In this sixth article in our series on “Chakras and the Body-Mind-Soul Connection”, we’ll examine the brow chakra, also known as the third-eye, and what the pituitary, pineal, and hypothalamus glands provide in terms of insights into understanding and unlocking it for our benefit. We’ll also look at how blockages to these glands or to that particular chakra impact our life and what the symptoms are so we can take action to solve the problems caused by that.
The Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland lies in between the two halves of the brain at the base of the third vertebrae. In scientific terms, it is known as the master gland because it regulates and controls the rate at which the other glands release their hormones and the timing of the release. Until the pineal gland tells the body to act, it doesn’t act.
The pituitary gland is divided into three lobes. The anterior lobe is in charge of regulating the activity of the thyroid gland, the adrenal glands, and the gonads. It tells the body when to grow, how much to grow, and when to stop growing. It also regulates the production of breast milk by pregnant and nursing mothers so that they can nourish the growth of their young.
The intermediate lobe dictates the pigmentation of skin, releasing more Beta-melanocyte–stimulating hormone when there’s been increased exposure to direct sunlight and more protection is needed and decreasing the levels when there’s less sunlight so that more of sunlight can be taken in and absorbed.
The posterior lobe is in charge of releasing antidiuretic hormones which prevent dehydration and regulating the amount of oxytocin in the bloodstream. Extra oxytocin is released when childbirth is ready to take place, aiding in the contractions of the uterus that push the child out of the womb and signaling that it is time for prolactin, the hormone that leads to breast milk production, to be released so that the child entering the world will have what it needs to thrive and flourish.
The anterior (front) lobe and the posterior (back) lobes are attached to the hypothalamus through a cable made of blood vessels and axon (neural connectors) that allow for direct communication.
The Pineal Gland
The last gland to be discovered by modern science and the least understood, the pineal gland is in charge of your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle. It also regulates the sex drive, hunger, thirst, and the aging of the body. It regulates these things in response to light received from the eyes. For example, in a healthy body, when the eyes begin to detect an increase in light from the dawn breaking, it cuts off the production of melatonin and sends a signal to the pituitary gland that it is time to increase the levels of serotonin so that you wake naturally.
It is the job of the pineal gland to take the information collected from the eyes and pass it on so that the other systems can interpret and make sense of what to do about it.
The Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is the thermostat for the body. It determines, based on the feedback it receives from the rest of the systems, what is normal and healthy. It then takes the information coming in from all of the other systems and works hard to be sure that the right hormones are released to keep things from getting too far off of normal to be healthy. When your systems stray, its job is to bring those back under control. It keeps you safe mentally and physically by regulating the emotions you feel in response to your environment.
If you’re happy, it’s because the hypothalamus sees this situation as “normal and healthy” for you. If you’re mad, the hypothalamus has detected something being done to you by someone else or by a situation you are in that puts your mental or physical health at risk. If you’re anxious, it’s because there’s been a threat detected to the thermostat itself. Something has challenged your sense of personal identity, the “normal” for you. Being aware of your emotions can help you spot the “normal” setting for your health and – if being fat is normal for you – do whatever it takes to reset that point so that you can achieve the weight loss you desire. That’s why true transformation begins in the mind.
The Brow Chakra
Looking at the overall elements of the activities of the pineal and pituitary glands combined with the hypothalamus gland, we get a much better feel for what the brow chakra is and does. It takes the information it receives from the divine and combines it with the information received from our bodies and acts to keep us normalized, stable, and healthy. It is the center that acts to make connections between the divine, the world around us, and what is happening to us on the inside.
Symptoms of a Blocked Brow Chakra
Your life is one big dramatic episode. You are either up or down. You’re never stable. Chaos reigns supreme in your life, and you feel stressed out, anxious, and worried constantly. You wouldn’t know normal if it walked up to you and introduced itself to you. You truthfully doubt that normal even exists.
Symptoms of a Too Open Brow Chakra
You are so safe, secure, and stable that your life is boring. You’re healthy, you’re safe, but you aren’t really living. You’re comfortable, but you aren’t being challenged and as a result, you aren’t growing. You aren’t flourishing. You aren’t thriving. You’re stagnating.
Next: The Crown Chakra and the Thalamus
In the next lesson, we’ll talk about the connection between the Thalamus and the Crown Chakra, and its role in helping you put all the pieces of your life together so you can maximize your achievement and become your best self.
