Chakra Diagnosis & Healing

One cannot stress enough the importance of well-balanced, healthy and harmonious Chakras
in maintaining holistic health. The importance of Chakras for a balanced mind-body-spirit has
been ignored for long. Even though we are blessed with abundance of information on these
wheels of energy called 'Chakras' in ancient Indian literature, some misconceptions have kept
them out of reach of the common people.

So what then are Chakras and what is the role that they play in our physical, mental and
spiritual well-being?

A body of energy called Aura permeates our physical body. However, the Aura is unevenly
distributed and like the whirlpools in an ocean, there are swirling vortexes of energy in our
Aura. These vortexes of energy look like spinning wheels and hence the name 'Chakras'.

One way to fully understand your whole being is to understand and experience your Chakra
energetic system. These wheels of energy blend your life-force energy with your physical
energy. They are an integral part of our life-force energy keeping our whole mind and body
working together. There are major and minor chakras; the major chakras manage your most
critical bodily functions and issues, and the minor chakras regulate less fundamental needs.
These energy centers are located on and around your body.

The experiences that we go through, our thoughts and attitudes can, and does cause
imbalance or blocks in our Chakras. Especially those who tend towards negative emotions or
reactions are more prone to have completely or partially blocked Chakras and many times
even blown out Chakras. All our expressions, feelings and senses, including the sixth sense, are
associated with the major Chakras.

Any problem that you have, whether it a physical ailment, negative emotion(s), faulty beliefs
or rigid, dogmatic spiritual perceptions, stems from or creates stuck energy. To fully heal from
an ailment, you must release the stagnant energy that is the root cause of it. By working with
your Chakras, you can clear away the stuck energy that does not serve your highest purpose.
This broadens your perspective which will assist you in making the changes necessary for
better health, relationships and personal and financial wellbeing.

With free and clear Chakras, you realize abundance in loving relationships, you become in
touch with your feelings and creativity, you access your personal power, you are able to fully
give and receive love, you are open to express yourself and communicate freely, you gain an
inner understanding of your being and the world that you live in, and you become connected
to your highest self and feel an internal harmony that everyone should experience.

There are seven major Chakras, each of which is located in a specific area, have a specific name
and a specific set of functions. They regulate the energy flow through out our bodies and also
govern the seven major endocrine glands and by extension various parts of our bodies.

Muladhara Chakra

The first Chakra is called 'Muladhara' Chakra or Root Chakra. 'Mul' means root and 'adhar'
means support or foundation. Its developmental stage is from the time you are in the womb
till the age of 12 months.

As the name suggests, the root chakra provides support for your physical existence. For a tree
to grow and bloom, the roots should be healthy and strong and get nutrition to remain that
way. Similarly, for strength, vitality and a strong skeletal system, the root chakra should be
open and balanced.

Location Base of the spine or coccyx

Colour Red

Element Earth

Sense Smell

Sound Lam

Related Endocrine Gland Adrenal

Body Functions Elimination, Sex Drive

Muladhara Chakra is associated with our basic needs of survival, hence food, clothing, rest,
shelter, money and procreation. When the root chakra is open and clear you are able to take
the steps necessary to take care of yourself financially and provide for what is rightfully yours;
a comfortable home, food and clothing.

However, the Chakra becomes dysfunctional due to reasons like insecurity, sexual abuse, basic
requirements not met while growing up, and complications while birthing, issues of
abandonment, etc.

Dysfunctional chakra means either it is dominant or weak, blocked or blown out. The
symptoms are:

Physical : Addictions/ Addictive Behaviour, Anorexia, Constipation, Colitis, Depression,

Diarrhea, Frequent urination, Glaucoma, Hemorrhoids, Hypertension, Impotence, Kidney
stones, Knee problems, Obesity, Piles, Sciatica, Weight gain/ loss, Prostate cancer, Rectal
cancer, Blood diseases, Skin disorders (especially rashes), Itching, Pain at base of spine,
Migraines, Spinal curvatures, Sciatic, Lumbago, Painful or frequent urination, Backaches, Poor
circulation in legs, Swollen ankles, Weak arches and ankles, Cold feet, Weak legs, Leg cramps,
Eczema.

