Although our physical body is the only form we can normally detect, touch, see and feel,  according to natural health specialists, physical ailments originate somewhere beyond this physical body and can only show their symptoms when we neglect our energy warnings for some time.

That’s why, in natural healing practice, the first step towards healing is “understanding”. We need to understand our body language, how it interacts, and how it is affected and influenced by its environment. Understanding your energy map and the cause behind any energy disturbances, and learning to listen to your body so as to heed its warning signs are essential for restoring health and wellbeing. Learning your body energetic language is essential for prophylactic and preventive as well as healing measures.

Let’s start with the most commonly used term in the energy healing world: the chakras. Chakra is a Sanskrit word meaning vortex or wheel and is used to depict the energy centers in our body. Ancient healing practices teach us that there are at least seven major chakras located along our spinal cord. They are in continuous perfect circular motion to connect us to the outside world.

On the other hand, each chakra is connected to a designated endocrine system feeding it with a constant supply of energy through its regular spinning. This energy supply is also feeding its associated physical organs with the required energy for their health and vitality.

When energy flow is hindered or restrained for some reason or another, these energy centers are affected. The change in the energy flow affects the delicate hormonal balance connected to the designated chakra and if it persists it can soon show its manifestation on the associated physical organs.

First Chakra:

Also known as root chakra, your first chakra is your foundation. It is located at the base of the spine, at the area commonly known as the tailbone (the coccyx).

The first chakra is energized and influenced by the frequency of the color red. It feeds and supports the adrenal glands. Those small glands which are located over the kidneys secrete many critical hormones that help regulating stress response with all its subsequent effects, tissue inflammation and blood pressure. Our first chakra is also responsible for the health of our bones and muscles, our kidneys and bladder, our body fluids; mainly the blood, our rectum, and our immune system[1].

Our first chakra calls for the satisfaction of our basic human needs and holds the main instinct for survival including our safety and security, our need for belonging and our ethically-driven life. This chakra clears the confusion between needs and wants. The energy of this chakra understands that our needs as human beings extend from basic food and shelter to strengthening family and social ties and watching our values and ethics.

Furthermore, as its name implies, your foundation is the base the other energy centers need to become active in their turn. Without a stable foundation, energy cannot progress into higher levels. You can’t ask a hungry man to enjoy beautiful scenery or work for peace and love on earth. Fundamental human needs have to be supplied first. This fact makes the stability and health of the root chakra the most important task and the primary goal to aim for in your energy restoration journey.

When out of balance, your first chakra sends your body warnings through its associated glands and systems. You feel anxious, unable to cope with stress, your blood pressure is out of balance, your bones ache, you experience constant fatigue, depression and/or your immune system falls out of synch.

Second Chakra:

The second chakra, also called the sacral chakra, is located 2 inches (5 cm) below the naval. It is energised by the color orange; and, is responsible for feeding energy to the gonads (the male and female sexual organs). The second chakra is associated with the reproductive system, pelvis and hip area, and to some extent it controls of body fluids along with the first chakra[2].

The second chakra acquires its energy from life little joys, creativity, and pleasures. It holds the critical balance between enjoyments and addictions. It’s essential message is balance and moderation. At this energy level, we need to learn how to enjoy our belongings and our riches while still keeping our detachment and avoid worldly indulgence. At this level, we learn to control our addictions, keep our inner satisfaction, and balance our worldly needs including our sexuality.

When out of balance, your sacral chakra sends you body warnings through disturbance in sexual hormones and reproductive functions, and/or through addictive behaviors.

Third Chakra:

The solar plexus or the third chakra is located at the centre of the abdomen. It is energised by the frequency of the color yellow. It is associated with the pancreas with its hormonal secretions, mainly the insulin; and, it is responsible for feeding energy to our abdominal area mainly our digestive system.

The essential message learnt at this energy level, and needed to keep this chakra healthy, is responsibility. The solar plexus gains its energy from our self esteem, our self-confidence, inner belief in our unique powers, talents and potentials. It is the center that drives us to act, to go out and make a difference in the world, and to find our unique way of contribution.

When out of balance, your third chakra sends you body warnings through disturbed blood sugar levels, digestive disorders and different food cravings.

Fourth Chakra:

The fourth chakra is our heart chakra. It is energized by the frequency of the green color, no wonder we feel so good when we walk in natural parks or when surrounded by greenery. This chakra feeds the thymus gland, a small endocrine gland located behind the sternum and playing a critical role in the immune function. The heart chakra feeds its energy to the heart and blood vessels, lungs, and breasts.

