The first step in using EFT is defining the emotional problem you want to work on during the particular session. Let’s say you have a headache and you want to ease the pain by the use of EFT. The statement you would use while tapping would be: “Even though I have this headache, I completely love and accept myself.”

The next step in the EFT procedure is to find the “Karate Chop Point”, which is located on the side of your hand underneath the little finger (the fleshy part below the lowest finger joint). You need to firmly and continuously tap this point while repeating the statement “Even though I have this headache, I completely love and accept myself.” three times.

The EFT Tapping Points in Sequence

The following step requires that you repeat the words “this headache” while you follow the EFT tapping sequence, by tapping on each of the following points seven times.
•    The top of the head
•    The inner eyebrow
•    The outer eye (basically on the edge of the eye socket bone)
•    Under the eye
•    Under the nose
•    Under the mouth (upper chin area)
•    On the collar bone
•    On the “sore spot” (this spot is about two inches down and two inches towards the armpit from the collar bone, you may have to tap around a bit until you find it, but it usually feels somewhat painful when you poke it)
•    Under the nipple (around about the top of the rib cage)
•    Under the arm (a few inches below the armpit)
•    The side of the thumb (near the nail)
•    The side of the index finger
•    The side of the middle finger
•    The side of the little finger
•    On the 9 gamut point (the fleshy bit between the bottom joints of the ring finger and the little finger)

After you have gone through the sequence once, analyze how the emotion feels (in this case, the headache), has the intensity decreased? How does it feel on a scale of 1 to 10? If you need to, repeat the sequence again and see if the result changes.

How Does It Work?
In performing the EFT tapping points sequence as described, the energy meridians of the body realign themselves into the correct state. The repetition of the chosen statement helps break the connection between the emotion (or pain in this case) and the energy meridians, freeing the body of the physical or emotional problem described.

This method can be used for any such physical, emotional or mental problem. When EFT doesn’t seem to work, it could be because the root cause of the problem isn’t being addressed. For example, a headache could be the result of another form of stress which needs to be addressed first.

The EFT “karate chop point” is the entry point for most tapping routines. In other words this area is often tapped at the beginning of any EFT session to release initial emotional tension and to clear the mind and energy for further tapping.

Find this point along the outer, meaty portion of either hand. The entire area is sensitive to tapping, and individual tappers will find the pinpoints that are most effective for them within this region.

EFT Karate Chop Point

How does this actually work? I don’t have a nuts and bolts answer for you.

But I can tell you that after doing some light exercise or meditation you can simply use two fingers to tap into this area for 60 seconds or so and you’ll quickly feel the tension and “heavy” energy leaving your awareness. Any time you are angry, sad, feeling stagnant, or in any other way upset, you can tap this area while clearing your mind or relaxing into some deep breathing.

Most EFT teachers will give you an opening affirmation to state while you tap this area at the beginning of a tapping session. You can state these affirmations aloud or say them silently; in fact you can and should experiment between stating aloud with eyes open and saying silently with eyes closed, etc.

My favorite affirmations to combine with the tapping of this area are:

I deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself.

Or you can get more specific and address the problem you want to relieve:

Even though I’m really angry about this traffic ticket right now, I deeply and completely love, accept, and forgive myself.

In times of really intense emotion, it helps to just “vent” while you tap for one or two minutes:

Oh I am sooo pissed off right now. Those *bleeeeeep* people have no right to treat me like this!!! (while tapping away)

While this technique is often taught as the way to lead into a full tapping of multiple points, understand that you can use the karate chop point exercise as a stand-alone self therapy. It’s a great way to channel anger, depression, and other negative feelings out of your body and completely release toxicity and negativity from your awareness.

Give it a try and see for yourself.

And while few EFT teachers relay this fact, I want you to understand you can use this tapping point to ground yourself after a long meditation or to clear your energy after an intense workout as well. So don’t limit this practice only to releasing negativity; use it as a means to drive clarity and empowerment as well!

For more information (oh so much more!) on using EFT to accomplish an incredibly wide range of goals, please check out the Tapping Yourself Free e-book.