Emotional : Anger of the past, Fear of deadlines, Afraid to let go, Feeling burdened, Terror of
abandonment, rage from hurt or anger, Guilt, Sexual pressure, Numbness, Hypocrisy,
Uncertainty regarding money and the future, Inability to flow with life, Holding onto old ideas,
Untrusting of life, Lack of integrity or courage or convictions, Blaming others, Deep hurt,
Longstanding resentment, Deep grief, Carrying hatreds, Tension.

Many hard core addictions such as alcohol, sex and cocaine are related to imbalanced first
chakra. Rapists have twisted perception of sex because of the root chakra dysfunction.

Swadhisthana Chakra

The second chakra is called Swadhisthana Chakra, meaning 'sweethness'. It is also called Sacral
Chakra, located just under the navel and deals with our duality, the feminine and masculine
energy, or shiva and shakti or yin and yang. Its developmental stage is from the age of 6
months to 24 months.

The swadhisthana chakra is associated with our senses or sensual pleasure, and hence it is also
called our sexual chakra. Though it is not limited only to our sexual exploration but also
extends all the pleasures that we seek on physical level, in our different role as a human being.
The mother's pleasure in nurturing her baby is also a second chakra function.

Location Three fingers under the navel

Colour Orange

Element Water

Sense Taste

Sound Vam

Related Endocrine Gland Gonads

Body Functions Sensuality

When your second chakra, is open you are in touch with your feelings and are able to express
them. You are also able to feel the difference between your own and others feelings. This
opens your creativity and allows you to be who you are.

However, the Swadhisthan Chakra can be dysfunctional if you are not in touch with your
feelings or emotions, if there are stored, stuck or unexpressed emotions from self or others,
feelings of unworthiness, judgement against creative expression, co-dependency, etc.

The symptoms of a dysfunctional second chakra are:

Physical : Bladder, Cystitis, Endometriosis, Fertility issues, Miscarriages, Fibroids, Irritable

Bowel Syndrome, Kidney complaints, Menstrual Problems, Muscle Cramps/ Spasms, Ovarian
Cysts, Pre-menstrual Syndrome, Prostates Disease, Testicular Disease, Uterine Fibroids,
Candida, Impotency, Bedwetting, Frigidity, Creative Blocks.

Emotional : Guilt, Embarrassment, Shame, Distrust, Impatience, Desire to hide, Nervousness,

Holding on, Uptight, Frustration, Inadequacy, Anger, Tendency to push for things, Feeling
victimized, Expecting the worst, Numbness, Neediness, Detaching from oneself and going out
of body, Feeling shut down, Depression, Denying your own needs, Not supporting yourself,
Blaming others, Anger at a mate, Punishing oneself, Denial of self, Rejecting femininity or
masculinity, Bitter words left unspoken, Sexual pressure, Tension, Rigid social beliefs, Spite
against a previous mate, Fear of mother, Emotional overflow, Years of controlling emotions,
Fear of father, Denial of pleasure, A belief that sex or intimacy/touch is bad.

Soft addictions, such as overeating or addiction to junk food or other foods is related to the
second chakra dysfunction.

Manipura Chakra

The third chakra is called Manipura Chakra, which means 'Lustrous gem'. It is also called Solar
Plexus Chakra and is the seat of our personal power. The third chakra stores our judgments,
opinions and beliefs that we have gathered throughout our lives; about ourselves and the
world we live in. Its developmental stage is the age of 18 to 42 months.

When your third chakra is open and balanced, you exercise the choices in your life and become
in charge of your own destiny. You are also able to choose your own beliefs rather than
conforming to the external beliefs imposed upon you.

Location Solar Plexus

 Colour Yellow

Element Fire

Sense Sight

Sound Ram

Related Endocrine Gland Pancreas, Adrenal

Body Functions Digestive Functions

The reasons for third chakra dysfunction are beliefs or judgements that result in a lack of
expression of strong emotions, such as love, hate, fear, anger, Suppressing, Denying or holding
in feelings, Beliefs resulting in sense of disempowerment, Low self esteem and control issues,
Not taking what is rightfully yours, Not supporting others in their personal empowerment,
Feeling conflicted between who you are and who you are supposed to be, Lack of self
confidence.

