Vishuddha- The Throat Chakra, The Fifth Chakra

The throat chakra, or Vishuddha, is the energy center within our bodies associated with communication, truth, and self-expression. Located at the base of the neck, the throat chakra is connected to the color blue and the element of aether. This chakra is responsible for regulating the energy associated with authenticity, creativity, and understanding.  Throat chakra healing is the practice of opening, balancing, and purifying the throat chakra within our bodies. Generally, throat chakra healing uses a wide range of holistic healing remedies to bring alignment to the body, mind, and spirit. These remedies include practices such as yoga, mindfulness, color therapy, sound healing, self-inquiry, aromatherapy, and many others. I work on this Chakra on Thursdays.

Here are some signs of an unhealthy throat chakra:

You find it hard to express your emotions in a healthy way

You struggle to verbalize your thoughts

You feel nervous when trying to share your opinions, OR …

You tend to aggressively push your opinions onto others

You struggle a lot with miscommunication in your relationships

You constantly feel ignored or misunderstood by others

You keep a lot of secrets from others for fear of not being accepted

You feel anxious in conversations

You are shy around others

You find it hard to be your authentic self

You tend to be over-opinionated, OR …

You struggle to have a voice of your own

You feel almost paralyzed when doing public speaking

You often enter restrictive relationships that don’t allow you to voice your thoughts and feelings without getting criticized

You find it difficult to be honest with yourself and others

Your actions go against your words

You have swollen lymph nodes in your neck

Your voice frequently cracks or sounds thin

You suffer from hypo or hyperthyroidism

You have ear problems such as premature hearing loss or infections

You develop regular sinus, throat or upper respiratory infections

Ways to heal the throat chakra:

Use a powerful mantra

Hum or chant “HAM”

Eat more of these foods

• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Blue grapes
• Currants
• Kiwifruit
• Apples
• Grapefruit
• Lemons
• Pears
• Plums
• Peaches
• Figs
• Apricots

Sound healing

• Singing bowls
• Gongs
• Tuning forks

Start journaling your thoughts

Breathe into your stomach

Use herbs

• Peppermint
• Elderberry
• Clove
• Cinnamon
• Echinacea
• Spearmint
• Fennel
• Slippery elm

Color therapy

Inwardly say “thank you” to life

Meditate with crystals

• Blue kyanite
• Larimar
• Tanzanite
• Azurite
• Aquamarine
• Lapis lazuli

Listen carefully

Screaming and laughing catharsis

Clear blocks with yoga

Sing to yourself

Cleanse the throat chakra with essential oils

• Frankincense
• Ylang-ylang
• Neroli
• Eucalyptus
• Clove
• Rosemary
• Myrrh

Drink pure water

Do a throat chakra visualization

Spend time in silence

Get a neck massage

Practice being assertive

[This] is the chakra of spiritual rebirth. It… includes prana, the vital life force throughout the body that brings balance of all the elements, and jnana, awareness that bestows bliss [and] understanding the laws of existence and [how] to synchronize with them…The voice of s fifth-chakra person penetrates to the heart of the listener. -Harish Johari