Amazing Benefits Of Amla (Goose berry) Juice For Skin, Hair, And Health

Amla aka goose berry juice is synonymous with "the magic potion" & "the juice of immortality", since time immemorial.



Its immense benefits simply cannot be ignored. Amla juice enhances the beauty of your skin and helps maintain proper body functions, increases immunity and strength of bones and aids weight loss.

This is not it. By the time you finish reading this article, you will be amazed by the host of benefits this humble fruit has to offer.

Scientific Name – Phyllanthus emblica

Family – Euphorbiaceae

Other Names – Amla (Hindi), Usiri Kaya (Telugu), Nellikkai (Tamil), Nelli (Malayalam), Avala (Marathi), and Amala (Bengali)

The Indian gooseberry, popularly referred to as amla, is known for its nutritional benefits. In India, this sour fruit, usually grown in the wet hilly areas in autumn, is used for many purposes — ranging from making pickles, chutneys, jams, and murabba to making a healthy juice out of it.

What makes amla juice so unique?

Amla juice is a healthy drink as it is a storehouse of vitamin C and other nutrients like iron, which provide an array of health and beauty benefits.

Now that you have a fair idea of the fruit, here’s a peek into the many benefits of the juice.

Amazing Ways In Which Amla Juice Can Help You

Health Benefits

Relieves Asthma And Bronchitis
Burns Fat
Relieves Constipation And Piles
Treats Gastric Disorders
Is A Blood Purifier
Can Improve Eyesight
Beneficial For The Heart
Controls Diabetes
Cooling Agent
Soothes Inflammation
Enhances Oral Health
Treatment Of Insomnia
Prevents Cancer
Improves Bone Health
Soothes Menstrual Cramps
Treats Infections
Is A Powerful Antioxidant

Skin Benefits

Lightens Complexion
Anti-aging Benefits
Treats Pigmentation
Tones And Tightens Skin
Treatment Of Acne And Pimple Scars
Exfoliates And Cleanses Skin
Exfoliates And Cleanses Skin

Hair Benefits

Strengthens Hair
Prevents Premature Graying
Treats Dandruff
Improves Pigmentation
Conditions Hair
Scalp Cleanser
Prevents Hair Problems

Health Benefits Of Amla Juice

Wondering why many people are replacing their morning coffee with a glass of amla juice? Well, after you are done reading its benefits, you are sure to realize the miracle that amla juice is.

Here’s why you should add amla juice to your diet.


1. Relieves Asthma And Bronchitis

If the weather wreaks havoc on your health, amla juice can be your savior.


Drinking a concoction of amla juice and honey twice a day can ease asthma and bronchitis complications. It also reduces the incidence of a chronic cough, allergic asthma, and tuberculosis.

2. Burns Fat

Want to lose those love handles before your best friend’s wedding? All you need to do is to have a glass of amla juice on a daily basis.


Amla juice can fight obesity by enhacing protein synthesis, which in turn helps burn unwanted fat. It has the ability to create a positive nitrogen balance and reduce cholesterol levels, thus minimizing the risk of heart attacks.



3. Relieves Constipation And Piles

Wondering how amla juice can affect your digestive tract?

This miraculous drink does wonders for your stomach. It can relieve many stomach-related disorders such as constipation caused by piles. It also regulates bowel movements and treats chronic constipation.


4. Helps In The Treatment Of Gastric Disorders

Amla juice can be a great remedy for gastric disorders and hyperchlorhydria (burning sensation in abdomen).

Besides being a good remedy for diarrhea and dysentery, it keeps your liver healthy. Amla juice is also effective in treating peptic ulcer and acidity. If you have acidity problems, having amla juice with pure ghee twice a day can help.


5. Is A Blood Purifier

Why spend thousands on stale detox drinks in the market when you can make your natural detoxifier right at home?

Amla juice acts as a blood purifier by flushing out toxins from the body. Regular intake of this juice purifies your blood as well as increases hemoglobin and red blood cell counts. This means you can bid goodbye to stubborn acne and other disorders.


6. Can Improve Eyesight

Regular intake of amla juice helps in improving eyesight and nearsightedness and controls the onset of cataracts. It also minimizes intraocular tension and counters problems like reddening, itching, and watering of eyes. Amazing, isn’t it?


7. Is Beneficial For The Heart

It is a known fact that stress and cholesterol affect your heart’s health.

Amla juice is a great remedy for heart problems as it makes the heart muscles strong, enabling the heart to pump blood easily.


8. Controls Diabetes

Have amla juice with turmeric powder and honey twice a day to control diabetes. The chromium present in amla helps control the blood sugar levels. It also stimulates the secretion of insulin.


9. Cooling Agent

When you are out in the sun, all you want is to grab some chilled juice to cool you down. But wait! Why not try amla juice that contains 20 times more vitamin C than orange juice? This vitamin improves the tannins that are required to shield heat and light.

Amla juice also controls body heat. It acts as a shield and protects you from the harmful UV rays.


10. Soothes Inflammation



The anti-inflammatory properties of amla juice help reduce the swelling of joints caused by arthritis. By reducing inflammation, it also protects and eases the tissues of the digestive tract.