The symptoms of a dysfunctional third chakra are:

Physical : Food Allergies, Bulimia, Diabetes, Digestive problems, Gall stones, Hepatitis, Liver
Disease, Hyper Acidity, Pancreatitis, Peptic Ulcer, Stomach problems, Jaundice, Shingles, Gall
bladder problems, Anemia, Heartburn, Gastritis, Lowered resistance to diseases, Chronic
tiredness, Gas, Spastic colon, Abdominal cramps.

Emotional : Fear, A feeling of 'what's the use', Felt lack of love as a child, Defeated, Anger,
Bitterness, Condemning, Prideful, Prolonged uncertainty, Feeling of doom, Dread, Anxiety,
Denying your own power, Powerlessness, Criticism, Disappointment, Failure, Shame, Child-like
reactions, Unresolved anger, Chronic complaining, Justifying, Fault-finding to deceive self,
Wallowing in the past, Rejection, Lack of self-belief.

Addictions such as caffeine, beer and soda are related to the third chakra.

Anahata Chakra

The fourth chakra is called 'Anahata', meaning 'Unstruck'. It is also known as Heart Chakra as it
is located in the center of the chest. Its developmental stage is from 3.5 to 7 years of age. This
chakra deals with love, courage and compassion.

When the Anahata Chakra is open you are able to radiate love for yourself which enables you
to receive and express love unconditionally rather than becoming dependent on others to love
you. This is also the level where you integrate your spiritual self with your physical being.

Location Center of the Chest

Colour Green (also Pink)

Element Air

Sense Touch

Sound Yam

Related Endocrine Gland Thymus

Body Functions Respiration and Circulation

The contributing factors in the fourth chakra dysfunction are Not expressing soft emotions
such as sorrow, heartbreak, depression, sadness, longing and pity. Inability to release or
process sadness and grief. Emotional wounds that are hard to heal, Not trusting in the process
of life, Getting stuck in childhood, Response to mass negativity and beliefs, Being co-
dependent, Care taking issues.

The symptoms of a dysfunctional fourth chakra are :

Physical : Breast Cancer, Circulation problems, Fatigue, Heart Diseases, Immune Disorders,
Lungs, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Chest Congestion, Influenza, Functional heart conditions,
Asthma, Cough, Difficult breathing, Shortness of breath, Pain in lower arms and hands,
Hyperventilation, Allergies, Sleep disorders, High Blood pressure.

Emotional : Feeling attacked by life, Feeling 'they are out to get me', Difficulties in giving or
receiving, Desperate, Tired of life, Fear, Smothering love, Unable to breath for oneself, Feeling
stifled, Feeling of heartbreak, Suppression of tears, Intense sadness, Grief, Hopelessness,
Despair.

Addictions such as sugar cravings, wine and smoking are related to the fourth chakra.
Vishuddha Chakra

The fifth chakra is called Vishuddha, meaning 'Purification'. As it is located at the base of the
throat, it is also known as the Throat Chakra. The fifth chakra deals with expression and
communication. Through the fifth chakra we express what we think, feel, desire, and detest.
Its developmental stage is 7 to 12 years of age.

When open, your Vishuddha chakra allows you to fully express yourself without fear of
rejection. You are able to communicate your thoughts, feelings and desires. You are also able
to speak up for yourself and effectively communicate your needs to others.

Location Base of the Throat

Colour Blue

Element Sound

Sense Touch

Sound Hum/ Ksham

Related Endocrine Gland Thyroid, Parathyroid

Body Functions Glandular System

The fifth chakra usually becomes dysfunctional if you have been carrying the following
thoughts, opinions or attitudes; Never get to do what you want, Belief you cannot speak up for
yourself and ask for what you need, Not knowing who you are, Living from someone else's
wants and needs, Repressed anger, So mad you cannot speak, Emotional congestion, Beliefs
from others, Humiliation and Guilt.

