Once again, by way of Mercola.com, I’ve learned of a whole new woo. He touts this one for the treatment of fibromyalgia. According to Joe:
EFT is a procedure that borrows from the much-heralded discoveries of Albert Einstein (everything, including your body, is composed of energy) AND from the ancient wisdom of Chinese acupuncture.
Of course I had to follow that link. Anyone who can explain Einstein’s work in this way must be some sort of wacko or some sort of idiot, or possibly both. (Of course, what does that say about the person who would repeat it on his website)…
So what is this wonderful panacea that combines the discoveries of Einstein and acupuncture? First, let’s just look at Mercola’s crimes against language. “Heralded” usually means “announced beforehand”, and I don’t think anyone sent out fliers before Einstein’s first papers. Next, we have the problem with “everything is composed of energy”. Now, IANAP (I am not a physicist), but matter and energy, while related, are not the same thing!
Anyway, back to EFT, which stands for “Emotional Freedom Techniques”. What does that mean? Nothing, although it is eerily similar to “electronic funds transfer”, which is certainly to show up somewhere on the website.
What is EFT?
EFT is based on a new discovery that has provided thousands with relief from pain, diseases and emotional issues.
Really? I read a number of journals and I’ve never heard of it.
Simply stated, it is an emotional version of acupuncture except needles aren’t necessary. Instead, you stimulate well established energy meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. The process is easy to memorize and is portable so you can do it anywhere.
So, it’s like acupuncture, but you don’t actually puncture anything. And it’s portable, assuming your fingers are still attached.
It launches off the EFT Discovery Statement which says…
“The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body’s energy system.”
And because our physical pains and diseases are so obviously connected with our emotions the following statement has also proven to be true…
“Our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases.”
The fact that these assertions are unfounded, and that the conclusions don’t follow doesn’t seem to bother this guy. He’s still lookin’ for that EFT.
This common sense approach draws its power from (1) time-honored Eastern discoveries that have been around for over 5,000 yearsAlbert Einstein, who told us back in the 1920’s that everything (including our bodies) is composed of energy. These ideas have been largely ignored by Western Healing Practices and that is why EFT often works where nothing else will. As you will clearly see, conventional healing methods have overlooked the obvious.
Any time someone says “common sense”, get ready to run. Common sense sounds good, but therapies must be proven to work. Sounding good isn’t proof. Next is the appeal to pre-literate medical practices…nice. Then the massive misinterpretation and misuse of the name of Einstein. Finally, the appeal to the great conspiracy to ignore the obvious good of the EFT—to his wallet!
As is usual for woo, “You can also use it for everything from the common cold to cancer.” Wow!
And how big will be the EFT to this guy’s account? Try about $600.00 for the entire course on DVD.
Shameless.
February 5, 2008 at 8:44 pm
His last statement isn’t that far off the mark.
“EFT often works where nothing…will [work].”
If nothing will work, then EFT might work too. That is probably a true statement. Of course nothing doesn’t have a $600 price tag.
Like Barmaid’s agreement with the statement:
“Nothing works like prayer”.
http://www.jesusandmo.net/2008/01/29/cure/
I actually have a low NO explanation of fibromyalgia. It fits with my discussion of Morgellon’s which is still in process (at 13 pages and 51 references so far). Essentially low NO increases the “gain” on somatic pain so that you start to feel pain from injuries that are not there, sort of like phantom limb pain.
February 6, 2008 at 12:49 pm
There is this korean martial art/yoga called dahn yoga, and it uses something like EFT in its teachings and practices.
Went to class for it on my honeymoon…worst $50 I think we spent on the whole trip. Turns out its critics and some former and ex-members call it a cult.
February 6, 2008 at 11:05 pm
It seems to be a cult.. they want alot of money and tend to gang-up on you if you wish to end your membership(based on a conversation with an ex-member)
February 8, 2008 at 2:31 am
EFT reminds me of the Scientology healings of touch assists and nerve assists. I would not be surprised if the inventors of EFT had connections with this cult somewhere in their lives.