11. Enhances Oral Health

Daily intake of amla juice strengthens your teeth and wards off bad breath, sparing you any embarrassment. Gargling amla juice with water can also provide relief from painful mouth ulcers .


12. Treats Insomnia

Are you a victim of sleeplessness? Is insomnia making you groggy in the mornings? Here’s what you should do.

Amla juice is an effective remedy for insomnia. Add a wee bit of coarse nutmeg powder to fresh amla juice. Having this can make you sleep well.


13. Prevents Cancer

Amla juice is rich in antioxidants, particularly superoxide dismutase (SOD), which inhibits the formation of free radicals. Thus, the regular intake of this juice helps prevent cancer. Isn’t that an inexpensive option to curb the scariest disease? 


14. Improves Bone Health

With time, our bones become brittle and weak. Amla juice can make your bones healthier and stronger. Regular consumption of amla juice lowers osteoclasts, the cells that are responsible for breaking of bones.



15. Soothes Menstrual Cramps



It’s that time of the month when you try every remedy suggested by every other person – all because you don’t want to experience those cramps.

Sometimes, menstrual cramps don’t let you perform even the simplest of tasks. Try amla juice, which is known to relieve menstrual cramps due to the presence of a plethora of vitamins and minerals.


16. Treats Infections

The antibacterial and astringent qualities of amla juice can treat even severe infections .

Amla juice is rich in vitamin C that helps increase the number of WBCs in the body, which means better immunity.



White blood cells (WBCs), also called leukocytes or leucocytes, are the cells of the immune system that are involved in protecting the body against both infectious disease and foreign invaders. All white blood cells are produced and derived from multipotent cells in the bone marrow known as hematopoietic stem cells.


17. Is A Powerful Antioxidant

Amla juice is rich in minerals and vitamins such as carotene, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and vitamin B complex, and hence, is a powerful antioxidant. It protects your body from oxidative stress by eliminating free radicals. It fortifies the liver, strengthens the lungs, nourishes your brain, improves muscle tone, regulates your urinary system and balances stomach acids. In fact, according to Ayurveda, regular consumption of amla juice promotes longevity.


Skin Benefits Of Amla Juice

Amla juice is an elixir for your skin — it prevents acne and spots, and makes your skin glow like never before. Here’s how your skin can benefit from amla juice.

18. Lightens Complexion

The antioxidants and vitamin C present in amla juice brighten your skin and lend it a natural glow. Have amla juice with honey or apply it as a face pack for a lighter complexion and blemish-free skin.


19. Anti-aging Benefits

Who doesn’t want to look younger? Here’s how you can take years off your face.

Amla juice helps maintain the youthful look of your skin as it contains a lot of antioxidants. Vitamin C, in particular, keeps your skin young-looking for a longer time. Regular intake of amla juice delays the effects of premature aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, etc.


20. Treats Pigmentation




Amla juice cleanses your skin and reduces pigmentation. Apply amla juice on your face with cotton and rinse off after a few minutes. Keep your eyes shut while doing so. Doing this regularly will lighten the marks and reduce pigmentation.


21. Tones And Tightens Skin

The decrease in the collagen causes your skin tissue to lose its firmness and softness, resulting in sagging skin. As stated earlier, amla juice is rich in vitamin C, which boosts the production of collagen cells in the skin. This makes your skin soft, supple and youthful. It also tones and tightens your skin.



22. Treatment Of Acne And Pimple Scars



Amla juice is perfect for the treatment of acne and pimple scars.

Applying a paste of amla for 10 to 15 minutes on the affected area will lighten the spots and reduce the occurrence of pimples. As a natural blood purifier, it fights the microorganisms in the skin, thus keeping skin infections, acne and pimples at bay. Hence, drinking amla juice can give you flawless skin.


23. Exfoliates And Cleanses Skin

It is a widely known fact that amla juice is an excellent cleanser whether ingested or applied topically.

Being a mild exfoliant, it helps remove the dead skin cells.

Note: If your skin is sensitive, dilute it with some water before applying.



24. Repairs Damaged Tissues

Amla juice has good healing properties due to the presence of vitamin C and other antioxidants, which can speed up the damaged tissue repair. It also combats the problem of dry and scaly skin .



Amla Juice Benefits For Hair

Amla has been considered a good hair tonic since ages. Women use a mix of amla and shikakai to get rid of many hair problems like premature graying, hair fall, and dandruff. But amla juice is even better. This list tells you why.

25. Strengthens Hair



Does your heart skip a beat at the sight of huge chunks of your hair going down the drain everytime you wash your hair? Try amla juice to stop this undesired hair fall.

Amla juice strengthens your hair follicles, thus encouraging hair growth . You can apply a mixture of amla and lemon juice on your scalp and leave it on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water. This will strengthen your hair from the roots and gives it a shine.



26. Prevents Premature Graying

I always wonder why my mother’s hair is still dark and shiny, while my hair is already turning gray. Most youngster today find themselves in a similar situation. Stress and improper food habits are some of the factors that lead to premature graying.

Thankfully, amla juice is very beneficial for those suffering from premature graying of hair due to the presence of antioxidants and vitamin C .