The symptoms of a dysfunctional fifth chakra are :

Physical : Asthma, Bronchitis, Ear Infections, Hearing Problems, Lost Voice, Mouth Ulcers, Sore
Throat, Teeth & Gums, Thyroid Problem, Tinnitus, Tonsillitis, Bursitis, Colds, Stiff neck, Pain in
upper arm, Whooping cough, Laryngitis, Hoarseness, TMJ, Hay fever.
Emotional : Too much going on at once, Wanting to hit someone, Mental confusion,
Unbending bullheadedness, Repressed emotions, Stifled creativity, Fear of speaking up,
Resentment of authority, Fear of the calendar, Belief in persecution, Punishment for guilt,
Anguish over communication, Not accepting of the self, Dislike of the self, Small outbursts of
anger, Incessant talking, Mental eruptions, Breath-taking antagonism, Inability to say 'no' or
'yes', Victimization from non-assertion.

Ajna Chakra

The sixth chakra is called Ajna Chakra, which means 'Command Center'. It is also known as the
Third-Eye Chakra due to its location between the eye brows. The sixth chakra deals with your
inner vision, intuition and intellect. Its developmental stage is at puberty.

With an open sixth chakra you can connect better with your intuitive abilities. You are able to
see your life purpose from an expanded view and you have better trust in the process of life.
Your consciousness and awareness are greatly expanded.

On the Forehead, between the eye-

Location
brows

Colour Indigo

Element Light

Sound Om

Related Endocrine Gland Pituitary

Body Functions Consciousness

Your Ajna Chakra is dysfunctional if you experience any of the following; Irritation towards
anyone, Allergic to someone, Don't like what you see in your own life, Don't want to see what
is out there, Don't want to see what is going on in the family, Inability to see ahead with joy,
Believing in dark future, Resisting life's flow, Not trusting life's process, Don't want to hear the
truth, Longstanding unresolved emotional problems, Refusing to change old patterns, Clogged
thinking, Fear of the present and future life, Denial of the true self, self image; Cultural or
gender-based misperceptions, Denying your own trouble, 'I' trouble, Invalidating the self, Self-
criticism, Not feeling good enough, Not worthy.

The symptoms of a dysfunctional sixth chakra are :

Physical : Brain Tumor, Cataracts, Deafness, Dyslexia, Insomnia, Far-sightedness, Migraine,
Short-sightedness, Sinus Problems, Tension Headaches, Allergies, Crossed eyes, Deafness,
Earache, Fainting spells, Certain cases of blindness, Sty, Astigmatism, Cataracts, Glaucoma,
Exotropia, scalp related problems, blood supply to the head, Cancer, Headaches, Nervousness,
Anxiety disorders, Insomnia, Head colds, High blood pressure, Migraine headaches (also first
and seventh chakras), Nervous Breakdowns, Amnesia, Chronic tiredness, Dizziness, Hormonal
imbalances, Growth or development issues, Body-image disorders.

Emotional : Crossed purposes, Stony unforgiveness, Feeling overwhelmed, Rejection,

Stubbornness, Isolation - Not wanting to be bothered, Anger - Too much turmoil - Can't cope,
Blacking out, Incorrect beliefs, Dislike of being driven, Anxiety, Struggle, Self-centeredness,
'Yes, but' attitude, Lack of joy, Flighty, Scattered thinking, Invalidating the self, Self-criticism,
Jammed channels of communication, Difficulty in planning the future.

Sahasrara Chakra

The seventh major chakra is called Sahasrara Chakra, which means 'Thousand Fold' and is
represented by a thousand petaled lotus. It is located just about the head and is also known as
'Crown Chakra'. The seventh chakra is your connection to your divinity. It is the state of unity
and divine consciousness. Its developmental stage is throughout life.

With a clear Crown chakra, you have the ability to rise to wider perspectives of your Higher self
yet stay aware of the wisdom of the other six. You encompass more than thinker, pleaser or
other sub-selves. You expand your awareness to more than your body. You expand your
perspective to everyone and everything, everywhere at all times. Be fully human and fully
divine at the same time.

Location Crown, Top of the head

Colour Violet (also White)

Element Thought

Sound Om

Related Endocrine Gland Pineal

 Connects body with higher states
Body Functions
of Consciousness

The following factors can cause the Crown chakra dysfunction: Disassociation or being
ungrounded, Spiritual misperceptions (for instance belief in 'unforgivable sin'), Spiritual
brainwashing, Curses.

