Hormonal models
An understanding of the hormonal action in the body can tie together medical science with ancient teachings of the chakras and help explain mystical experience and why some people are autistic.
The endocrine system was briefly mentioned in the physical models of man. Hormones are secreted from the major endocrine glands (which in the main correspond with the chakra sites) in response to external and internal stimulus and events, and they affect other parts of the body. There are over 60 known major hormones, the effects of which are still being understood. Without the hormones the physical body would not do much. Do emotions cause hormones to flow, or does hormone release result in the experience of emotions?
| Chakra centre | Endocrine gland | Hormone and affect |
|---|---|---|
| 7th - sahasrara | pineal | melatonin - antioxidant, sleep |
| 6th - ajna | pituitary | serotonin - mood antidiuretic (vasopressin) - water retention FSH - stimulates maturation of follicules in ovary; spermatogenesis in male growth hormone - stimulates growth and cell reproduction luteinizing hormone - ovulation in female; testosterone production in male oxytocin - breast milk; female orgasm; trust; circadian rhythm prolactin - milk production; sexual gratification |
| 5th - vishuddha | thyroid | thyroxine - metabolic rate; protein synthesis calcitonin - bone formation |
| 4th - anahata | thymus | (Thymus is for T lymphocyte cell maturation) |
| 3rd - manipura | pancreas | glucagon - increases blood glucose level insulin - intake of glucose in liver and muscle from blood |
| 2nd - swadisthana | kidneys |
epinephrine (adrenalin) - fight or flight response; boosts oxygen and glucose supply, suppresses immune system |
| 1st - muladhara | testes |
estradiol - female growth characterstics |
Relationship between chakras and endocrine glands
Effect of Hormones
- Regulate growth
- Regulatre wakefulness and sleep
- Trust and bonding, relationships, family ties
- Sex drive, orgasm
- Pregancy, birth, lactation, ovulation cycle in women
- Fight-and-flight response
- Regulate body temperature
- Digestion, regulate glucose blood supply to brain and muscles
- Affect mood and attention
- Male agression
Hormones and Addiction
We are all addicted to something, and I don't mean coffee or cigarettes or alcohol. Partnering for life is an addiction. Love is a chemical addiction. It is "natural" and may well be good for you, but it is nevertheless an addition. Sex is an addiction. Study is an addiction. Many extreme athletes are addicted to the endorphins that are released during their long periods of exercise. I am not saying all these are bad, I am merely stating that these are addictions.
Meditation is also an addiction (generally an addiction to serontonin). Virtually anything you do in life because you enjoy doing it is because there is a release or chemicals in the body that stimulate your brain so that you "feel" that you like it.
This is fine, providing those around you react similarly to you and understand your addictions because they are similar to theirs. Problems arise when a set of addictions in one group of people are different to another - this can happen between nations, or with minority groups.
© In the Light, 18 March, 2011 , Disclaimer, Son of Suckerfish drop-downs from HTML dog