The Physio-Emotional Link. Associations between physical diseases emotional issues, and spiritual concerns.

As addressed above, a significant benefit of energy medicine is its ability to work at several levels at once: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual. All of the systems I studied acknowledged these links, though they vary in their emphasis (e.g. SHEN has a significant emphasis on physical and emotional links, Gilkeson strongly emphasizes the spiritual growth potential of energy medicine.) Oftentimes, clients come to energy medicine when they have a recurrent physical symptom that allopathic medicine has not been able to effectively treat, or they may have a cluster of symptoms. An energy healer can use a knowledge of emotional centers to treat the client’s physical issues. In the process of work, the emotional issues may surface and release. In other cases, a client may present with spiritual or emotional issues, and knowledge of chakra theory and physio-emotional links may help to uncover an association with a physical illness or trauma.

Some links that have been observed are: people traumatized by war (a core survival situation) can have an impaired immune system, people with money problems may experience recurrent lower back pain and sexual potency problems; people who feel overwhelmed by responsibility may experience indigestion or ulcers, and so on. “Recent health research has shown… individuals who feel loved and supported by friends and family or even by a loving pet… tend to have higher survival rates following heart attacks than other cardiac patients who experience… a sense of social isolation.” (Gerber, 62) This concept is even reflected in popular language. Pavek observes that we use the phrases ‘heartsick, broken-hearted, and heartache’ to describe extreme sadness and grief, emotions which tend to manifest in heart disease. ‘Full of gall, and venting your spleen’ can be used to describe anger, which manifests in the epigastric region. ‘Gutless’, ‘yellow belly’ and ‘feeling kicked in the gut’ are descriptions of shame, which manifests in umbilical region. (Pavek, 12)

The Organ-Emotion Link. Qi Gong Theory. (Adapted from Cohen, 235-7, Gerber 160)

Organ: primary &  secondary	Harmful Emotions	Qi Effect	Physical Effects	Positive Emotions	Needed to Heal, Balance
Spleen, Stomach	Excessive concentration. Empathy (Loss of own boundaries)	Knotted and stuck	Gastric disturbances, high b.p., weakened immunity, phlegm and colds	Trust, Faith, Confidence	Spend time in nature.
Lungs, Large Intestine	Anxiety, Sorrow, Grief, Depression	Constriction	Asthma Bronchitis	Integrity, dignity	Elbow room.
Kidneys, Bladder	Fear	Contraction, frozen qi	Kidney disease, UTI, cold feet, memory loss	Wisdom	Avoid stress.
Liver, Gallbladder	Anger, Resentment	Rising	Muscle tension, eyestrain, headaches, hemorrhoids	Kindness	Companionship, benevolence.
Heart, Small Intestine	Joy (excitability, hysteria, excess), Shock	Scatters and disperses	Uneven pulse, cardiac problems, overeating	Ritual, Orderliness Creativity	Peace and quiet. Security. Not overstimulation.

Energy Centers and Associated Emotions

Synthesized from Myss’ “Energy Anatomy” (Myss, 96-101), SHEN “Regions of Somatic Affect and Related Organ Dysfunction” (Pavek, 12), Brennan’s “Major Chakras and the area of the body they nourish” (Brennan, 48), Brennan’s “Major Chakras and Associated Psychological Function” (Brennan, 73) “The Seven Major Chakras” (Baggott, 33), and Gerber’s Summary of “Major Chakras and their Physiologic and Psychospiritual Associations” (Gerber, 52-53).

Chakra. Physical Location	Primary Organ. Associated Organs, Glands	Primary Physiological Function. Associated Physical Diseases	Primary Emotional / Spiritual  Issue. Associated Emotional/Spiritual Issues
1. Root. Tailbone, perineum.	Spinal Column. Bones, bone marrow Legs, feet Anus, rectum Immune System Kidneys/adrenal gland (in some systems)	Excretory, Immunity. Sciatica Varicose Veins Rectal tumors/cancer Depression Immune-related disorders	Basic Survival Instincts. Mortal fear. Will to live Tribal safety and security Ability to provide for life’s necessities. Physical strength, energy Determination, courage Sense of being grounded, secure
2. Sacral. Halfway between pubic bone and navel.	Sexual Organs. Bladder Lower Back Large Intestine Pelvis, hips Appendix	Reproductive, Urinary. PMS, Ob/gyn problems Irritable Bowel Syndrome Chronic lower back pain Sexual potency Urinary problems	Guilt and Shame. Power and Control. Sexuality. Financial Issues Creativity Ethics and Honor in Relationships Desires, emotions
3. Solar Plexus. 1-2” below where ribs meet.	Kidney, adrenals. Liver Stomach Gall Bladder Intestines Pancreas Spleen Middle Back Kidneys/adrenals (some systems)	Digestive. Digestive disorders. Ulcers. Arthritis Colon/intestinal problems Pancreatitis/diabetes Indigestion, chronic or acute Anorexia or bulimia Liver dysfunction, hepatitis Kidney disease	Anger, fear, anxiety. Trust. Fear and intimidation Self-Esteem, confidence, self-respect Responsibility for making decisions Sensitivity to criticism Personal power, ambition Personal Honor Who you are within the Universe