The symptoms of a dysfunctional seventh chakra are :

Physical : Alzheimer's, Depression, Dizziness, Epilepsy, Multiple Sclerosis, Paralysis, Parkinson's

Disease, Schizophrenia, Immune system disorders, Cancers, Bone disorders, Nervous system
disorders, Learning disorders or difficulties, Multiple personality disorder, Neurosis, Psychosis,
Headache, Dizziness or light-headedness, Migraine headaches (first chakra also, judgment of
first chakra has conflict with seventh chakra spritual beliefs), Insomnia.

Emotional : Lack of self-understanding, lack of direction, major depression.

Everything Starts in Your Consciousness

(Martin Brofman has beautifully explained the consciousness-emotions-body connection

through Chakras as the door to wellness)

Your body is the mirror of your life. Everything begins with your consciousness. Everything that
happens in your life, and everything that happens in your body, begins with something
happening in your consciousness.

When the choices that you make in your life leave you with residual stress, you experience this
stress as if in your physical body. We know that stress create symptoms. The interesting
question is, "Which stress creates which symptoms?" When we are able to quantify this
process, we are then able to see the body as a map of the person's consciousness. Then we
can relate a particular symptom to a particular stress, the way Type A behaviour has been
associated with heart disease.

To understand this map, we must first orient ourselves to the idea that the causes of
symptoms are within.
Diseases are caused by germs, however, why is it that only a certain set of people living
together in a community fall ill and sometimes even lose their lives?!

Germs are everywhere. Why are some people affected and not others? Something different is
happening in their consciousness.

Why do some patients in hospitals respond better to treatment than others? They have
different attitudes. Something different is happening in their consciousness.

When someone is injured in an "accident," why is it that a very specific part of the body is
affected, and that it is the same part that has had habitual problems? Is that an "accident," or
is there a pattern and an order to the way things happen in our bodies?

You are a being of energy. A change of consciousness creates a change in the energy field and
change in the energy field happens before a change in the physical body. Any manifestation
happens from the consciousness, through the energy field, to the physical body.

When we look at things in this way, we see that it is not the physical body creating the energy
field, the aura, but rather the aura or energy field that is creating the physical body. What we
see as the physical body is the end result of a process that begins with the consciousness.

When someone makes a decision that leaves them with stress, creating a blockage in the
energy field with a sufficient degree of intensity, this creates a symptom on the physical level.
The symptom speaks a certain language, which reflects the idea that we each create our own
reality. We must understand that there are no accidents and no coincidences. Things do
happen according to a pattern and order.

We have an in-built guidance system, a connection our Higher Self or our Inner Being. This
inner guidance system functions through what we call our intuition, or our instinct. It speaks a
very simple language. Either it feels good, or it doesn't.

We are told we should move with what feels good, and do not do what doesn't feel good to us.
We are told to trust this inner voice. When we don't follow this inner voice we feel tension. We
feel not-good.

The next level of communication is through the emotions. As we move more and more in the
direction that feels not-good, we experience more and more emotions that feel not-good, and
at some point we can say, "I should have listened to myself when I thought to move in the
other direction." That meant that we heard the inner voice. Otherwise, we could not have said,
"I should have listened." If we make the decision we know is the right one for us, and therefore
change direction, there is a release of tension, we feel better, and we know we are again on
the right track.

If we continue to move in the direction that feels not-good, the communication reaches the
physical level. We create a symptom, and the symptom speaks a language which reflects the
idea that we each create our own reality. When we describe the symptom from that point of
view, we can understand the message. If we change our way of being, we have received the
message, and the symptom has no further reason for being. It is able to be released, according
to whatever we allow ourselves to believe is possible. If we created the symptom with a
decision, we are also able to release it with a decision.

When someone makes a decision that it is not a good idea to express what they want, from
that moment, whenever there is something they want, they keep themselves from expressing
it, and therefore from having what they want. That feels not-good. The tension grows. They
feel more and more not-good as they keep themselves from expressing what they want and
not having it.

Eventually, something happens to create a symptom on the physical level, and their right arm
is affected. It could have happened through falling from a ladder, or in an automobile accident,
or by pinching a nerve in the neck, or by "sleeping in a draft."

Something had to happen on the physical level to create the symptom, in order to give the
person the message on the physical level about what they had been doing to themselves. We
do to ourselves literally what we have been doing to ourselves figuratively.