27. Treats Dandruff



Did you know amla juice is an effective way to get rid of dandruff? The Vitamin C-rich juice prevents accumulation of dandruff on your scalp.


28. Improves Pigmentation

Most hair dyes contain amla powder. This is because this humble fruit helps fight pigmentation while making your hair darker and thicker. Amla juice is the best to treat hair discoloration and stop graying of hair.


29. Conditions Hair




Amla juice acts as a great conditioner for dry and rough hair.

You can mix some amla juice with henna and apply it on your hair. This will counteract the drying nature of henna, making your hair look healthy. You can also use it as a hair wash to add extra shine and bounce.


30. Scalp Cleanser

If you are looking for an easy way to cleanse your scalp without making it messy and unmanageable, amla juice is the answer.

Add a few drops of amla juice to an egg, beat it and massage your hair with it. Amla juice will mask the smell of eggs and make your shiny and silky. It also cleans and nourishes your scalp (30).


31. Prevents Hair Problems

Besides strengthening your hair, amla juice also tackles several hair problems like hair loss, split ends and frizzy hair (31).

See, how many benefits drinking a glass of this juice can give you!


How To Prepare Amla Juice



Today, amla juice is commercially available in medical stores, but there is nothing like homemade one right?

Here is a simple process to make amla juice at home.

What You Need

1 cup Amla (Indian Gooseberry), cut into pieces.
1 cup sugar.
A pinch of sea salt or Himalayan rock salt.
A pinch of cardamom powder (optional) for a glass of amla juice.

How To Make

1.Wash and dry the amlas and place them in a bowl.

2. Adding 1 ½ cups of water to the pressure cooker and place the bowl in it. Cover the pressure cooker with its lid and light the stove.

3. Switch off the stove after one whistle. Remove the bowl from the stove when there is no pressure in the cooker.

4. Now, gently touch the gooseberry to see if it has cooled down. Press the amla with your fingers and remove the seeds.

5. Grind sugar into a fine powder.

6. Grind the amla pieces. If you find it difficult to grind them, add some sugar powder and then grind them.

7. To prepare the amla juice concentrate, mix the amla paste with sugar powder and salt. Place this concentrate in a freezer safe box and store it in the freezer.

8. Add 2 to 3 spoons of this concentrate to a glass of water whenever you require amla juice. You can add some cardamom powder and stir well.

Note:

1. Though it is usually sweetened by adding sugar, you can add a little jaggery or brown sugar, salt and pepper to the drink to get a different taste. You can also flavor it with a little cardamom powder.

2. Since amlas are slightly bitter in taste, you can initially cook them in water. This will make them soft and less bitter.

3. This juice concentrate can be stored in the freezer for 8 months or more. However, it changes color in course of time.

Preservation Of Amla Juice

To preserve amla juice, ensure that the quantity of the juice is equal to the capacity of the jar. For instance, 500 g of amla juice should be stored in a 500 g capacity glass or container. Add 2 tablespoons of sodium lactate and mix well. This juice can be preserved in the refrigerator for 8-10 months. Sodium lactate is easily available at a chemist or any store that sells food chemicals.

A Word Of Caution

Even though amla juice is natural if it’s made at home, consuming it in certain conditions can actually backfire. Take a look:

~Never have it on an empty stomach as it can trigger hyperacidity which can be quite painful.

~Having amla juice more than twice a day can harden the stools, causing constipation.

~If you are diabetic, consult your doctor before you drink amla juice. It is known to lower the blood sugar levels, which can actually interfere with your medication.

~You should always check for allergies before having amla juice.

~Having more than the recommended quantity can leave you dehydrated due to excessive loss of water from the body.

~Having it during pregnancy might make you uneasy. So, take your doctor’s advice before consuming amla juice.

~It is not advisable for small kids to consume amla juice more than necessary, as it may cause diarrhea.

Takeaway: Amla juice can help you get rid of many health disorders like gastritis, asthma, piles, obesity, insomnia, and bad breath. It also helps provide smooth, acne-free skin. Amla juice can be called elixir for hair as it tackles hair fall, dandruff, premature graying, pigmentation, and frizzy unmanageable hair.

Now you know amla juice offers countless benefits for your skin, hair, and health by enriching your body with vital nutrients. So, what are you waiting for? TRY AMLA TODAY!

It’s time you gave your body its share of nourishment!

Do you know any other benefit of amla juice? Have you had an experience with this juice? Do let us know by commenting in the box below.

Stay healthy!

ALTERNATIVE 5: ALGORITHM FOR COMPLEX ANXIETY / PANIC ATTACK

COMPLEX ANXIETY / PANIC ATTACK ALGORITHM--
ALTERNATIVE 5

1. Tune the Thought Field -- that is, intentionally think about the traumatic event that produces such emotional distress in your life. 
 
2. Rate you distress level at this moment, using the Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) scale. On this scale, 10 is the worst you could possibly feel, and 1 indicates absolutely no trace of upset. Write down the SUD rating before you continue to the next step.
 
3. Tap the "collarbone point." To locate it, take two fingers of either hand and run them down the center of the throat to the top of the center collarbone notch. This is approximately even with the spot where a man would knot his tie. From there, move straight down an additional inch. Then move to the right one inch. Tap this point five times. 
 
