Stress Awareness: Chakra Balancing with Essential Oils
We often relieve stress with physical activity like exercise or taking some time out for a bath, but perhaps it is worth looking a little deeper into the impact stress has on our energy.
Feeling stressed can leave you not feeling yourself and out of balance. Prolonged stress can really drain our energy, affecting us mentally and physically. When talking about energy, you may have heard people talking about chakras or their chakras being off-balance, and wondered ‘what are they talking about’? So let’s find out a bit more…
What are Chakras?
The idea of Chakras comes from ancient mediation practices, the word ‘chakra’ in Sanskrit (the language of Hinduism) means ‘wheel’ or ‘disk’ and refers to spiritual energy points within the body. These energy centres, or points, within your body are linked to nerve and organ areas. There are seven known chakras within the body, these are; Crown, Third Eye, Throat, Heart, Solar Plexus, Sacral and Root.
Why do Chakras need to be balanced?
Balanced chakras is meant to mean your life energy, prana or gi (we all have different names for it) is flowing freely, openly and clear within the body, and you feel on top of the world! When this is happening, it is believed to stimulate your health and wellbeing. So if this magical energy becomes blocked it can generate physical, mental, or emotional imbalances, that manifest as stress, anxiety or tiredness.
How do I know if my Chakras are not balanced?
You might just be feeling ‘off’, unwell, or you may just feel like nothing is going your way lately. You may be able to match what is wrong with the chakra that needs balancing, such as feeling ungrounded or pains in your feet or legs could well be linked to your root chakra. If it feels more complicated, you may want to see a therapist who works with energy to get a deeper understanding of what needs aligning, such as a reiki practitioner.
So how can essential oils help?
We know the amazing power that essential oils can have on the body, mind and soul to achieve homeostasis and this can be adapted to support the chakras. As with any aromatherapy practice, there are several ways you can work with oils, such as oil blends for massage, use of oils in a diffuser or perhaps a pulse point roller ball, this may depend on the Chaka you are trying to balance.
What oils support which chakra?
So starting from the top let’s work through the chakras, what its focus is, what may be unbalanced and oils that can help support.
Crown – focuses on spirituality. You may be experiencing: Loneliness, lack of connection, headaches.
Essential oils for balance: Frankincense, Lavender and Sandalwood
Third Eye – focuses on awareness. You may be experiencing: Frustration, difficulty-making decisions, tension headaches.
Essential oils for balance: Clary Sage, Rosemary and Patchouli
Throat – focuses on communication. You may be experiencing: Fear of speaking out, not listened too, a sore throat.
Essential oils for balance: Peppermint and Eucalyptus
Heart– focuses on love and healing. You may be experiencing: Fear of love and commitment, holding grudges, asthma or respiratory issues.
Essential oils for balance: Rose, Geranium and Melissa
Solar Plexus – focuses on wisdom and power. You may be experiencing: Feeling powerless, anxious, gut feelings, stomach aches.
Essential oils for balance: Ginger and Lemongrass
Sacral – focuses on sexuality and creativity. You may be feeling: emotionally detached, loss of sex drive, hurt and confused.
Essential oils for balance: Orange, Ylang Ylang and Bergamot
Root – focuses on basic trust. You may be experiencing: Sluggishness, worried about finances, stuck and unhappy with your body.
Essential oils for balance: Cedarwood, Myrrh or Vetiver
Written by Aromatherapist, Simone Stevens @sensesbysim
