When most people think of their genes, the notion a set of blueprints come to mind. When it comes to how our genes affect us, we often think of the color of our eyes, our height, our hair color, etc. A sense of fixed outcomes often comes to mind depending on the genetic dice that our parents rolled. But only about 15% of our genetic make-up is coded for such fixed traits, the rest of our genetic material responds to changes in our environment that help us to code for and respond to the circumstances in our life, especially if they are urgent.
If we smell smoke in the house, we immediately initiate a fight or flight stress response which sends a signal to our immediate response genes to make proteins and chemicals which enable us to respond to such an urgent threat. Yes, believe it or not, our genes are involved in such moment to moment responses.
An appropriate response to a threat to our survival is critical, but often, depending on our past traumatic experiences, we can over-react, sometimes triggered by a sound, like the whir of a siren. For the average person a siren is just that, a distant sound in our streets, but to someone whose home burnt down as a child, an entirely different reaction occurs.
One way that is being shown to be able to effect and possibly modulate our genetic expression is something called EFT, aka the Emotional Freedom Technique or Tapping. It is categorized as a type of Energy Psychology that now has over 22 randomized controlled trials and 3 meta-analyses published on its effectiveness for a host of conditions ranging from anxiety, depression, PTSD, phobias and more.
A new study recently performed by Maharaj Ph.D. at Akamai University was published in the peer reviewed journal, Energy Psychology Theory, Research and Treatment. It documents altered gene expression after a single, ess than one hour session of EFT tapping therapy.
In a nutshell, 4 individuals were given a 50 minute session of EFT. There full mRNA (micro RNA) 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 expressed differently immediately after EFT and 25 continued to show 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 categorically state that EFT effects and improves all these functions, this study is a first step in exploring that possibility.
To simplify the idea of epigenetics, here is an accurate but easy to digest explanation. Every person has a set of genes acquired from their birth parents. These genes, and our entire genome (our full genetic library), is like a set of blueprints that determines everything from the color of our eyes to the day to day creation of proteins that are involved in every aspect of our physiology, including the making of our hormones, digestive enzymes, our immune cells and much more. But as anyone that has ever designed or remodeled a home knows, the blueprints and the final outcome can differ significantly depending on the observations of both the home owner and the contractor that occurs during the building (or life) process.
The expression of many of our genes are continually in flux depending on what is needed by us, (or perceived to be needed) at any moment. If it is determined that more proteins need to be made, then they are turned up (up-regulated) or they may be dialed down (down-regulated).
As an example, inflammation or stress hormone (i.e. adrenaline or cortisol) genes may be up-regulated when the body feels it’s under attack. When our body goes into fight or flight, it turns on its stress response, signaling the HPA (hypothalamo-pituatary-adrenal) axis to go into high gear which turns on the immediate increased production of stress hormones to ready the body to prepare for survival mode against some eternal threat.
What is important to understand is that when we say that our genes are affected by our environment, the environment lies both outside our bodies (i.e. outside forces whether it be the air, water, electromagnetic fields around our homes) as well as that which is in our body but external to the genes themselves
When a person experiences an event that has a history of pain or trauma, those thoughts and feelings that are associated with that event can be triggered by a variety of stimuli.The fields of neuroscience and psychology have demonstrated that when we have lived through adverse or traumatic experiences, then our physiology is more likely to be triggered by events which evoke similar thoughts and feelings These VAKOGS stimuli (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 as a process is shown to reduce our ability to get emotionally hijacked AND induce epigenetic changes that can stimulate neural repair, increase immune response, improve memory and learning, well then we have an impressive explanation for why EFT has shown such strong effects in a wide variety of conditions.
For more specific details, including both possibilities for further study and study weaknesses, LINK HERE to read the study abstract and “Craig’s Comments”.
For more information on EFT and Matrix Reimprinting trainings or for personal consultations go to www.EFTtappingtraining.com or email craig@efttappingtraining.com