4. Tap five times under the eye, about an inch below the bottom of the center of the bony orbit, high on the cheek. Tap firmly, but not hard enough to cause pain.

5. Tap solidly five times under the arm, about four inches directly below the armpit, using rigid fingers. In men, this spot is under the arm about even with the nipple. Women can locate this spot by tapping at about the center of the bra under the arm.
 
 6. Take a second SUD rating and write it down. If the SUD has decreased 2 or more points (which will be the case for most people), then continue with step 7 below. If there was no change, however, or if the change in the SUD was only 1 point, perform the correction for a psychological reversal, using the technique described in this post (CLICK HERE). Then repeat steps 1 through 6.
 
7. Perform the nine-gamut treatments. Locate the gamut spot on the back of the hand, about an inch below the raised knuckles of the ring finger and little finger when making a fist. begin tapping the gamut spot with two fingers of the opposite hand, about three to five times per second, and continue tapping while performing all nine steps below ( tap five or six times for each of the nine-gamut positions). It is very important to tap the gamut spot throughout all nine of these gamut treatments:
 
G1~ Open the eyes.

G2~ Close the eyes.

G3~ Open the eyes and point eyeball down and to the left.

G4~ Point the eyeballs down and to the right.

G5~ Whirl the eyeballs around in a circle in one direction (clockwise).

G6~ Whirl the eyeballs around in the opposite direction (counter clockwise).

G7~ Hum a few bars of any tune aloud (more than a single note;
rest the eyes).

G8~ Count aloud from one to five.

G9~ Hum the tune again.
 
8. Tap the collarbone point five times again.

9. Tap five times under the eye again.. 
  
10. Tap five times under the arm again.
 
11. Take still another SUD rating and write it down. If it has declined to 1 (which will happen with most people), move to step 12 below. But if it has decreased significantly yet is still not a 1, perform the MINI PR correction as described below, and then repeat the treatment steps above.
 
12. To ensure that the improvements you've made are complete, perform the floor-to-ceiling eye roll (when the SUD is 2 or lower): Hold the head level and move your eyes down. Then begin tapping the gamut point as you move your eyes upward.
 
MINI PR

 A related procedure, called a mini psychological reversal correction, can be used when you decrease your SUD to a 3 or 4 but can't seem to get it any lower.  In other words, you've achieved substantial improvement, but you can't get to the finish line.  A block exists that is keeping you from reducing the SUD any further
 
In the algorithm for your particular emotional problem, you'll be instructed on whether and when to use this technique. here is the  procedure to follow:

~ Find the PR spot mentioned above,  located on the outside edge of the  hand, between the wrist and the  base of the little finger.
~ Tap about fifteen (15) times with two fingers of the opposite hand.

 Image result for tapping PR spot
  
As long as a psychological reversal persists, TFT ( or any other treatment) won't be able to get the SUD to a 1.  The PR or mini PR correction will open the door that allows TFT to eradicate your problem.

ANXIETY
If you have anxiety in your life, at least you're not alone. Some survey have found that anxiety is the most common psychological disorder in the country. it is so prevalent that many people accept anxiety as an unwelcome fact of life. While it's true that anxiety often has no obvious trigger, it can also be attributed to factors such as the loss of a job or the illness of a family member. Even in cases like this, however, the anxiety is frequently out of proportion to the apparent cause; for example, a deadline at work may send your anxiety soaring far above what is warranted by the circumstances.

  Remember, however, that no matter what you attribute your anxiety to, the key is collapsing the perturbations in the Thought Field that are responsible for it. Once those perturbations are eradicated, the anxiety will vanish as well.

  Sometimes anxiety is accompanied by panic attacks. Panic is a sudden, intense onset of severe anxiety. For people who have never had a severe panic reaction, it is hard to imagine how disruptive and terrifying these episodes can be. Once they occur, they can dramatically affect how people live there lives, often leaving them fearful of having another panicky response, which makes them chronically anxious. they may consciously stay only in familiar and secure environments where such attacks are less likely to occur. In the most extreme cases, people become permanently homebound.

  I recall a young mother who could not get more than six feet from her front door without having a severe panic attack. As  a result, she was terrified about what might happen if her three-year-old son had a medical emergency that required an urgent trip to the hospital; she simply didn't think she'd be able to take him. Within a few minutes, after using the TFT algorithm, it was clear to her that she would be able to handle such an emergency.

  The algorithm for "simple / stress" will work for most people. If it doesn't get your SUD as low as you'd like, however, then use the algorithm for "complex anxiety/panic attack."  Begin with the "first use" algorithm for complex anxiety, and then, if necessary, move on to one of the alternative algorithms.

 

WHY TAPPING WORKS

WHY TAPPING WORKS

Speculations from the Observable Brain
By Ronald A. Ruden, M.D., Ph.D.

ABSTRACT
A new therapy for phobias, PTSD, addictive 
behaviors and other psychological issues was first 
described by Dr. Roger Callahan and involves 
thought activation of the problem followed by 
tapping on certain acupoints in a specific 
sequence. In addition, a gamut procedure  
involving further tapping, eye movements and
following simple commands is used. For most 
cases, the problems were reportedly cured in a 
matter of minutes. We speculate on a neuro-
anatomical and neurophysiological mechanism 
for this technique.