4. Heart. Centered on chest, 2” above where ribs meet.	Heart. Lungs. Shoulders and Arms Ribs, breasts, upper back Diaphragm Blood Thymus Gland	Circulatory. Immunity. Congestive heart failure Hypertension, heart attack Asthma Allergies Migraines Bronchial pneumonia	Love, grief, sorrow. Resentment and bitterness Grief and Anger, Self-centeredness Loneliness and Depression Forgiveness and Compassion Hope and Trust. Integrity, dignity Openness to life
5. Throat. At the notch below the Adam’s apple.	Throat. Lungs Trachea, Esophagus Neck vertebrae Mouth, Teeth and Gums Hypothalamus Vocal Chords Thyroid Gland	Respiratory. Raspy throat, Chronic sore throat Mouth ulcers, Gum difficulties Temporomandibular joint problems Scoliosis Laryngitis Swollen glands Thyroid problems	Choice, strength of will. Communication. Speaking your truth, expression Using personal power to create Addiction Judgment and criticism Faith and knowledge Capacity to make decisions
6. Brow. Center of forehead, 1” above eyebrows	Brain (Cerebellum). Nervous System Eyes (Left Eye) Ears Nose Pituitary gland	Autonomic nervous system Brain tumor / hemorrhage / stroke Neurological disturbances Blindness/ Deafness Full spinal difficulties Learning disabilities Seizures	Intellect / Intuition. Self-evaluation, Truth Intellectual ability Feelings of adequacy Openness to the ideas of others Ability to learn from experience Emotional Intelligence
7. Crown. Top of head. Where fontanel is on an infant.	Cerebrum. Muscular system Skeletal System Skin Right Eye Pineal gland	Central nervous system. Energetic disorders Mystical depression Chronic exhaustion that is not linked to a physical disorder Extreme sensitivity to light, sound, etc.	Spirituality and enlightenment. Ability to trust life Values, ethics, and courage Humanism, Selflessness Ability to see the larger pattern Faith and inspiration Sense of life’s purpose

Energy centers and their Physical Locations

Although there is broad-based agreement about the emotional centers and their locations, details vary between theories, and are charted below. While some of these theories are based on the ancient Sanskrit system, others (e.g. Hucha Mikhuy, Qi Gong) arose in other cultures, and others (e.g. Joy’s Way, SHEN) were independently developed based on clairvoyant research, observations of energy flow patterns, and energy scanning.

Location	“Standard Chakras”*	Pranic Healing	Hucha Mikhuy	Joy’s Way*	Qi Gong / Chinese+	Reiki / Diane Stein++	SHEN	Therapeutic Touch
How many total	7	11 major	4 major, 3 minor	40	3	11	5	9
8-12” above head				TranspersonalPt.		Transpersonal
Top of head	Crown	Crown		Crown		Crown		Crown
Center of forehead, ~ 1” above eyebrows	Brow/ Pineal / Third Eye	Forehead	Third Eye	Brow	Upper Dan Tien	Brow		3^rd Eye
Base of Skull						Causal Body
At the notch below Adam’s apple	Throat	Throat	Kunka ñawi	Throat		Throat		Throat
Betwn heart /throat				Mid-Chest		Thymus
Centered 2” above where ribs meet	Heart	Front Heart	Songo ñawi	Heart	Mid. Dan Tien	Heart	Heart	Heart
Edge of lower left ribs		Spleen		Splenic				Spleen
1-2” below where ribs meet	Solar Plexus	Solar Plexus		Solar Plexus		Solar Plexus	Solar Plexus	Solar Plexus
Halfway between pubic bone & navel	Sacral	Navel	Qosqo ñawi		Lower Dan Tien	Belly / Sacral	Kath
Pubic Bone / Genitals		Sex		Sexual Ctr.		Hara/TanTien	Pubic
Tailbone / perineum	Root / Base	Basic	Siki ñawi	Root		Root	Root	Root
Kidney region		mang mien
Hands and Feet				Several				Hand/Foot
8-10” below feet						Grounding

* The “Standard” chakras appear in several systems, including: Carolyn Myss’ Energy Anatomy, Gilkeson’s Energy Healing, and traditional Reiki. Therapeutic Touch adds the spleen chakra, hands and feet. Angelo’s Hands-on Healing includes these seven chakras, but also states there are 360 chakras in the body, including major chakras on the palms and the soles of the feet. Gordon’s Quantum Touch includes the Astral chakra, 8-10” below feet, and four chakras above the head. Most of these acknowledge the origin in Sanskrit texts., although Myss and Angelo say they see chakras and have correlated their observations with Sanskrit texts.

* Joy says there are 40 chakras; he includes those listed above, plus chakras on the back, at hip joints, shoulders, knees, elbows, breasts, and several in each foot and hand.

+ Qi Gong has three energy centers, plus energy reservoirs in the major organs, and meridians that circulate energy.

++ Stein includes the traditional chakras, plus “new” chakras that she says  are now opening spontaneously for many people in our modern society.

** In Kahuna Healing, King says “the principle points of interaction or interchange [between individual energy fields and fields and currents in the environment] are those located along a line running from the perineum up the front and back of the body to the fontanel, as well as others on the hands and feet.” (King, 91) In Ju|’hoansi healing, energy is concentrated in the pit of the stomach, and the base of the spine, and travels up the spine to the skull and out the fingers during !aia. (Katz)

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