Chakras, Balance, And Health; an Overview

I’ve been interested in Ayurveda for several decades.  In addition to doing yoga regularly, I also select key ingredients based on Ayurveda to develop natural skin care products.  One of the beliefs in the Ayurvedic tradition that I find particularly fascinating is the existence of Chakras.

Chakras are essentially energy centers located on different points along the median of your body; basically from the crown of your head down to the bottom of your spine.  When any one or more of these energy centers are unbalanced, your physical and/or mental health can be affected.  By the same token, when your Chakras are all in balance you experience full health and energy within all of your systems.

There are 7 Chakras that represent a multi-tired hierarchy but,  when looked at together, also represent the whole person and the soul’s journey toward completion or enlightenment.  Each individual Chakra is associated with a particular physical area of the body as well as it’s own color, treatments, planetary systems and more.

The 7 Chakras are as follows:

The Crown Chakra

The Crown Chakra is located at the top of your head and is where the life force enters the body.  It is then dispersed throughout the body via the other remaining Chakras.  An imbalance in the Crown Chakra can often manifest as issues like skin disorders, skeletal system problems, and sensitivities to things like light, dark, smells, etc.  It is believed that the Crown Chakra is responsible for the yearning for spiritual enlightenment and intuitive knowledge of the divine.

The Brow Chakra

The Brow Chakra, also known as the Third Eye Chakra, is located right in the middle of your forehead.  This chakra represents the mind and helps you to distinguish things like fantasy from reality and to think critically and clearly.  When The Brow (3rd Eye) Chakra is out of balance problems such as learning disabilities, strokes, and/or brain tumors may be present.

The Throat Chakra

The Throat Chakra is located in the area that encompasses the throat and mouth.  This Chakra is concerned with your “Will” and you must speak your personal truth for this Chakra to be in good health.  Physical manifestations of an imbalance within this Chakra  may include cold sores, swollen glands, TMJ, tooth decay, and eating disorders.

The Heart Chakra

The Heart Chakra can be represented with pink or green, and is located in the upper middle of your body, near your heart.  This chakra is linked to the health of your heart as well as the rest of your circulatory system, your  breasts, rib cage, shoulders, and the rest of this general area of the body.  Self love is essential for the proper functioning of the Heart Chakra as is love and trust for others.  An imbalance in this chakra is often caused by emotional pain.

The Solar Plexus Chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra is basically near your belly button and up into your rib cage.  It assists with gaining an emotional understanding of life that can also provide balance to the Heart Chakra and the Sacral Chakra (ie balance pure love with the pleasures of the sensual).  As a result, self acceptance and self confidence are essential to the proper functioning of this Chakra.  An imbalance in the Solar Plexus Chakra may manifest in mental and physical conditions including diabetes, stomach ulcers, kidney and adrenal problems, and issues with the colon.

The Sacral Chakra

The Sacral Chakra is located in the lower portion of your abdomen, below the naval.  This Chakra governs the reproductive organs, stomach, intestines, etc and when out of balance can be responsible for issues such as impotence, infertility. lower back pain, and urinary issues.  When the Sacral Chakra is in balance though you’ll experience a healthy equilibrium of sexuality, acceptance of what is, and a letting go of control issues.

The Root Chakra

The Root Chakra is responsible for anchoring the physical body to Earth.   Located at the very base of the spine between the genitals and the bottom, this Chakra can manifest its imbalance with physical and mental symptoms such as sciatica, immune disorders, varicose veins, issues of the bowels, low self esteem, and issues with loyalty.  In balance, the Root Chakra offers the lower portion of your body, including your legs kinesthetic feeling and an overall enjoyment of movement, especially dance.

This, of course, is only a basic summary of the understanding of the 7 Chakras and their individual purposes.  Because Ayurvedic Medicine is such an old tradition, there is a wide body of knowledge available about Chakras, and how they relate to our physical and mental health and well being.

Documentation of healing by use of the life force and energy that the Chakras represent is present in even more teachings than just Ayurveda.  For example, Reiki is based on the same principal of a balance in the life force energy that flows through all living things as well as healing through balancing these energies in a being who is experiencing poor health.

For me, I have found that working with this energy has brought healing in many ways.  If you’re looking for a way  to heal a new or persistent issue, you may find that working with a practitioner to balance your Chakras will bring relief other treatments are unable to.  As with skin care, a synergistic blend of holistic remedies can often bring relief to common problems without any harsh side effects.  This isn’t a recommendation to avoid your doctor of course, just to, as always, be informed about ALL the options!