Tapping for back pain refers to the use of EFT or Emotional Freedom Techniques as a form of pain management.
I am pleased to bring you an exclusive interview with Nicolas Ortner, the creator and producer of the film Try It On Everything. The film details using EFT (also known as tapping or Emotional Freedom Techniques) as a treatment for a variety of physical and emotional problems experienced by real people.
Nick was kind enough to send me a copy of the film and companion book for review, as well as answer a few pertinent questions about his work with tapping. Without further delay, let’s look at how tapping might be a valuable practice for some back pain patients to integrate into the treatment program.
Tapping for Back Pain Interview
Q: How do you describe “Tapping”?
A: Tapping is a combination of Ancient Chinese Acupressure and Modern Psychology. What we do is we “tap” on meridian point on the body, while saying certain statements. What we’re looking to do is to clear out blockages in the energy system, much like acupuncture and acupressure does, but without any needles!
Q: Could you tell me a bit about your background and how you got involved with Tapping? What do you do for a living and how is Tapping important to you?
A: I was in unrelated field before, real estate and web site design, but would also spend time researching ways to heal the body naturally. I found out about tapping through an internet search, and was so astounded by the case studies I saw, that I had to try it myself. Once I did, I was hooked. I spent a few years training in it, working with friends and family and learning more about how the process works.
Q: How did you get the idea to make a film about tapping? How did you select the participants in the film, both care providers and “patients”? Anything else you would like to tell us about your film?
A: I got the inspiration to make the film during day 5 of a green juice fast! I was so passionate about the process, that I knew I had to document it.
We received hundreds of applications and looked for people who were willing to change and put the effort in. What’s exciting to me about the film, is that it shows REAL people with REAL results. This isn’t some theory, you can see the changes happening before your eyes.
Q: Can you give us one or more examples of the most effective tapping results that you have ever witnessed?
A: In the film, we document some incredible results with pain relief. John, a Vietnam veteran with 30 years of chronic back pain, who had several unsuccessful surgeries, uses tapping to clear emotional and physical blocks in his back, and wakes up on the 2nd day of the event, pain free! A year and a half later, he remains pain free, with no medications!
Patricia, who fractured her L1 vertebrae and has steel rods in her back, felt an incredible amount of pain and discomfort, from the injury and the rods. After doing tapping on the injury, and on the disruption that the rods were creating in her body, she is now also pain free!
Q: Does tapping work for everybody or is it dependent upon individual factors? If so, what will make tapping more effective and what will diminish its effectiveness?
A: One important factor is you actually have to do the tapping! Some people get incredible results, what we call one minute miracles, and tap away the pain very quickly. Others take more time and commitment to clearing all the issues, physical and emotional.
Q: In your opinion, is most chronic pain physically induced, emotionally induced or a combination of the 2?
A: I think we’re finding that the two are so closely related, it’s hard to say it’s one or the other! Stress is an enormous factor in physical challenges, and when we clear the stress in our bodies and in our lives, incredible changes take place!
Q: In relation to chronic pain, how does tapping help to provide relief?
A: Many people use tapping to clear the pain altogether, and not feel it ever again. But if that’s not the case, people at the very least see tremendous reduction in their pain. Sounds crazy, but it only takes a few minutes to try and feel the difference!
Q: What are the advantages of using a trained tapping provider, as opposed to self treatment? Any disadvantages?
A: With any deep emotional issues, it’s always best to work with a trained practitioner, but to just experience it initially, learn the basics and try it yourself.
Q: How do you feel about mind/body medicine in general? Do you think the medical community is on the right track in their treatment of chronic pain as a set of structural symptoms or do you feel they have missed the mark?
A: Unfortunately, I think they’ve missed the mark. I’ve yet to see a pain killer pill that actually “kills” the pain, i.e. long lasting results. The reality is they are pain delaying pills, because once you stop taking them, the pain comes back. We’re looking for long term pain relief with tapping and we’re seeing it happen!
Q: Are there any final thoughts you would like to share with us about tapping and anything on else your mind?
A: Just give it a shot! It’s easy to learn the basics and spend a few minutes to feel the difference in your body. You can then decide if it’s for you or not.
Tapping for Back Pain Conclusion
Thanks to Nick Ortner for taking the time to answer these questions for us.
For more information on tapping and Emotional Freedom Techniques, please read our page detailing EFT for Back Pain.