We propose that tapping and other sensory stimulation increase serotonin in both the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. The success of this technique requires that glutamate be first increased in the circuit that involves the conditioning stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus. This analysis does not specify sequences for tapping and allows for other sensory stimulation to be used. We suggest the name ‘Affect Activation/Sensory Stimulation’ to encompass this general approach. AA/SS
represents a paradigm shift for the treatment of these problems.

Key Words: Thought Field Therapy, Serotonin, 
Glutamate, Tapping, Amygdala, 
Prefrontal Cortex, Phobia, Post Traumatic 
Stress Disorder (PTSD),Craving, Addictive Behavior
--------------------------------------------------------------
INTRODUCTION
In 1986 Dr. Roger Callahan discovered that tapping under the eye of an individual with a water phobia immediately and permanently cured this problem (Callahan 2001). Dr. Callahan 
believes that activating a distressful thought produces a perturbation in the energy field that surrounds the body. His model is based on traditional Chinese medicine, that is, when energy flow is disturbed a person becomes ill. By tapping on specific traditional Chinese medicine acupoints in a specific sequence these ‘Thought Fields’ resume normal function and healing occurs. He calls his method Thought Field Therapy (TFT). Variations on this therapy have been developed and are available as web based documents. These therapies constitute a field called Energy Psychology (www.energypysch.org).

From an observational point of view, when TFT is applied, it literally appears that a switch has been thrown. After a successful treatment thoughts that had been clear were less so. Not only was the ability to generate a clear image diminished, the response to that thought was gone, and for good! Sometimes the individual felt euphoric, sometimes confused as to what happened, but always calmer.

A large study that involved over 29,000 patients was conducted using these procedures. The results (Andrade & Feinstein 2003) are remarkable. For a wide range of problems, such as specific phobias, panic disorders, post-traumatic stress disorders, acute stress disorders, and anxiety-depressive disorders this method was successful in 76% of the subjects. Also, in this category were a variety of painful emotional states including grief, guilt, anger shame, jealousy, rejection, painful memories and others. These techniques also seemed to help impulse control disorders and cravings. These researchers noted that most of the treatments did not require the special protocols developed by Dr. Callahan, rather they found that for most disorders one sequence sufficed.

Fear, anger, grief, depression, anxiety, aggression, cravings and other emotions represent a complex neurophysiological response that involves both cortical and subcortical systems. There are many ways to alter these systems. These methods include the psychotherapies, phamacotherapies, yoga, meditation, Electroconvulsive shock, acupuncture, hypnosis, psychosurgery, EMDR, stem cell implantation, biofeedback, systematic desensitization, neuroloinguistic programming and others. These methods variously affect the brain’s electrical activity, the concentration of neurochemicals, the threshold to neuronal activation and the neural connections that are available. By its effects we judge that TFT must call forth similar responses.

A neurobiological model must explain several characteristics of this therapy. Firstly, why is it necessary to activate the distress before it can be treated? Secondly, why is the treatment specific, that is, if an individual has a snake phobia and an elevator phobia these problems need to treated separately? Thirdly, why does the same protocol work for many different problems? Fourthly, why does the distress appear to diminish during tapping (As measured by a decreasing SUD, Subjective Unit of Distress, a 0 to 10 scale where 0 is none and 10 extreme distress, as reported by patient) (Wolpe 1958)? Fifthly, what is the transduction event that converts tapping into a biological event in the brain? Lastly, how and why does this treatment produce a rapid and permanent change in an individual’s response to the distressful
thought? 

THE AMYGDALA AND EMOTION
Neuroimaging (Phan&Wager&Taylor&Liberzon, 2004), lesional ( Cousens&Otto, 1998, LeDoux& Ciccheti&Xagoraris&Romanski ,1990 Blanchard&Blanchard, 1972) and neuroanatomic (Sah&Farber&Lopez De Armatntia &Powers ,2003) studies point to the amygdala as the final common pathway for expression of emotions. The amygdala is well suited for this job. It receives input from the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, the thalamus, midbrain nuclei, and other cortical and subcortical areas
(Maren 2001). The amygdala is made of several nuclei; the basolateral (BL), the lateral (LA) and the basomedial (BM) make up the basolateral complex, the BLA (Maren, 2001). It is the lateral nucleus where the information from other areas are received. The associations between a conditioned stimulus and response are believed to be stored in the BLA and when appropriate a signal is sent to the Central (Ce) nucleus of the amygdala. Activation of the Ce is necessary to produce the behavioral, autonomic and endocrine components of an emotional response by activating other areas of the brain. (Fig. 1)



Emotional Stimulus → Prefrontal Cortex, Thalamus, Sensory Cortex, Hippocampus, Midbrain Nuclei → AMYGDALA ( made of  the lateral (LA) → the basolateral (BL), and the basomedial (BM), make up the basolateral complex, the BLA ,→ Ce → Emotional Response.

