Eastern thought has long held that a subtle energy field underlies the visible anatomy of the human body. Different formulations of the structure of this field exist. Some describe interconnected rotating discs of energy distributed throughout the body, but most posit seven main ones roughly located along the spine. Vedic seers called the centers "chakras" in their native Sanskrit. They believed that maintaining balance among them, especially the main ones, was the key to health.
The 7 Main Chakras
The seven main chakras are generally described as located at roughly equal distances from each other along the spine, with the first being at the sacral area at the base of the spine and the seventh at the top of the head. Each corresponds to a part of the body and has a characteristic vibration which is usually expressed as a color and mantric syllable. Among the eastern healing traditions that associate disease with an imbalance caused by an excess or deficiency of energy in one or more of the chakras are acupuncture and reiki, which are both considered complementary alternative medical treatments in the United States.
Balancing with Meditation
The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine estimates that 10 percent of Americans used meditation in 2007 to treat certain health problems, such as anxiety, depression and insomnia. It is a simple technique to use for chakra balancing. Find a quiet place to lie down or preferably sit with your spine erect, and visualize each chakra in turn as you direct your attention to the part of the body it represents. You may find it helpful to focus on the color of the chakra or intone its characteristic sound. You can also lay your hands gently on the associated part of the body as you visualize each chakra.
Massage
Gentle massage draws your attention in subtle ways in the direction of the hands of the person who is massaging you, and it can be a pleasurable and relaxing way to bring your focus to those areas of your body most in need of healing. Under your direction, a practitioner familiar with the chakra system can loosen tight areas in your spine or neck and restore energy flow. Tightness or numbness can be interpreted as an energetic anomaly in the associated chakra, and by visualizing the chakra as the masseur works on the areas, you can restore balance.
Aromatherapy
Besides a characteristic color and sound, each chakra is associated with certain smells, and aromatherapy can be an effective way to achieve balance. Aromatherapy involves the inhalation of essential oils, and the University of Maryland Medical Center reports several possible benefits, including strengthening the immune system and promoting digestion. Inhaling a smell associated with a deficient chakra, such as patchouli for the root chakra or jasmine for the heart chakra, brings energy and balance. Aromatherapy can be effective on its own, but it may be even more effective in conjunction with another energy healing method, such as reiki. However, neither is a substitute for conventional medicine if you have a serious medical issue.
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