The effect is that the person cannot move their arm. They are keeping themselves from
reaching for something, and since it is the right arm, on the "will" side of the body, they are
keeping themselves from reaching for or going for what they want. They have been giving
themselves reasons to not believe that they could have what they want. When they begin to
do something different in their consciousness, they notice that something different begins to
happen with their arm, and the symptom is able to be released.

Chakras And The Map

To understand the map of the consciousness that the body represents, we can turn to some
ancient Hindu traditions which have been studying consciousness for thousands of years, and
which use the language of the chakras.

The chakras are not physical. They are aspects of consciousness in the same way that the auras
are aspects of consciousness The chakras are more dense than the auras, but not as dense as
the physical body, but they interact with the physical body through two major vehicles, the
endocrine system and the nervous system. Each of the seven chakras is associated with one of
the seven endocrine glands, and also with a particular group of nerves called a plexus. Thus,
each chakra can be associated with particular parts of the body and particular functions within
the body controlled by that plexus or that endocrine gland associated with that chakra.

Your consciousness, your experience of being, represents everything it is possible for you to
experience. All of your senses, all of your perceptions, all of your possible states of awareness,
can be divided into seven categories, and each of these categories can be associated with a
particular chakra. Thus, the chakras represent not only particular parts of your physical body,
but also particular parts of your consciousness. When you feel tension in your consciousness,
you feel it in the chakra associated with the part of your consciousness experiencing the stress,
and in the parts of the physical body associated with that chakra. Where you feel the stress
depends therefore on why you feel the stress. When someone is hurt in a relationship, they
feel it in their heart. When someone is nervous, their legs tremble and their bladder becomes
weak.

When there is tension in a particular part of your consciousness, and therefore in the chakra
associated with that part of your consciousness, the tension is detected by the nerves of the
plexus associated with that chakra, and communicated to the parts of the body controlled by
that plexus. When the tension continues over a period of time, or reaches a particular degree
of intensity, the person creates a symptom on the physical level. Again, the symptom served to
communicate to the person through their body what they had been doing to themselves in
their consciousness. When the person changes something about their way of being, they are
able to release the stress that had been creating the symptom, and they are then able to
return to their natural state of balance and health.

Reading The Map

When we are reading the body as a map of the consciousness within, we work with the idea
that the tensions in the body represent tensions in the person's consciousness concerning
what was happening in the person's life at the time that the symptom developed. The person
was feeling stress about something that was happening in their life at that time.

We are going to examine the map of consciousness that the chakras provide, in order to
understand the language of the symptoms that are associated with each chakra. In order to
complete this map, however, we also need to look at ourselves as each a polarity of yin and
yang, feminine and masculine characteristics.

For most people, their right side is their yang side, their will side, their acting or active side,
and the left side is their yin side, their female side, their feeling or adaptive side. For people
who were born left-handed, this polarity is reversed. Thus, for a right-handed person, their
right leg can be described as their will leg, or their male leg, or the foundation of their will, but
for a left-handed person, their left leg would be their male leg or will leg, and so on. Thus, we
can talk about the will arm, or the will eye, or the will nostril, etc., and which side it is on will
depend upon whether the person is right-handed or left-handed at birth.

Using The Map

When there is tension in a particular part of the body, this represents a tension in a particular
part of the consciousness, about a particular part of the person's life. Being aware of these
associations helps one to see the importance of resolving the tense issues in their life.

If it were only a question of doing what is necessary for the person to be happy, that would be
reason enough to motivate the person to want to change something that doesn't work for
them, but here, we see that it is also a matter of health. The issues that are unresolved in a
person's life are, in fact, hazardous to their health.

When we see the correspondences between the consciousness and the body, we see the
degree to which we each create our reality. In fact, those words begin to take on a new
meaning. We see how everything begins in our consciousness and we are able to look around
us at other aspects of our lives in the same way.

When we see how the body carries out the messages and deepest wishes of the Being within
the body, we can realize that the process can go in more than one direction. If our
consciousness is directing how we develop symptoms, it can also direct how we release these
same symptoms. If our consciousness can make our body ill, our consciousness can make our
body well.

The logical conclusion of this process is that anything can be healed.