dismissal.

Because it does seem like a lot of it wants to find the easy, fluffy way out of existential challenges. But what I recognize is that this reaction comes out of a place of ego, superiority and aversion (and this speaks to your post about Buddhism and boredom in certain classes) and does not serve me. It only closes me off to learning something that could potentially prove useful.

One of my other lessons has been to realize that I am strongly identified with my reason, and someone who demands rigorous explanation and coherent systems. This has also been a disservice to the extent that it has made it very difficult to listen to my intuition. In that respect I’ve come a long way.

So in allowing myself the humility to see what EFT can do without prejudging, I have come to value it as an easy, quick and frequently effective tool for addressing anxiety issues. Its relation to Chinese medicine is dubious, but I believe what makes EFT really effective is the discovery of “setup phrases” that strike the appropriate emotional truth/chord, an affirmation of unconditional self-acceptance, and the intention of release (whether this is assisted or not by the specific points tapped I cannot say). The most effective examples of this seem to utilize neuro-linguistic programming, or just using intuition to find the right words. The proof and validation of EFT comes in witnessing someone acknowledging something important and being able to release it.

In regards to its use with affirmations, EFT helps to identify and clear out subconscious, self-sabotaging “tail-enders” that prevent you from fully believing your affirmation. Once the tail-enders are cleared, the affirmation may do its work. Just the practice of becoming aware of the voices in your head that say “no, I don’t really believe that” when stating an affirmation can be profoundly illuminating and encourages a lot of self-honesty.

My willingness to use EFT and experiment with it have not flipped off my critical faculties; I merely suspended them until I gave it a fair trial. I will say it seems far less effective for physical issues (unless it is very closely related to the emotional issue), and it’s hazy theories do not satisfy my methodical thinking. Also, its promise of quick and immediate emotional freedom seems to encourage most people’s aversion to the hard work of self-cultivation. For all these reasons and more is why I’m pulled to study Chinese medicine :)

I think that outta do it for my ramble.