How to milk a water buffalo...

This email question tickled me and I thought you might enjoy reading it and my answer. It's from an EFT client of mine, a new father whose wife also worked with me during her pregnancy. This was their first baby, so along with EFT, we talked a lot about how best to prepare for labor and birth, and how he could support her to help make things easier.

J. writes:

By the way, have you ever done EFT for cows? We're starting milking (a water buffalo actually, but it's similar), and neither we nor she are used to it, so it's not too easy... In fact, we have to inject a small dose of oxytocin to get the milk to be let down. I don't like doing that as it isn't the natural way at all, but there doesn't seem to be any other way right now, and we have to milk her or she'll dry up. I kind of chuckled when I heard that oxytocin was what we needed -- reminded me of you and our discussions regarding labor and bonding. Funny how it's the same hormone for all those things. Anyway, I've heard of using EFT for animals but have no idea what on earth I could do that would help her let down her milk without drugs. Getting her to calm down and let us milk her would be awfully nice too... (Yes, I just finished milking, and it was one of the hardest we've had so far, so I'm rather frustated...) I am curious whether there's any way EFT could help?

At first, all I could do was giggle. It's the water buffalo part that is so amusing to me. To understand why, you really should check out The Water Buffalo Song. My kids listened to this song when they were younger, and they still love it. When I told them about the email, a rousing chorus of the song broke out. It was actually a lot of fun to write these things from the perspective of helping to milk a water buffalo. Hope you and your clients enjoy it as much as I did!

Here's my response:

To answer your question, I have not tapped on or for cows, no-- nor water buffalo, needless to say. But I have done EFT for dogs, cats and horses, all with great success. In fact, Gary Craig published an article I wrote about tapping for one of our dogs when she was sick. The article was in his newsletter and is on his website too (you can read it here).

Two important things to remember:

1. The same things that create optimal oxytocin release in a woman in labor will create optimal oxytocin release in ANY mammal. So... think of those 5 things and do them. They are, in no particular order: warmth, safety, darkness, quiet and privacy.

Most of these things help to increase oxytocin by DECREASING adrenaline. Adrenaline is the antagonist to oxytocin. So being warm helps because adrenaline is secreted when we're cold. Make sure the 'cow' is warm and your hands are too. Do whatever you can to help encourage her to feel safe around you. Being in a dimly light environment will help too, as opposed to a brightly lit one (total darkness is not necessary, thankfully!). Noise is also a no-no-- but lullabies or soft singing may help (music affects the limbic system of all mammals; it's a way to soothe the cow without her even realizing that it's working). And being away from other animals/people-- unless they specifically seem to have a calming effect on her-- may also help.

If you can't do all five, do as many as possible. From a physiological standpoint, the better you meet these needs, the easier it will be to milk your water buffalo.

2. Tapping on yourself and your frustration, etc, will often affect your animal(s). Once your attitude and energy shifts, so will the animal. This may be key, because it might be that this cow is picking up on your concern and it's making her uneasiness worse. If you become the calm, patient protector she can trust, and you stay in that energy very reliably, she will most likely be able to give up her skittishness very soon. And her milk will flow more easily because of it.

Once you're through tapping on you-- and don't hold back!; tap until you feel completely calm and mellow-- then you'll be ready and able to tap on the cow. You can tap on the animal, and some of them enjoy it. The points correspond with where they are located on our bodies, and they're not difficult to find. But for now, I suggest that you tap for her surrogately.

Start with the obvious:

Even though I, the water buffalo, can't let my milk down without drugs, I'm a good cow and my caretakers love and honor me.

Reminder: I'm the cow and I can't let my milk down without drugs

I'm the water buffalo, and even though milking time is hard for me, I'm a good cow and my caretakers love and honor me.

Reminder: I'm the cow and milking time is hard for me

Then you can branch out and tap on anything that comes into your head. Don't judge it, don't censor yourself. Even if it seems crazy or ludicrous or silly-- or all three!-- just tap on it.

You might find yourself tapping on the cow feeling scared of you, or guilty that she can't please you, or afraid you'll get rid of her if she continues to disappoint you (and she may not know why you're disappointed), or resentful that you want the milk she would ordinarily give a calf. She may be missing her own kind, or unhappy for some reason. Whatever. Just tap on whatever comes up, and trust that it will be the right thing.

Use the altered standard format, as above, unless you feel guided to use the "I deeply and completely accept myself" ending. Go with whatever reminders seem to fit. And don't be surprised if you find that some of the issues you 'sense' for the water buffalo are mirrored in your own (and/or your wife's) issues. There are no coincidences, and animals can be very good teachers for us.

I would LOVE to have an update on how this works!!!

Once J. has a chance to try my suggestions, I'll let you know about the results.