Fig.1

The Ce projects neurons to the nucleus accumbens, locus coeruleus,
paraventricular nucleus, the hypothalamus, the prefrontal cortex and other structures. (Fig 2)

Ce → (projects):
1. Lateral Hypothalamus → Sympathetic activation → Tachycardia, increased blood pressure.
2. Vagus nerve , Nucleus Ambiguus → Parasympathtic activation → Bradycardi, decrease blood pressure.
3. Parabranchial neurons → Increased respiration → Respiratory distress.
4. Ventra tegmental, Locus coeruleus → Increased dopamine, noradrenaline, acetyl choline → aroussal, increased vigilance.
5. Central grey → Cessation of behaviour → freezing.
6. Trigeminal facial motor nerve → mouth open, jaw movements → Expression of emotion.
7. Paraventicular nerve → ACTH release → Corticosteroid release. [Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), also known as corticotropin is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Adrenocorticotropic hormone, as its name implies, stimulates the adrenal cortex. More specifically, it stimulates secretion of glucocorticoids such as cortisol, and has little control over secretion of aldosterone, the other major steroid hormone from the adrenal cortex.

ACTH is secreted from the anterior pituitary in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus. corticotropin-releasing hormone is secreted in response to many types of stress, which makes sense in view of the "stress management" functions of glucocorticoids. Corticotropin-releasing hormone itself is inhibited by glucocorticoids, making it part of a classical negative feedback loop.

Fig. 2

Of all the emotional states we experience, none is more primitive or powerful than fear. If we understand how a fear response is disrupted, we may be able to understand how tapping works. For a model of fear we chose phobias. 

ENCODING FEAR
In humans, facial expressions of fear are characteristic, easily recognized and involuntary. Evolution has crafted this form of communication to promote survival in the face of present and future threats. While fear has obviously been useful for survival, an inappropriate fear response can cause physiological changes that produce distress. Phobias are such fear responses and as such they provide no evolutionary advantage. Phobias are characterized by a persistent, irrational and excessive fear of objects or situations. Since there is no imminent danger associated with these objects or situations, they can be considered conditioning stimuli (CS).
Phobias can be directed to anything: bugs, colors, numbers, light, dark, bridges, tunnels, elevators and planes. Not everyone develops a phobia. It has been suggested that a special genetic and environmentally modulated neurobiological landscape is necessary to encode a phobia. 
(Gapenstand&Annas&Ekbolm&Oreland&Fredrikson. 2001). This unique moment would be almost impossible to reproduce. Treatment that disrupts the encoded phobic response may therefore extinguish it forever.

Phobias are learned and as such are fundamentally different than responses to innate fears. A fear response, (FR) is generated by sensing an innate fear, which are also called Unconditioned Fear Stimuli (UFS). Such stimuli, which are reflective of the fear of being killed, are hard wired in the brain and include: fear of the unknown (novel situations), heights (falling), closed spaces (being trapped), open spaces (no place to hide), creepy crawly things (land based predators) and something coming out of our visual fields (air based predators).

These survival stimuli do not reach conscious because details are unimportant, only the emotion of fear is experienced. Avoidance is mandated. Accordingly, the thalamus, which is the first sensory connection in the brain, has direct projections to the amygdala (Doron NN & LeDoux JE. 1999). (Fig. 3)

 

Fig. 3

An innate (unconditioned) fear stimulus leading to a FR in the presence of another object or situation sets the stage for the generation of the phobia. For example, traveling over a bridge (CS), you look down and see the height (UFS). It is the height that causes you to become fearful. This occurs at the subconscious level, you are not immediately aware why you are frightened, however, since you are consciously aware that you are on a bridge, if the neural landscape is primed, the bridge then becomes associated with the fear response. Thus, when you bring an image of a bridge to consciousness, you become fearful. (Fig. 4) It is important to note that not all CS that produce a fear response reach consciousness. Thus, in Panic disorder and PTSD much of the conditioning stimuli remain in the subconscious. These subconscious CS can still produce a fear response through the final common pathway, the amygdala, and fear makes us remember. 



Fig. 4

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
One laboratory model for the study of disorders of fear and its treatment is Pavlovian fear conditioning (Maren S 2001). Fear conditioning occurs when a conditioning stimulus (CS), generally a tone or a light, is followed by and unconditioned fear stimulus (UFS), generally a mild foot shock. Conditioned fear requires learning and produces a stereotypical freezing behavior that can be measured and used for research purposes. After several pairings of the CS with UFS, the animal comes to react with fear to the CS. It is the anticipation of the shock (the tone or light) that produces the fear, not the shock itself. Thus, unlike phobias, conditioned fear is an appropriate response designed to increase survival. This association is felt to be stored in the BLA. Research data suggests that glutamate agonists enhance learning and glutamate antagonists inhibit the learning of the fear response in mice (Myers KM, Davis M 2002). Glutamate, an excitatory amino acid, is involved in activating genes that are necessary for memory storage and retrieval (Reidel &Platt &Micheau 2003). These genes alter the wiring and firing of neurons. This implies that glutamate is released locally where learning takes place. GABA, an inhibitory amino acid, inhibits glutamate and, as such, GABA agonists inhibit fear conditioning and GABA antagonists accelerate it (Myers & Davis 2002).

