3 Weird Therapies That Can Change Your Life

Strange as their methods may seem, many natural therapies have been proven to work. Here, we talk about three of the weirdest ones, and how they can help you get your wellness back on track. 

Emotional Freedom Technique: 98% on the weirdness scale

In mid-2021, a video came out showing school children sitting at their desks and tapping their faces with their fingers. The tapping is part of a stress-relief technique the kids were participating in while reciting empowering statements like, “I am lovable. I am smart. I am intelligent.” 

What they were doing was a process using EFT or Emotional Freedom Technique. Although EFT was developed in the 1990s, its more recent popularity has been due to its  effectiveness in treating modern-day issues, like stress, anxiety and PTSD.  In a nutshell, EFT is a mind-body therapy that eases emotional, mental and physical distress. The children were tapping meridian points on their faces to  manage stress and improve their mindset.

What’s EFT about?

Practitioners sometimes also refer to EFT as psychological acupressure, which may partially explain how the technique works. On the outside, you may just observe someone tapping on their face and limbs. What you don’t see is that the points they’re tapping follow meridian points or energy nubs in the body. 

By stimulating these through tapping, it loosens the “bottlenecks of energy” to let energy flow freely again. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) follow the same concept. Unlike TCM and acupuncture, though, EFT uses a combination of physical and intellectual approaches to achieve balance. The tapping is reinforced by combining it with talk therapy.

Does it really work?

The answer is YES. Numerous studies have been done on the effectiveness of EFT. In a study of 5,000 people with anxiety, it was reported that 90 percent of the participants saw improvements to their anxiety after receiving only three EFT treatments! One year later, those improvements remained in 78 percent of the study’s participants. 

Read: How can sound therapy help ease depression and anxiety?

Iridology: 90% on the weirdness scale

When someone said, “The eyes are the windows to the soul,” could they have been talking about iridology? As it turns out, alternative health practitioners also consider the eyes, mirrors of the body. 

Iridology is based on the theory that a person’s health can be assessed through the analysis of their iris (the ring-shaped membrane in the eye) and pupil (the black “spot” in the centre of the iris). 

What’s iridology about?

What most people see when they look in someone’s eyes is the colour of the iris. What iridologists see is a world of minute detail. Unusual marks and colours in the iris not seen by the naked eye can tell a practitioner if there are signs of inflammation, spots of body weaknesses (and strengths), the person’s level of health, the general effects of their lifestyle, even their personality traits. 

This is possible because nerve fibres in the iris reflect changes in body tissue. The iris carries both sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, turning the eye into a kind of roadmap of the body’s organs. Any change in the state of any organ will manifest in a corresponding spot on the iris. 

Does it really work?

The answer is YES. The practice of iridology has been around for about 3,000 years. In ancient Egypt, archaeologists unearthed from Tutankhamon’s tomb some silver plates that had detailed drawings of an iris. Traditional Tibetan doctors carefully watch the condition of a patient’s eyes to help them diagnose liver and blood disorders. 

Regardless of what history says, there are several clinical studies that have been done—and continue to be done—to prove the effectiveness of iridology, with some studies producing surprising results. In one particular study, an iridologist was presented with 15 patients who reported a total of 33 health problems. The irigolodist missed the 33, but did diagnose 60 other health problems that the patients failed to report. 

Read: 4 Easy ways to use crystals for healing

Qi Gong: 95% on the weirdness scale

Many irreverently refer to Qi Gong as “old people exercise,” and you may be only half wrong. After all, it is what many people see—a group of usually elderly people standing in a loose formation in a park early in the morning. In sync, they move ever so slowly, extending arms, flexing legs, stretching backs. No music accompanies their movements; only the rustle of leaves and bird song. 

They are doing Qi Gong (pronounced “Chi Gong”), a slow-movement mind-body practice. Contrary to what you may think, Qi Gong doesn’t have an age requirement. It’s for everyone looking to lead a more balanced, healthy life. 

What’s Qi Gong about?

Originating in China about 4,000 years ago, Qi Gong uses the Traditional Chinese Medicine principle of Qi or energy. For someone to be at their healthiest, Qi must flow freely through their body. If Qi is blocked, the person may start to have health issues. 

Qi Gong is a set of movements and breathing techniques that unblock Qi and let it flow freely again. And yes, the movements are super slow. Benefits of Qi Gong include lowered stress and anxiety, increased focus, and improved balance and flexibility. So it’s no wonder Qi Gong has been known to ease depression, lessen chronic fatigue, and boost immune response.

Does it really work?

The answer is YES. Hundreds of studies have been done to verify the health benefits that Qi Gong promotes. Although more studies are required, breathing techniques and body movement for all ages is proven to have great health benefits. 

One research paper published on Science Direct used the findings of 886 clinical studies conducted in 14 countries. The study covered 15 conditions and diseases, including diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, stroke, breast cancer, insomnia, and low back pain. After practising Qi Gong under controlled environments, the subjects reported changes in their physical function, quality of life, and mental health. Ninety-seven percent concluded that Qi Gong provided beneficial results. 

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