Unblock Your Chakras and Unlock Your Joints to Decrease Pain

Qi is the vital energy that circulates throughout your body. Chakras are energy centers in your body that support the free flow of Qi throughout your body. Unfortunately, the Qi, itself may be deficient, or the flow of energy can sometimes get stuck or blocked, impeding energy flow and leading to many issues, one being chronic joint pain.

Our energy depends on both the right amount of qi and its flow through our chakras. When there is a deficiency of qi, this means that there is low energy within the body or the chakra. This can result from imbalances caused by diet and lifestyle, and lead to fatigue, symptoms such as chronic joint pain, and disease. Typical signs of really low qi include fatigue, shortness of breath or no desire to converse, spontaneous sweating, a swollen tongue with teeth marks on the side, and a weak pulse. ¹

Chakras work through electrical vibrations. They are centers of electromagnetic energy that take it in and then redistribute it. There are 7 main chakras that run along your spinal column:

• Your root chakra (Muladhara), at the base of your spine, is the first chakra, and energy center of your body. It is where your sense of security and stability comes from.
• The sacral chakra (Svadhisthana) is right below your navel. It is linked to sexual and creative energy as well as emotion.
• The solar plexus chakra (Manipura) is in the stomach region. This is where your sense of control of life is and is responsible for your self-confidence.
• The heart chakra (Anahata) is at your heart level in the center of your chest. Love and compassion stem from this chakra.
• The throat chakra (Vishudda), located in your throat, centers on verbal communication.
• The third eye chakra (Ajna) is located between your eyes. This chakra is responsible for intuition and imagination.
• The crown chakra (Sahasrara) is at the top of your head. It is your spiritual connection to yourself, to others, and to the universe. It connects us to our life purpose.

When the energy flow of qi is free-flowing, your body’s chakras are balanced. Just like When energy flow is blocked, depending on what chakra(s) are blocked, different symptoms may occur. Low energy within a chakra, results in a low expression of that chakra’s qualities. When too much energy is in a chakra, the qualities may dominate the person’s life, resulting in overexpression and physical and emotional effects.

Our diet and lifestyle impact our chakras. Poor diet and lifestyle can cause imbalances leading to musculoskeletal issues, disease, and illness. The effects may be physical or mental. When your joints are affected, one of several chakras may be blocked. Warning signs of chakra imbalances may show up as follows:

• Root chakra-degenerative arthritis.
• Sacral chakra-hip, pelvic, or low back pain.
• Heart chakra-wrist, arm, pain, or upper back or shoulder issues.
• Throat chakra-neck and shoulder pain.

Unfortunately, chronic joint issues such as arthritis cause common problems such as:

• Persistent pain
• Joint inflammation and swelling
• Muscle weakness
• Poor endurance
• Decreased functional capabilities
• Increased risk of falls
• Joint instability
• Limited joint flexibility
• Joint stiffness
• Obesity
• Poor bone health
• Balance issues
• Sleep disturbances
• Stress issues
• Fatigue
• Lack of confidence in the ability to move and function to control pain or prevent injury
• Feelings of helplessness
• Higher levels of other chronic illnesses (comorbid conditions)

These common problems can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life. However, there are ways in which you can promote the energy flow through your chakra. Here are some tips for unblocking your chakras to reduce inflammation and joint pain:

• Yoga–different yoga poses can strengthen the various chakras
• Qi Gong-Qi means energy and gong is the regulation of Qi through practice. Qi Gong practice can be external, involving various dynamic movements, or internal which is more mindfulness and meditative practice. It generally involves breathing exercises, meditation, and gentle, slow body movements. A review of arthritis studies indicated Qi Gong is a safe form of exercise for most adults with chronic arthritis and should be recommended with the expectation that it will increase the quality of life while reducing pain and depression in adults with this condition.²
• Tai Chi– A review of evidence from 160 research studies mapped various forms of Chinese medicine mind-body therapies on outcomes of various chronic diseases.³ They found that as the most researched interventions, in addition to many other positive outcomes, Qi Gong was helpful in reducing pain and Tai Chi was helpful for Rheumatoid Arthritis. In addition, other mind-body therapies were identified as helpful in reducing joint pain and other chronic pain conditions.
• Acupuncture/Acupressure-Can help to open and align the chakras.
• Meditation/Mindfulness-These can help along with breathing techniques to rebalance the chakra and to eliminate stress which can impair energy balance.
• Nature and Forest bathing-Time spent in nature can help us to be grounded and rebalance the root chakra.
• Essential oils to balance emotions-Examples include lavender, ylang-ylang, chamomile, cedarwood, orange, patchouli, and vetiver.
• Emotional Freedom Technique (Tapping)-Various tapping points are associated with unblocking a particular chakra. Tapping can help to release emotions or emotional trauma that may be blocking a chakra.
• Epsom salt baths or Himalayan salt baths-Baths can help calm the body and to balance the chakra. You can also add in essential oils.
• Foods-Foods such as moist foods with seeds or orange-colored foods.

In summary, by helping to rebalance your chakras when you have chronic joint pain, you can improve energy flow to help unlock your joints, decrease stiffness, improve your mobility, and decrease pain.

References

1.          Zhang Y, Zhang L, Zhao X, et al. Symptom characteristics and prevalence of qi deficiency syndrome in people of varied health status and ages: A multicenter cross-sectional study. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences. 2015;2(3). doi:10.1016/j.jtcms.2016.01.017

2.          Marks R. Qigong Exercise and Arthritis. Medicines. 2017;4(4):71. doi:10.3390/medicines4040071

3.          Fogaça LZ, Portella CFS, Ghelman R, Abdala CVM, Schveitzer MC. Mind-Body Therapies From Traditional Chinese Medicine: Evidence Map. Front Public Health. 2021;9. doi:10.3389/fpubh.2021.659075