The word chakra is Sanskirt for “wheel.” The various energy centers that govern the physical and etheric bodies are called this, as they’re visualized as spinning discs of energy.
When they are open and healthy, we can enjoy perfect physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
Unfortunately, they can easily become blocked, leading to a wide variety of symptoms. The fifth chakra is Visuddha, Vishuddhi, or Vishuddha, the throat chakra.
About the Throat Chakra
The name Vishuddha translates to “especially pure.” It is located in the throat area, represented by the color blue, and has an activation point in the middle of the throat.
This chakra is described as a white lotus with sixteen purple or grayish petals. Its seed mantra is “Ham.”
This chakra is said to govern communication. It’s associated with our willingness and ability to express ourselves.
If an energy blockage develops here, the flow of our life force is restricted from flowing to the third eye and crown chakras — the two energy centers most strongly tied to our intuition and spirituality.
Blocked Throat Chakra Signs & Symptoms
Since each chakra correlates with aspects of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being, a blockage is bad news.
It can create a wide array of symptoms, usually in the body systems associated with the blocked chakra. Vishuddha can be blocked by untruths.
Signs and symptoms of a blocked throat chakra include:
- Difficulty speaking.
- Anxiety related to public speaking.
- Timidity.
- Dishonesty.
- Trouble expressing one’s thoughts.
- Speaking rashly or without tact.
Due to the throat chakra’s location, blockages can also manifest as physical issues with the neck, throat, and larynx.
Physically, you may experience:
- A sore throat.
- A raspy voice.
- Thyroid problems.
- A stiff or sore neck.
- Pain in the jaw.
- Grinding teeth.
- Dental problems.
Most of the symptoms of a blocked throat chakra are relatively minor, but some can indicate a significant problem. Unblocking the chakras is best used as a preventative medicine.
If an acute problem develops, be sure to consult with a physician. If necessary, methods for unblocking the chakras are compatible with the majority of conventional medical treatments.
Throat Chakra Opening Signs & Symptoms
If you’ve lived with a blocked chakra for some time, you may get used to what it feels like. This means that, when it begins opening and healing, it can begin to feel very strange.
As life force energy starts flowing through this chakra again, you might experience some of the following.
Some signs and symptoms of an opening throat chakra include:
- A desire to speak up more often.
- An easier time telling the truth.
- An urge to sing.
- A need to speak less often. (This occurs when your words begin to align with your beliefs — you may speak less, but you say more.)
- An urge to engage in other forms of self-expression, like playing music, writing poetry, or painting.
Physically, an opening throat chakra may cause:
- An improvement in thyroid hormones.
- A reduction in dental pain.
- Less neck pain.
- Less tooth grinding.
- Relief from chronic sore throats.
Methods to Heal, Balance, & Open the Throat Chakra
The throat chakra can be corrected in a wide variety of ways. Each person’s situation is different, so one method may not be effective, while another will. These techniques can be freely tried and combined as needed:
Meditation and Visualization
Sit with your legs crossed, spine tall, and neck relaxed. Allow your chin to drop gently toward your chest, relax your jaw, and let your shoulders drop away from your ears.
Breathe in deeply through your nose, keeping a gentle tension in your throat. (This will produce a soft roaring noise and the sensation of air moving through the trachea.) Exhale deeply through the mouth. Repeat this five times.
When you are ready, visualize your throat chakra as an egg-shaped blue area in your throat. Take a moment to observe it — is it bright or dull? Spinning or still?
Once you’ve noted its appearance, being drawing energy up through your root chakra, up, up, up to your throat.
Let this egg-shaped area fill with a bright blue healing light. When you feel that you’ve had enough, stop drawing energy into this space. Open your eyes, raise your head, and gently shake out your hands and arms.
Sound Healing
Energy produces vibration, and sound is the product of vibration. Each of the chakras resonates with a particular energetic frequency, often expressed in their seed mantra.
To help heal and open the throat chakra, chant the seed mantra “Ham.” Go slowly, drawing out the sound.
Certain pure tonal sounds are also said to help heal the chakras. You can either listen to these tones directly, or to music tuned to these frequencies. For the throat chakra, sound healers recommend either 192 Hz or 672 Hz.
Crystals and Stones
Crystal energy is perfect for healing the chakras. Stones are powerful, but discreet — you can wear them in jewelry, keep one tucked away in a pocket or pouch, or meditate with them to experience their energies.
The throat chakra works very well with crystals and stones, since it’s very easy to wear a pendant right near this energy center. The closer a crystal is to the area in need of healing, the more effective it can be.
Throat chakra stones are typically varying shades of blue. Lapis lazuli is said to be particularly helpful, as it’s considered the “stone of truth.”
It not only helps with communication and self-expression, it can help the user address the falsehoods that lead to a throat chakra blockage in the first place.
See also: Check out the Best Crystals & Stones for the Throat Chakra here.
Herbs and Foods
Have you ever used a spoonful of honey to soothe a sore throat, or an herbal lozenge to quiet a cough? If so, you know how powerful herbs and foods can be when it comes to healing — especially for the throat chakra.
Most of the foods associated with this energy center are blue, like blueberries. This chakra also benefits from traditional soothing herbs, like marshmallow or slippery elm bark.
For the throat chakra, the best remedies are calming to the mucous membranes. These can reduce some of the pain of speaking.
Aromatherapy
Not all medicinal herbs need to be ingested to help. Some of them work best when inhaled. Aromatherapy allows the user to take in minute amounts of very concentrated, powerful plant medicine through the olfactory system.
Specific essential oils resonate particularly well with the throat chakra, like blue chamomile. Others, like lavender, are considered universal for the entire chakra system.
Essential oils should only be used by adults. Since they are so concentrated, they can be too much for small children, leading to sensitivities and toxic reactions.
Many animals also lack the enzymes necessary to safely break down some of the volatile compounds in essential oils, so it’s best to avoid using diffusers in households with pets.
Instead, add essential oils to aromatherapy jewelry, dilute them for use in massage oils, or use them to create smelling salts.
See also: Check out the Best Herbs & Essential Oils for the Throat Chakra here.
Color
Each chakra resonates with certain colors. Color also has a deep impact on our mood, sense of well-being, and even our pain levels.
The throat chakra is tied to blue, so wearing, decorating with, or otherwise surrounding yourself with this color will help expose you to its Vishuddha-opening energy.
Exercise
Exercise is a way to stimulate the flow of energy through our physical body — just picture the healthy flush in your cheeks after a vigorous workout. On a metaphysical level, it also helps move things through our energy bodies.
Various exercises can stimulate and open the throat chakra. Yoga asanas, specifically Matsyasana (fish pose) and Marjaryasana with Bitilasana (Cat and Cow pose), are a wonderful, relaxing way to help open this center.
Energy Work
A blockage in the throat chakra can rob us of some of our confidence, to the point where we may not feel up to the task of unblocking it ourselves.
In situations like this, it may be helpful to ask an energy worker to help get things started.
Modalities like reiki and massage can stimulate the flow of life force energy and stimulate all of the chakras.
Your throat chakra is what allows you to speak your truth. When we lie to ourselves and others, we sabotage this ability and encourage the formation of energetic blockages.
These techniques can help you open and heal your throat chakra, allowing you to freely and confidently deliver your message to the world.