As we can imagine, the essential message of the heart chakra is love. For it to stay healthy and energized, we need to love and spread love, compassion and peace around us, we need to live in harmony with the whole world, to forgive and let go of anger and hostility, to live with a pure heart, pure consciousness, and piety.

When out of balance, your heart chakra sends its warnings mainly through your cardiovascular and immune systems.

Fifth Chakra:

The fifth chakra is located at the middle of our throats. It resonates at the frequency of the color blue. At the endocrine side, the throat chakra is associated with the thyroid and parathyroid glands, the glands responsible, among many other functions, for regulating body metabolism and calcium utilization. I’ve seen so many young women with disturbance at this chakra level whether manifested as under or over active thyroid function.

This may be the result of the still repressed voice of women in many societies, a voice that is the main energizer of the fifth chakra. When healthy and balanced, this chakra allows you to find your own genuine authentic voice, align it with your life purpose and let it be heard. It allows you to communicate with your surroundings, express yourself freely and fearlessly. Moreover, it teaches you the true meaning of surrender and of aligning your will to the Divine Will.

Sixth Chakra:

Also known as the third eye, the sixth chakra is located between your eyebrows. It is energized by the color indigo and connected with our brain hypothalamus and to the pituitary gland.

Thanks to the hypothalamus, our body cells, organs and systems are able to maintain internal stability and equilibrium by balancing the physiological functions and chemical reactions in a process known as homeostasis.

The hypothalamus controls the autonomic nervous system, the nervous system that regulates involuntary activities in the body. It also regulates emotional and behavioral patterns, regulates eating and drinking, controls body temperature and controls the pituitary gland secretions. The pituitary gland is a small gland situated bellow the hypothalamus. It is like the orchestrating maestro of the whole endocrine system. The sixth chakra is also associated with the health of the brain and nervous system.

As we see, the role of the sixth chakra is very critical in maintaining health and wellness of the whole body, this is not surprising, when we know that its essential message is a life-essential lesson: Perceiving hidden meaning and wisdoms in everyday living. It is at this energy level that we perceive the true meanings behind our trials; it is there where we learn to be content, peaceful, and satisfied, where we learn to see beyond material gains and losses and live in the present moment.

Seventh Chakra:

The seventh or the Crown chakra is located at the top of the head. It is energized by the violet and white colors. It feeds its energy to the pineal gland, a small mysterious gland located in the brain and whose function is still not well understood. As far as we know, the pineal gland is mainly responsible for synchronizing our waking/ sleeping cycle with natural light and dark hours. At night, it secretes melatonin, a yet mysterious hormone with powerful antioxidant activity. It is believed to be a ‘sleep trigger’ and calming hormone. During the day, the pineal gland secretes serotonin, a mood regulating and feeling-good hormone. The crown chakra also feeds the central nervous system and the upper brain.

Our Crown chakra gains its energy from the connection with the Divine, from awe and submissiveness, faith, devotion and sincerity. When the seventh chakra is healthy, it gives you the ability to clearly see your goal and purpose in life and link every action and thought to the purpose of human creation: Allah’s worship. A healthy seventh chakra connects us with our Creator at every second in our life.

It’s Worth the Investment

As you saw, your energy system holds the key for your physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.

I see the body energy system as a personal investment, an investment in an open market. Unlike a bank account where you leave your money and be able to retrieve it when you please, your energy system needs continuous monitoring, regulation, and decision making. It requires that you are continuously aware, mindful, knowledgeable and active. It requires patience, risk calculations and sacrifices.

Whatever you give out to the world, will return to you somehow, someday. The more you invest in love, peace, forgiveness, values, self esteem… The more you receive from the same currency with all the benefits and rewards. And vice versa, the more you give from rancor, hostility, intolerance… the more you deplete your system and lose your capital. Keeping yourself isolated leads to stagnation which slowly depletes your savings and gradually ruins your ‘business’.

In my next article we’ll dig deeper into the energy restoration area. You’ll learn some suggested energy restorative measures for chakra imbalances through simple lifestyle, mental or emotional alterations.

This article was first published in 2013 in a series of 4 parts and is currently republished for its importance.

References:

• [1], [2] Myss and Cross.
• Cross, J. 2006. Healing with the Chakra Energy System: Acupressure, Bodywork, and Reflexology for Total Health. North Atlantic Books.
• Mareib, E. 2003. Essentials of Human Anatomy and physiology. seventh edition. Benjamin Cummings.
• Myss, C. 1997. Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing. Three Rivers Press
• Svirinskaya, A. 2006. Energy secrets. Hay House.
• Wurtman, R. J. and Axelrod, J. The Pineal Gland. web.mit.edu/dick/www/pdf/40.pdf. p. 50-60.