Using essential oils to balance each of the 7 chakras

"Chakra", the Sanskrit word for "wheel", refers to seven site specific concentrations of energy emanating from the body. Each of these Chakra centers is thought to govern its own expression of associated bodily, emotional and spiritual energy, but each is linked and in tune with all the others. When one or more of the chakras is over- or under-expressing its associated energy, it's thought to manifest as imbalance in the body, mind and spirit. When all of the chakras are balanced in their expression, the expression of physical, mental and spiritual well being is manifested.

The influence that aromatic plant essential oils have on the body, mind and spirit in the practice of aromatherapy can be adapted to promote balanced chakra functioning. The idea is to apply activating essential oils to energize sluggish chakra function or calming oils to quiet over-active ones. Balancing oils are good candidates for maintaining support of well-regulated chakras. A combination of both activating and calming oils will tend to have an overall balancing and supportive benefit to the chakras. Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

A foot massage is a great way to balance the root chakra which regulates your sense of groundedness and stability. Nutmeg will activate a sluggish root chakra, while patchouli and vetiver calm an over active one. Choose a balancing essential oil such as bergamot to help maintain a smoothly functioning root chakra.

The sacral chakra, which influences your sensuality, benefits from a lower back massage. Spicy cardamom essential oil awakens a dormant sacral chakra, while ylang ylang and neroli calm an over active one. Look to sweet orange and sandalwood to maintain a well functioning sacral chakra.

A gentle tummy massage influences the functioning of the solar plexus chakra which influences your gut instincts. Apply eucalyptus and juniper berry to acitvate the solar plexus, and vetiver or helichrysum to calm. Good balancing oils to apply to an already well expressed solar plexus chakra are grapefruit and lemon.

The emotional center that is the heart chakra readily benefits from a supportive perfumed annointing oil applied to the breast bone or massage into the middle backarea. Palmarossa essential oil will open the heart chakra, while lavender and sweet marjoram will quiet it down. Try regular applications of geranium essential oil to maintain a well functioning heart chakra.

A body spray applied to chest and neck areas is an efficient way to influence the functioning of the throat chakra which influences your expressiveness and communication. Turn to lemon essential oil to open a sluggish throat chakra, and vanilla or Roman chamomile to calm. Coriander seed is a balancing oil to maintain the even expression of the throat chakra.

 The visionary, awareness supporting third eye chakra can be influenced with an anointing oil applied to the forehead or through simple diffusion and inhalation. Rosemary essential oil will open a sleeping third eye chakra, while German chamomile will stabilize and focus this visionary chakra. Frankincense or sandalwood are good choices to maintain a clear and balanced third eye chakra.

A room diffusion applied to the airspace around you is the best way to balance the transcendent crown chakra which occupies the space above the crown of your head. Spicy sweet lavandin clarifies a low functioning crown chakra, while neroli or vanilla calm. Look to frankincense to maintain a well functioning crown chakra.