---
title: Can emotional freedom techniques (tapping) help reduce PMS symptoms?
description: Yes. In a study of 50 nursing students with PMS, those who learned and practiced emotional freedom techniques showed significant improvements in depression, f
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-effects-of-emotional-freedom-techniques-on-coping-with-premenstrual-syndrome-2022/
---

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- Can emotional freedom techniques (tapping) help reduce PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2022

# Can emotional freedom techniques (tapping) help reduce PMS symptoms?

Yes. In a study of 50 nursing students with PMS, those who learned and practiced emotional freedom techniques showed significant improvements in depression, fatigue, nervousness, sleep problems, and swelling.

 Moderate study design

50 nursing students with PMS (scoring 111 or higher on Premenstrual Syndrome Scale)

## What they did

50 nursing students with PMS (scoring 111 or higher on the Premenstrual Syndrome Scale) participated. The experimental group was instructed to apply emotional freedom techniques, which involve tapping on specific body points.

## What they found

The group using emotional freedom techniques had statistically significant improvements in depressive mood, fatigue, nervousness, sleep-related changes, and swelling compared to baseline (p < 0.05), as well as overall PMS scores.

## What it means for you

Emotional freedom techniques may be a fast, easy, inexpensive self-treatment for PMS that women can do at home. The study was small and only included nursing students, which limits how widely the findings apply.

50

nursing students with PMS

111

minimum PMS score for entry

## About the study

Original title The effects of emotional freedom techniques on coping with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized control trial Authors Bakır N, Irmak Vural P, Körpe G Journal Perspectives in psychiatric care Year 2022 Study design Randomised trial Participants 50 What was tested Emotional freedom techniques (a tapping-based method) Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12957](https://doi.org/10.1111/ppc.12957)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Students and academic performance](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-education/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

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