What does one look like?

[hypno-therapist]

Hi all,

What 'specifically' is a 'blockage' (as referred to in EFT) and what does one look like?

Thoughts?

[Paddy Landau]

EFT claims to heal blockages in energy flow.

The theory of energy (as espoused by certain practitioners) is that energy runs through your body primarily via meridians.

This flow of energy can be disturbed, reversed, blocked, and of course restored, depending on various factors.

EFT claims that the source of negative emotions is blocked (or sometimes reversed) energy. It claims to restore these flows, thereby leading to a healthier and happier mental and physical state.

Paddy

[hypno-therapist]

[Paddy Landau]

[hypno-therapist]

So is there any evidence that 'energy' and these 'blockages' actually exist?

[Paddy Landau]

Well, the simple and trite answer is that we know energy exists, that the body uses it, and that energy flows through the body in many different directions.

With regard to the specific type of energy that EFT refers to, to my knowledge we have only this:

• There is some evidence of meridians.
  
• There is some anecdotal evidence of so-called subtle energies (some of the anecdotes are quite astonishing).
  
• There is some experimental evidence of these energies, or at least something that seems to be similar.

None of this is empirical or convincing, of course. Whether subtle energies really do exist, whether some of them flow through meridians as noted in acupuncture, and whether it's meaningful to talk about "blocked energy", I could not say.

Paddy

[hypno-therapist]

[Paddy Landau]

I'll point you to Donna Eden's excellent book Energy Medicine. It contains many references in the back, some of which refer to research on meridians.

As I said, this evidence is not conclusive, so take it for what it's worth.

Paddy

[hypno-therapist]

[Paddy Landau]

As you can tell from my postings, this is not an area that I've followed up. I tend to dismiss the stated reasons that those therapies and methods work. (I'll leave it to interested readers to follow up.)

However, I retain an open mind, because some of the things that some people have reported to me (with third-party validation) have left me feeling, as that Bard said, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

Again, it's all anecdotal, so still prone to error. No scientific confirmation as yet.

Paddy

[hypno-therapist]

But you made the point that there was 'evidence' and 'anecdotal evidence'.

Are you now saying that this is not the case? And that there is actually only anecdotal evidence?

What is this anecdotal evidence anyway?

[Paddy Landau]

No, I'm not saying that's the case.

Eden's book is an excellent place to start for both anecdotes and for references to research.

I've had other anecdotes given to me from others, which third parties have confirmed. Naturally, giving those to you is pointless as it doesn't constitute empirical evidence.

I was simply answering your questions about what a "blockage" might be. It doesn't mean that I agree with the definition or even that such a thing exists.

Paddy

[hypno-therapist]

OK...

I guess that if you are not open to share the evidence that Eden presents then I will just have to happen on the info next time I am in the vicinity of her book.

Shame really... This could have been an interesting topic to discuss in full.

I have had a lot of discussions with people that claim 'evidence' but then back down when I ask them to bring it into the open. This closes open debates as we keep the 'evidence' off the table.

Of course, I am not implying that this is what you are doing.

[Paddy Landau]