Gut Health and Crystals

Your crystal-clear guide to getting your gut health back on track

Gut health is THE wellness trend of 2024. Between viral TikToks, celebrity life hacks, and Netflix specials, we can't go a day without hearing about a new gut health remedy or supplement. For wellness girlies who struggle with digestive issues, this focus on healing your gut microbiome has given us some much-needed tips. 

But gut health is about so much more than taking probiotics or eating fermented foods. In fact, your emotional well-being plays a more significant role in your digestion and gut health than you think.

Holistic health is all about treating our physical, emotional, and spiritual sides as equally important pieces of the wellness puzzle. Your emotional and spiritual health play a big part in keeping your gut healthy. Enter the solar plexus chakra: this energy center is your personal power hub and self-esteem booster, and it also regulates your digestive health. The coolest part? Crystals, with their natural healing properties, can help balance this chakra and give your gut and emotions some much-needed TLC.

Let's explore the spiritual side of gut health and uncover how crystals can help you heal your gut and your mind.

The Science Behind Gut Health

Your gut is home to trillions of microorganisms, called the gut microbiome. The microbiome is a little ecosystem that's important for your digestion, immune function, and mental health. It keeps your liver, pancreas, and gallbladder in check and even helps manage your body's stress response.

But here's the problem: when your stress levels are out of whack, so is your gut microbiome. Chronic stress or unresolved emotions can trigger fight-or-flight mode, leading to digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), bloating, constipation, and acid reflux. Ever wonder why your stomach acts up when you're stressed or anxious? Now you know!

The Spiritual Side of Gut Health

In the spiritual world, the gut area, or solar plexus, is one of the 7 chakras. Chakras are energy centers in our body that are believed to be connected to our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The solar plexus chakra or Manipura, located in the upper abdomen, regulates your fears, your sense of power, and your gut instinct or intuition.

The solar plexus chakra is a vital component of the gut-brain axis, the communication highway between your gut and brain. This highway links your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.  When your solar plexus chakra is balanced, it boosts your digestion, confidence, self-esteem, and motivation. It helps you feel confident in your decisions and fosters a strong sense of purpose and self-worth.

On the other hand, when your solar plexus chakra is blocked, you might be dealing with anxiety, fear, guilt, low self-esteem, and digestive issues. You may feel tired or lethargic, have difficulty taking action, or wrestle with guilt, shame, or self-doubt. An imbalanced solar plexus chakra can make it challenging to trust your gut, making you feel indecisive and lacking purpose and motivation. 

How does your solar plexus chakra get blocked? 

Your solar plexus chakra can get blocked when you hold onto emotions like anger, fear, shame, and guilt. This chakra is closely linked to your personal power and authenticity. When you suppress your feelings instead of letting them out, or let others take control of your power by not setting boundaries, your solar plexus chakra can go out of whack. You start to feel like you're not in control of your life, and your confidence and sense of purpose take a hit.

How can you rebalance your solar plexus chakra?

Your mindset and your gut microbiome work together to balance your solar plexus chakra. Healing your mind can actually help heal your gut. Wellness practices like yoga, journalling, meditation, and deep belly breathing can help you release the emotions you're holding in that are blocking your solar plexus chakra.

Another wellness tool that can help heal your gut and bring back your sparkle? Crystals!

Crystals are affordable, accessible, and easy to incorporate into your wellness routine. They are like superheroes of the spiritual world, and each has special powers. Crystals have endured millions of years of pressure to become the beautiful gems they are, and all that pressure is stored inside them as energy. Each crystal has its own vibe and frequency, which can affect your chakras in different ways.

Certain crystals have healing vibes that align with the energies of your digestive organs. Since the solar plexus chakra is thought to emit the colour yellow, yellow crystals are the most powerful for rebalancing this chakra. For instance, crystals like citrine, amber, and tiger's eye are known for their healing properties and can help get your digestive health back on track. You can also check out our blog highlighting them >here< 

How can you use crystals to rebalance your solar plexus chakra?

There are a few ways to rebalance your solar plexus chakra with crystals like citrine, amber, or tiger's eye. Try combining these crystal healing techniques with other wellness practices like yoga and meditation to heal the emotional challenges blocking your solar plexus chakra.

Here are 4 crystal healing techniques you can try if you’re feeling blocked: 

1. Incorporate crystals into your meditation practice. Hold onto a crystal while you meditate. This allows the crystal's healing energy to merge with your mindset work, helping dissolve emotional blocks.
2. Wear a crystal close to your body as a pendant. You can also carry it in your pocket close to your solar plexus chakra.
3. Give your solar plexus chakra some hands-on attention. Rub your crystal over your solar plexus chakra or place it on your abdomen when you're lying down.
4. Treat yourself to a healing bath with crystals, Epsom salts, and your favourite essential oils. 

When your solar plexus chakra is rebalanced, you'll notice a transformation in how you feel emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Your digestion and overall gut health will improve, and you'll feel a renewed sense of personal power and confidence. Trusting your gut instincts becomes second nature, guiding you towards your purpose and motivating you to achieve it.

So, the next time you feel stuck or unmotivated, remember that your solar plexus chakra might need a little crystal TLC to get your sparkle back. Embrace the energy of citrine, amber, or tiger's eye, and watch as your mind and gut align, paving the way for a more confident and vibrant you.

Sources:

Anzani, K. (2022, December 12). Solar plexus chakra: Everything you need to know. Mindbodygreen. https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/solar-plexus-chakra

Freeman, S. (n.d.). Manipura chakra: Nexus of body and mind. Himalayan Institute. https://himalayaninstitute.org/online/manipura-chakra-nexus-of-body-mind/

Garg, N., Gupta, R., Kumar, S., & Singh, R. (2023). Gut microbiota: A key player in health and disease. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 4(9), 2502-2510. https://ijrpr.com/uploads/V4ISSUE9/IJRPR17515.pdf

Loftus, K. (2023, March 21). How healing stones can benefit your mental health. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/how-healing-stones-can-benefit-your-mental-health-8405156

Onyx Integrative Medicine. (n.d.). Solar plexus chakra healing. Onyx Integrative Medicine. https://onyxintegrative.com/solar-plexus-chakra-healing/#:~:text=Trauma%20and%20abuse%20are%20key,can%20damage%20the%20solar%20plexus.

O'Neill, T. (2023, May 11). 3 crystals for gut health. Spirituality & Health. https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/3-crystals-for-gut-health?utm_source=article&utm_medium=linkedin&utm_campaign=May_2023