I was on a very personal mission when I started researching this self-developed hypothesis — simply because migraine has run in my family for generations and impacted me in my teens and twenties more than I care to remember.

As dramatic as it sounds, when that first streak of lightning blurred my vision, I knew my day was done for, and it was.

What followed was agonising headache, nausea, body parts going temporarily numb, speech issues, even nosebleeds.

I would spend hours in a dark room, doing my best to stay completely still — trying to ride it out in silence.

After years of trying conventional treatments with limited success, I became curious about holistic approaches, especially those focusing on the mind-body connection.

EFT stood out because of its emphasis on reducing stress and emotional triggers — both of which are known contributors to migraines.

To be clear: I never used EFT in the middle of an attack. When you’re in the thick of it, you can barely move, let alone tap on acupressure points.

But what I did do was consistently practice EFT to regulate my nervous system over time — and eventually, my migraines became far less frequent and more manageable. That’s when I started to wonder: could there be research to back up what I was experiencing?

The Science Behind EFT and Migraine Relief

EFT, or “tapping,” is a mind-body practice that involves gently tapping on meridian points while focusing on emotions or physical discomfort. Since stress and anxiety are well-established migraine triggers, EFT is being explored as a supportive tool for those living with migraine.

Here are a few studies that stood out:

• Church & Brooks (2010) conducted a randomized controlled trial on EFT for general pain and found that EFT led to significant reductions in pain intensity. While not migraine-specific, the results are promising for pain-related conditions.
  
• Stapleton, Chatwin & Goss (2020) found that EFT significantly reduced anxiety and stress — both key migraine triggers.
  
• Research by Dawson Church (2018) showed that EFT can reduce cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone, which is linked to better nervous system regulation and lower inflammation.

So while EFT is not a cure for migraines, research does suggest it can reduce the frequency and severity of episodes — especially when stress and emotional tension play a role.

Final Thoughts

While EFT isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution, both emerging research and personal experiences suggest it can be a powerful complementary support for migraine management.

For me, EFT played a major role in reducing the frequency and intensity of my migraines over time — and it did so by supporting my nervous system, shifting emotional patterns, and calming the inner storm before it escalated.

Realising that something so simple could support my well-being in such a deep and lasting way genuinely changed how I care for myself.

If you’re curious, I’d be more than happy to talk more about it. You don’t have to navigate it alone — and there may be tools that surprise you with how much they help.

_{This blog post reflects my personal experience and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional for diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.}