Essential Oils for the Chakras

Essential Oils for the Chakras

Most people have heard about the seven main chakras in the body: the Root, Sacral, Solar Plexus, Heart, Throat, Third Eye, and Crown. However, many people do not fully understand what they are, their function in our body, the role they play in our spiritual development, and how we can work to balance them to improve every area of our lives. Many people even question their existence, believing that they are a religious belief not grounded in science or reality. I am here to say that they are not only very real, but that they have a bigger impact on our lives than we realize. An imbalanced chakra can have negative physical, mental, and spiritual effects. When our entire chakra system is out of balance, our lives can feel like they are falling apart. Fortunately, there are many ways to balance the chakras, including the use of essential oils. Below, we will discuss what essential oils work the best for each of the chakras and how to use them effectively. 

Wheels of Energy

In order to fully understand how the chakras influence our body, mind, and spirit, we must first understand what they are. 

Chakra is the Sanskrit word for “wheel”. Each of the seven main chakras is located on the spine, from the base to the crown of the head, extending out past the front, back, and both sides of the body. These chakras are said to be where universal life force energy – prana – connects with our spirit and manifests into the physical body. This energy keeps us vibrant, healthy, and alive. 

They can be described as whirling vortexes of energy that are each associated with a color, vibrational frequency, and element – earth, air, fire, water, or ether.

Each chakra is correlated with body processes such as digestive function, the immune system, reproductive health, emotional health, etc.

This is due to the fact that each chakra corresponds to massive nerve centers in the body. Each of the seven main chakras contains bundles of nerves and major organs as well as our psychological, emotional, and spiritual states of being.

Balancing the Chakras

When a chakra is out of balance, it means that it is either overactive or underactive. Think of it as a wheel that is either spinning too fast and out of control, or one that is barely turning. Chakras can also become blocked, where the energy cannot flow fluidly through. This can cause emotional distress and disease if it is not re-opened so the energy can flow through it to maintain optimal physical, mental, and spiritual health. 

For example, when your Solar Plexus – located behind your stomach – is imbalanced, it can cause digestive issues. Your gut is also an intuitive center and is acknowledged by the medical community to be the second brain in your body. When this chakra is out of balance, you may experience a lack of confidence in decision making, loss of motivation or willpower, and a struggle to understand your sense of self. 

On the other hand, when your chakras are open, balanced, and aligned, you feel balanced in all areas of your life. 

How to Connect With Your Chakras

Before using essential oils for the chakras, take some time to connect with the state of each one. Find out which ones are open, overactive, underactive or blocked. 

There are different ways to connect with your chakras, including meditation, visualization, kundalini yoga, Reiki, crystal healing, sound healing, and acupuncture. Some people can see their chakra system in their mind’s eye or feel the swirling energy with their hands when placed over their body. There are even a few people who can feel the energy move and swirl in a clockwise direction up their spine when they go deep into meditation. I also offer Chakra Balancing Consultations (remote or in the suite), Aromatherapy Massage, Reiki Healing Massage, Indian Head Massage, Marma Chikitsa, Thai Yoga Massage, Reflexology, Shirodhara, Detox Programmes, Emotional Freedom Technique, Facial Marma Point Massage, Thai Foot Massage, Japanese Hand Massage, and OOH! Organic Oils for Health Consultations,  all of which can help to balance different conditions with the chakras.

When you are in alignment, you look at life from a fresh perspective. You are able to take on challenges and obstacles that come your way with courage and clarity. Your relationships thrive. Your overall health improves. You make better decisions. You are filled with self-love and compassion for others. You feel connected to something greater than yourself. You know in your heart that everything in life happens to you for very important reasons. You learn, you love, you grow, you flow.

Who wouldn’t want to feel this way all of the time?

It takes work and time to come into alignment, but once you do you will never want to risk losing it. Over time and with practice, it will cease to feel like work and begin to feel more like living.

Using Essential Oils

Essential oils can be used for balancing the chakras by either stimulating underactivity, or soothing/calming overactivity so they can open up and come into alignment. 

There are different methods to using essential oils to balance the chakras, depending on which chakra you are working with. These are excellent tools you can use alongside other methods of balancing the chakras, like meditation, Reiki, or massage.

Root or Muladhara: The First Chakra

The Root chakra is located at the base of the spine/tailbone and is correlated with the legs, feet, colon, spine, and adrenal glands. It is associated with the color red, which represents physical manifestation. It vibrates at 396 Hz, which is a tone known to release guilt and fear. It’s element is Earth and represents grounding to the physical realm, stability, and survival. It is the center of security, safety, prosperity, and mindfulness. It is connected to overall physical health.

To stimulate an underactive Root chakra, use nutmeg essential oil. To soothe an overactive Root chakra, use patchouli or vetiver essential oil.

Massaging the bottoms on the feet using a combination of a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and the essential oil of your choice will stimulate your Root chakra. Massage with intention and compassion.

Sacral or Swadhisthana: The Second Chakra

The Sacral Chakra is located two inches below the navel. It is correlated with the reproductive system, sacral vertebrae, circulation, and urinary function. It is associated with the color orange, which represents wisdom, creativity, and benevolence. It is said to vibrate at 417 Hz, which is the tone of the synodic moon, or lunar month. It’s element is water. 

It is the center of sexuality, vitality, passion, creativity, self-gratification, pleasure, sensuality, desire, fluidity, emotional intelligence, and the ability to embrace change. 

Healing the Sacral chakra is essential for those living with sexual trauma or abuse, and those who have fears around intimacy and emotional connection.

Spicy cardamom essential oil stimulates an underactive Sacral chakra and neroli and ylang ylang calm an overactive one. A lower back massage using these oils combined with a carrier oil will help to activate and balance this chakra.