While a phobia and conditioned fear are encoded differently, the association between the CS and the UFS in the amygdala is the same, leading to activation of the Ce and a fear response. Thus, information about the neurochemistry of fear extinction may be of help in understanding tapping.

EXTINCTION TRAINING
In the animal model, eliminating a conditioned 
fear response uses a technique called extinction 
training. Here, exposure to the CS is done in a 
non-threatening environment. During this training,
learning takes place. These new pathways lead to 
a decrement in the fear responses from the CS. 
Extinction does not appear to be simple forgetting 
(where no, non-reinforced CSs are presented). In 
animals, if extinction training is carried out so that 
the CS no longer produces the FR, spontaneous 
recovery (recovery of response over time), renewal 
(recovery of response is CS is presented in a novel 
environment), or reinstatement (recovery of 
response after presentation of US in conditions 
where the US/CS link was forged) can occur over time.

In the animal model of fear conditioning, chemical approaches to extinguishing this response have been carried out. Thus, two animals were given a shock after a tone and this process was repeated until they froze in response to the tone. Then they
both received infusions of anisomycin, a protein synthesis inhibitor (Nader & Schafe & LeDoux 2000). One animal received the infusion after the tone (where the animal froze) the other without the tone (no freezing). The animal that received 
the anisomycin after the tone no longer froze when exposed to the tone, permanently. The animal that received the anisomycin without exposure to the tone, still froze when the animal heard the tone. This experiment was repeated with a GABA agonist muscimol (Muller & Corodimas &Feidel & Ledoux 1997). As long as the muscimol was in the animals system, the animal that received the muscimol immediately after the tone did not react to the tone. The animal that received the muscimol without hearing the tone, froze with fear. The conclusions were that a fear response could only be disrupted shortly after being activated, that protein synthesis was involved and that a GABA agonist could temporarily disrupt the fear response.

Extinguishing a fear response has also been accomplished electrically. Wistar rats had electrodes placed in the dorsal raphe nucleus, the source of serotonergic projections to the brain. After being trained in a step down avoidance procedure, fear memories could be permanently disrupted by stimulation during post training 
testing. This implied modification of associative processing. In another experiment, depletion of serotonergic neurons prevented the loss of fear. These results imply that serotonin plays a role in extinction ( Fiberger HC, Lepiane FG, Phillips AG, 1978)

For humans, extinguishing of a phobia has been studied with a technique called Systematic Desensitization. This approach produces an extinction of the fear response (Davis, M, Myers KM, 2002) and uses the methods describe for extinction training in animals.

Research has documented a potential mechanism for these observations. A group of inhibitory neurons intercalated between the BLA and the Ce have been described (Pare D, Royer S, Smith Y, Lang EJ 2003). (Fig 5).



Fig. 5

Here, if danger is present, as evaluated by the prefrontal cortex, then an inhibitory signal is NOT sent to the inhibitory GABA neurons in the amygdala. If danger is considered minimal or absent, such as during desensitization, then the prefrontal cortex becomes unavailable to send a signal to these GABA neurons, allowing for
activation of these inhibitory neurons and blocking the Ce → brainstem transmission (Sotres-Bayon, F, Bush DEA, LeDoux JE. 2004). This process makes sense in that it allows for conscious evaluation of danger. Desensitization does not affect the 
encoding of the response as it leaves the CS to UFS pathway intact thus allowing for reinstatement, renewal and spontaneous recovery to occur. Here as well, glutamate enhances and GABA diminishes the effectiveness of extinction training (Davis M, Myers KM. 2002). 

WHY TAPPING WORKS
Using this information, we would like to speculate about a potential mechanism for tapping of the fear response. Tapping begins with imaginal re-activation (affect activation) of the feared object (modified from Callahan 2001) (Fig. 6).

TAPPING PROTOCOL
After affect activation, have the patient take a SUD (Subjective Unit of Distress) and write down the number. Then tap gently but firmly under the right eye -5 times, , over the right eye brow - 5 times, under the right armpit - 5 times, and just below the suprasternal notch - 5 times. 
The Gamut procedure follows by tapping on the back of right hand, just behind the knuckle of the small finger while the patient does the following:
1. Close the eyes
2. Open eyes
3. Looks down to the left
4. Looks down to the right
5. Rotates the eyes in a big circle (clockwise)
6. Rotates the eyes in the opposite direction (counter clockwise)
7. Hums Happy Birthday song
8. Counts to five aloud slowly
9. Hums Happy Birthday song

This sequence can be repeated. The patients then looks up, takes a deep breath, hold for a count of three and then rolls eyes to floor. An SUD is taken. This process is repeated until the SUD no longer drops or goes to 1 or 0. 
Fig. 6








We believe that ‘affect activation’ is the critical aspect for success of this method. During affect activation, we propose that glutamate is locally released in areas corresponding to the neural circuit that initially encoded the conditioned fear.
Without local release of glutamate, no amount of tapping or sensory stimulation will be effective. Tapping or other sensory stimulation (Massage, eye movement, etc.) then causes a generalized release of serotonin via ascending pathways. This release is non-specific and global, that is, it is not related to the content or context of the feared object. (Fig 7 ). We speculate that serotonin release by multi-sensory stimuli is different than that seen in non-reinforced CS used in extinction training. 



