Tapas Acupressure Technique
| Alternative medicine | |
|---|---|
| Claims | Applying pressure to meridian points on the body, derived from acupuncture, can release energy blockages that cause negative emotions. |
| Related fields | acupuncture, acupressure |
| Year proposed | 1993 |
| Original proponents | Tapas Fleming |
| See also | Thought Field Therapy, Emotional Freedom Techniques |
Tapas Acupressure Technique (or TAT) is an
putative energy for which no scientific basis has been found and no biophysical means of action determined.[1][2] TAT shows many characteristics consistent with pseudoscience.[2]
History
Invented in 1993 by Tapas Fleming, the underlying idea claims that unresolved emotional trauma leads to a blockage of the natural flow of
putative energy. Practitioners of TAT claim that self application of light pressure to four areas of the head (inner corner of both eyes, one-half-inch above the space between the eyebrows, and the back of head) while placing attention on a series of verbal steps releases this blockage and allows for healing.[citation needed
] TAT was originally intended to be an allergy elimination protocol, but the emphasis switched to emotional trauma.
Scientific evaluation
No scientifically plausible method of action is proposed for Tapas Acupressure Technique, instead relying on unvalidated
placebo effect or cognitive dissonance. A 2009 review identified "methodological flaws" in research that had reported "small successes" for TAT and a related "energy psychology" therapy (Emotional Freedom Techniques) "are potentially attributable to well-known cognitive and behavioral techniques that are included with the energy manipulation." The report concluded that "Psychologists and researchers should be wary of using such techniques, and make efforts to inform the public about the ill effects of therapies that advertise miraculous claims."[4]
See also
References
- ^ The 'National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (October 13, 2006). "Energy Medicine Overview".
- ^ S2CID 208627667.
- ^ AR Pratkins. "How to sell a pseudoscience". Archived from the original on 2006-12-11.
- PMID 22122622.