Solar Plexus or Manipura: The Third Chakra

The Solar Plexus chakra is located below the sternum and behind the stomach. It is  connected physically to the pancreas, liver, spleen, stomach, lower back muscles, the metabolism, and digestion. It is associated with the color yellow, symbolizing fire, activation, heat, and initiation. It vibrates at 528 Hz, also known as the tone of the Sun and is the frequency of miracles, transformation, and DNA repair. It’s element is fire. 

The Solar Plexus is the center of personal willpower, motivation, confidence, self-discipline, gut instincts, ambition, reliability, and sense of self. 

Eucalyptus and juniperberry essential oil activates this chakra and vetiver or helichrysum calms it. A gentle tummy massage will stimulate this energy center.

Heart or Anahata: The Fourth Chakra

The Heart Chakra is located in the center of the chest at heart level. It is physically connected to the lymph glands, heart, rib cage, lungs, skin, arms, hands, circulation, and the immune system. It is associated with the color green, which represents healing, soothing, ecstasy, and fulfillment of anticipation. It is correlated with the frequency 639 Hz, which is the tone of the Earth’s year and has to do with connecting and relationships. 

The Heart Chakra is the center of love and compassion. It is characterized by self-acceptance, connection, forgiveness, contentment, peacefulness, and being centered. It is the middle of the seven chakras and unites the lower chakras of matter and upper chakras of spirit. It serves as a bridge between our body, mind, emotions, and spirit. When we work through the physical chakras (the first three) we can open the spiritual chakras more fully. 

To stimulate an underactive Heart chakra, use palmarosa essential oil. To soothe an overactive Heart chakra use lavender essential oil or sweet marjoram essential oil. Anointing the breast bone or massaging the middle back area is a great way to balance this energy center.

Throat or Vishuddha: The Fifth Chakra 

The Throat Chakra is located in the center of the throat/neck area. It is physically connected to the esophagus, neck, shoulders, arms, hands, hearing, and thyroid gland, which regulates our body’s metabolic function. When this chakra is out of balance, we may experience physical symptoms, such as a sore throat, sore neck, or even lose our voice. This happens when we fail to express our authentic selves out of fear of vulnerability. When we fail to speak up, speak out, and speak our truth, our physical health suffers. This chakra is associated with the color blue, which represents clarity, knowledge, and alignment with Divine guidance and purpose. It’s frequency is 741 Hz, also frequency of the planet Mercury, which is known as the planet that rules communication. It’s element is ether. 

The Fifth chakra is the first of the chakras of spirit and is the center of communication, sound, expression of creativity through thought, speech, music, art, and writing. When we have an open Throat chakra, we communicate clearly with others, feel free to express our authentic selves, and have a full voice. 

Lemon essential oil will activate a closed or sluggish Throat chakra and vanilla or Roman chamomile essential oil will calm an overactive one. A body spray with these essential oils applied to the neck will stimulate this chakra.

Third Eye or Ajna: The Sixth Chakra

The Third Eye Chakra is located just above the middle of the eyebrows in the center of the forehead. It is physically connected to the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, left brain hemisphere, left eye, nose, ears, sinuses, conscious mind, the endocrine system, neurological system, and small muscle control. It is associated with the color indigo, which represents great devotion and wisdom. It’s frequency is 852 Hz, known for being the tone of the planet Venus, raising awareness, and helping you return to spiritual order. It’s element is light.

The Ajna chakra is the center of psychic power, higher intuition, magnetic forces, transcendence, visualization, intellect, dreams, memory, and self-reflection.

Rosemary essential oil will open and activate a dormant or blocked Third Eye chakra. German chamomile or sandalwood essential oil will stabilize and focus an overactive one. Anointing the forehead with these oils, or simply inhaling or diffusing them will stimulate this energy center.

Crown or Sahasrara: The Seventh Chakra

The Crown chakra, or the Thousand Petaled Lotus chakra, is located at the crown of the head and extends out in the space above your head. It is physically connected with the pineal gland, pituitary gland, cerebral cortex, cerebrum, the right eye, the right brain hemisphere, central nervous system, the subconscious mind, and large muscle control. The color associated with the Crown chakra is violet or white, representing royalty, enlightenment, spirituality, existence, and the search and attainment of the true meaning of life. It’s frequency is 936 Hz, the tone of the Great Year, a period of 25,800 years and signifies a completion of a period of one complete cycle of the equinoxes around the ecliptic. It’s element is “spirit”. 

The Sahasrara chakra is the center of spirituality, universal consciousness, enlightenment, dynamic thought, and energy. It is our spiritual connection to our higher selves and the Divine, as if it is a gateway connecting our minds to higher consciousness. It teaches us that only unconditional love exists, at its essence the search for soul is over and everything just is. The Crown chakra shows us that this reality is not perceivable or describable – it is your true nature.  

Lavandin essential oil will cleanse and stimulate an underactive Crown chakra and neroli or frankincense oil will calm an overactive one. Diffusing these essential oils during meditation is the best way to stimulate this energy centre.

Final Thoughts on Essential Oils for Balancing Chakras

Start from the ground up.

When starting to work with balancing the chakras, it is best to start with the Root chakra and work your way up the spine to the Crown chakra. The health of the lower chakras is crucial to the health of the upper chakras. As I mentioned previously, the Heart chakra acts as a gateway between them. Without grounding yourself in the physical chakras, opening up and accessing the spiritual chakras may be jarring and leave you feeling like your head is in the clouds, so to speak. Like a tree, the roots must grow deep within the Earth to stabilize it as the branches and leaves reach upwards towards the heavens.