By Christine Wheeler, MA

Are you one of the 71.3 million Americans who currently has some form of cardiovascular disease? If so, a new version of acupressure may bring important improvement in six of the important risk factors. It is called Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) and has proven successful in clinical cases for over 10 years. Its use is now increasing worldwide by patients and members of the healing profession.

EFT is a simple do-it-yourself acupressure system that targets specific emotional and physical ailments. While focusing your thoughts on the issues, you stimulate various acupressure points by tapping on them with your fingertips. 

This serves to balance yor energy meridian system, or chi, and neutralizes unresolved emotional issues and traumas. In turn, symptoms like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and stress dissipate, reducing your risk of heart disease. It is a very relaxing process and has dramatically shortened the typical therapy process from months or years down to minutes or days.

Six Major Risk Factors for Heart Disease and How EFT is Used to Combat Them

1. Smoking

Smokers are two to four times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers. So extinguishing cigarettes permanently is at the top of the To-Do List for any smoker who is concerned about heart health. 

EFT consistently provides relief to people with addictive cravings including cigarettes. With persistent and correct application of EFT, most people can expect a 70 percent reduction in their immediate cigarette cravings. 

When you address the underlying emotional drivers associated with smoking, like anger, guilt, fear and anxiety, you are likely to have a higher success rate. You may even give up cigarettes completely.

2. High Cholesterol

High LDL and low HDL cholesterol are associated with an increased risk for heart disease, especially when accompanied by another risk factor. If modifying diet and exercise fail to normalize cholesterol, many patients are prescribed medication. 

More than 30 million prescriptions for cholesterol-lowering drugs are prescribed each year as people struggle to overcome this significant health challenge. 

EFT users have lowered LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increased HDL cholesterol levels without drugs.

3. High Blood Pressure

The National Institutes of Health states that "high blood pressure is a condition that most people have at some point in their lives." Elevated blood pressure places more strain on the heart and puts your health at risk.

EFT's results for blood pressure problems are often astonishing. This is true for both high blood pressure and low blood pressure. In most cases, blood pressure improves within a few minutes of applying EFT. Also, repeated applications of EFT often eliminate the problem for the long term.

4. Physical Inactivity

Physically inactive adults are at higher risk for developing heart disease. While even moderate activity is helpful in reducing risk, some people remain resistant to increasing their exercise levels.

EFT is an effective personal performance tool. Many athletes use EFT to enhance sports performance; even increase their golf scores. Apply EFT to increase your personal motivation to exercise; whether you don't "feel like" exercising, or don't believe you have the skills. By using EFT, you may also minimize your exercise-related discomfort, aches, pains or muscle cramps.

5. Overweight/obesity

People with excess body fat are at higher risk for developing heart disease even if no other risk factors are present. With nearly 67 percent of Americans being overweight or obese, this problem is reaching epidemic proportions. But changing your diet and losing weight may be one of the most challenging aspects of changing your lifestyle in favor of your heart's health because most people overeat for emotional reasons.

One of EFT's most common applications is in targeting the issues associated with emotional overeating. Most people would agree that there are times when you eat in order to soothe yourself, to tranquilize your feelings of boredom, loneliness, anger, anxiety or guilt. Using EFT enables you to eat for nutrition, rather than to tranquilize emotions.

6. Stress

Elevated stress levels are consistently linked to a growing number of serious health issues, including heart disease. Stress may also contribute to risk factors in that people may overeat or smoke in response to stress. While meditation, relaxation exercises, deep breathing or anti-anxiety medication may help people cope with stress, these techniques do not address the cause of stress. 

EFT, however, is one of the only techniques available that addresses this true cause. The EFT approach to stress management targets a person's disrupted energy meridian system as the real driver behind heightened stress levels. This simple technique balances the energy and eliminates the body and mind's stress response.

"We are not advocating the use of EFT instead of following a healthy diet and lifestyle," says Gary Craig, founder of EFT. "EFT cannot be expected to continually neutralize the effects of high stress situations or a poor diet but it is a complement to any positive health regime. 

When people are faced with the challenge of making significant lifestyle changes, EFT is a versatile support tool that anybody can use. We receive reports from people all over the world who are using EFT as a tool to remove the emotional blocks that impair their ability to make positive health choices. 

For example, if someone is stuck in an emotional eating behavior, it will be difficult for them to change their diet. EFT consistently helps people combat food cravings and focus on positive health goals like increasing exercise."

EFT belongs front and center on the healing stage. Even though it is only one of numerous approaches to good health, its clinical results have been astonishing to even the most casual observer. Further, it involves no drugs, surgery, or any other methods that might be invasive to the body. For these reasons it would seem prudent that EFT be applied, in most cases, BEFORE more drastic measures are taken.

While a complete description of EFT is beyond the scope of this article, you can learn all the basics from the free EFT Get Started Package on the EFT Web site. This includes a free download of the 79-page EFT Manual. Those wishing to save time and dive right in can get the affordable five-star training DVDs.

More on EFT

Please note that in addition to helping reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, EFT has been a consistently effective healing tool for hundreds of other physical, mental and emotional ailments. For more information, you can explore the EFT Web site and its numerous success stories regarding fears, phobias, emotional traumas and physical ailments.

Please consult qualified health professionals before putting EFT into practice for yourself or others. 

Christine Wheeler is an EFT Practitioner, and freelance natural health writer. Christine and Dr. Carolyn Dean co-authored IBS for Dummies (Wiley Publishing) where they present EFT as one of the natural treatments options for people with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.