Fig. 7


During sensory stimulation, two events can occur. We speculate that serotonin decreases the inhibitory signal from the prefrontal cortex to the intercalated neurons and allows for GABA release, thus inhibiting Ce outflow and the patient experiences a decrease in distress (decreased SUD during treatment) (Fig. 8). It is again important to note that both the memory, as stored in the cortex and the connection between the CS and the UFS remain intact. This, retained memory CS →UFS pathway allows for renewal, reinstatement and spontaneous recovery.

Serotonin → Prefrontal Cortex → Intercalated GABA Neurons ==>Ce → Brainstem

Fig. 8

Simultaneously, serotonin causes GABA release via serotonergic receptors in the BLA. We speculate that this combination, GABA and serotonin, inhibits glutamate from activating protein synthesis, preventing the re-storing and thus de-linking the CS to UFS pathway. This blockade prevents the ultimate re-activation of the Ce and the fear response (Fig. 9).

 
 CS → GABA, Serotonin,Glutamate → X (UFS)

Fig. 9 


To better understand de-linking, imagine your brain is like a beach filled with holes (CSs). As a specific thought activates an affective (fear) response, a certain hole in the BLA fills with glutamate, this then links with a UFS and sends a signal to the Ce. During tapping, when a serotonin wave flows in, GABA is released and the
glutamate filled hole and only the glutamate filled hole solidifies (protein synthesis is inhibited and the link to the UFS is disrupted). Since the hole is now gone, the ability to re-activate the CS to UFS link by glutamate release is lost. This also explains the broad-based effectiveness of this therapy as serotonin release is not localized, it interacts in both the prefrontal cortex and in the amygdala 
wherever glutamate has been released. If the de-linking does not occur, the prefrontal inhibition decays and relapse occurs.

Thus, bringing a phobia to conscious thought activates a specific glutamate driven circuit that produces a fear response. Tapping raises serotonin and GABA is released in the areas where the CS/UFS association is encoded, and the prefrontal cortex. This decreases the distress by directly blocking Ce outflow and can de-link the CS/UFS connection. After successful tapping, the ability to generate a sharp picture of the CS is diminished because the efferent transmission from the Ce, which increases salience, does not occur. How tapping is transduced to a rise in serotonin
and GABA remains uncertain, but a simple mechanical process involving sensory receptors has been proposed (Andrade and Feinstein 2003).

CONCLUSIONS AND OTHER THOUGHTS
This model suggests that activation of the affect followed by sensory stimulation provides a neurobiological basis for tapping therapy. This model provides an outline that explains the permanence, specificity, ability to generalize to 
other types of affective problems (via amygdala de-linking) and the temporal relationship between activation of the affect and a successful treatment. In addition, it explains the observed decrease in distress during treatment. Animal 
studies have confirmed experimentally the 
relationship between activation and the lability of a fear
response. If we consider UFS→Ce the final common pathway then de-linking the CS→UFS allows us to understand the ready treatment of different phobias, PTSD, and other primary amygdala based emotional states.

For phobias, PTSD, panic disorder and other emotional states the amygdala is the final common pathway. For disorders such as OCD, addictive cravings, depression, generalized anxiety, the amygdala is one of many inputs to another part of 
the brain that affects these behaviors. Thus, OCD has an abnormally functioning caudate nucleus and addictive cravings have an abnormally functioning nucleus accumbens. 

 For example, tapping an individual for an addictive craving produces only a shortlived (hours to days) benefit. This procedure does not change the underlying dysfunctional system that produced the behavior, only that specific connection that produces a Ce efferent signal. The underlying dysfunctional systems are permissive stressors that continually activate the amygdala for re-learning and relapse. Treatments that seek to correct the dysfunction either by medications, psychosocial intervention, or removing amygdala based (such as PTSD) problems therefore becomes important.

Among the major controversies present in the field of Energy Psychology, of which TFT is representative, is the location and sequence of tapping. While the neurobiological model does not require a specific sequence of tapping, sensory receptor density (location where you tap) may affect the rate and intensity of
serotonin release. It is possible that any stimulation that affects the serotonin system can be used. Thus, tapping, humming, mind-full meditation, cognitive tasks, eye movements, probably acute temperature change and other may be of useful.

It is interesting to speculate why serotonin reuptake inhibitors are useful in the treatment of primary amygdala based disorders ( PTSD, phobias, panic diorder and other emotional states). It is possible that the SSRI’s, by increasing serotonin, 
alter information processing (Spoont M, 1992). This may prevent glutamate release in the amygdala or allow for the prefrontal cortex to send a no-danger signal to the intercalated neurons. Return of these psychological problems after removal of the drug (unless the problem is dealt with in another way) is usual.

There is a general approach outlined here, that 
is, Affect Activation (locally release glutamate)
/Sensory Stimulation (globally raise serotonin) 
(AA/SS). The goal for this therapy then becomes 
how best to activate the affect and find the 
appropriate sensory stimulation for the individual. 
Herein lies the skill of the therapist.

---------------------------------
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