The solar plexus chakra, or Manipura in Sanskrit, is your center of personal power. Located in the upper abdomen, just between the navel and the bottom of the sternum, it governs confidence, decision-making, self-worth, inner force, self-nourishment and emotional processing. When this energy center is out of balance, it doesn’t just affect your mood or mindset — it can manifest as persistent physical pain and chronic health conditions. Together, we explore how the solar plexus chakra connects to both the emotional and physical body, and how healing it can lead to profound relief.
1. Physical Pain and the Solar Plexus
Anxiety and Stress
The solar plexus is intimately connected with the sympathetic nervous system — the fight-or-flight response. Chronic stress and anxiety keep this system activated, contributing to:
- Adrenal fatigue
- Elevated cortisol levels
- Restlessness or insomnia
- Feelings of being “wired but tired”
These symptoms may show up as persistent tension in the gut, shallow breathing, and even a fluttery sensation in the upper stomach area.
Digestive Issues
As the seat of digestive fire (or Agni in Ayurvedic medicine), the solar plexus governs how we process food — and emotions. When blocked or overactive, this chakra can contribute to:
- Bloating
- Acid reflux
- IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
- Poor nutrient absorption
- Lower immunity response
- Reduced liver function
Many holistic practitioners now recognize the role of emotional trauma in gut issues, often referred to as a disruption in the “gut-brain axis.” The gut-brain axis is responsible for regulating not just digestion but also your mood, immune system, and hormone production.
This is why emotional states like stress, fear, or unprocessed trauma often show up as physical symptoms in the digestive tract: bloating, nausea, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, or reflux. At Hito, we take these symptoms seriously — not just as biological glitches, but as messages from the body asking to be seen, heard, and healed.
Muscle Tension and Injury
Muscle tightness, particularly in the mid-back, abdomen, or around the diaphragm, can indicate stagnation in the solar plexus. People with an imbalance here often unconsciously clench their core or have poor posture, sustained by a tight diaphragm and higher lumbar curve, which may lead to:
- Lower back pain
- Tension around the rib cage
- Breathing difficulties or shallow breath
- Recurring strain in the obliques or abdominal wall
2. Emotional and Energetic Connection
Emotional Blockages
This chakra acts like an emotional processing hub. When you suppress anger, fear, or sadness, it can become energetically stuck in the solar plexus. Over time, this may show up as:
- Emotional numbness
- A sense of being “stuck” or unable to move forward
- Frequent feelings of shame or guilt
These blockages can physically “weigh down” the gut/stomach, resulting in both emotional and somatic symptoms.
In Chinese Reflexology, we have a projection of the organs on the face, palms and soles of the feet, instead in Ayurvedic Medicine, the various centres of energy (chakras) are projected in the arch of the foot, the internal part of the thumbs, along the mid line of the skull and mostly, upside down in the limbs. In this particular approach the root of the leg (hip) or the root of the arm (shoulder) correspond to the root chakra and so on.
In this case the Solar Plexus (middle of the spine) is projected as the middle of the foot medial arch, the middle of the medial thumb (first proximal thumb joint) and the middle of the arm (elbow) or leg (knee). Therefore, an energy imbalance of this chakra can lead to the common golf/tennis elbow or knee pains.
Lack of Personal Power
Do you often feel like your voice doesn’t matter, struggle with setting boundaries, or hesitate to make decisions? These are signs of a weakened solar plexus chakra. When this energy is low, the body often mimics the feeling by being sluggish, heavy, or inflamed.
On the other hand, a hyperactive solar plexus may lead to over-controlling behavior, perfectionism, or frequent burnout.
Fear and Anxiety
Fear is one of the most powerful suppressors of solar plexus energy. Whether it’s fear of failure, rejection, or judgment, this emotion can build a chronic state of internal tension. Physical symptoms that often go hand-in-hand with this state include:
- Nausea or “knot in the stomach” feeling
- Mid-back stiffness
- Breathing restrictions
- Skin breakouts around the torso or abdomen
How Acupuncture and Energy Healing Can Support Digestive Issues
The Gut-Emotion Connection
Digestive health is about more than food and enzymes. At Hito, we understand that symptoms like bloating, acid reflux, constipation, or IBS often stem from deeper layers of emotional stress, energetic imbalance, and nervous system dysregulation. If you’ve tried changing your diet, taking supplements, or going through endless medical tests with little to no resolution, it may be time to look beneath the surface.
Our approach blends ancient Eastern medicine with contemporary holistic therapies to explore the gut-body-mind connection. Two of the most powerful modalities we offer in this realm are Acupuncture and Energy Healing. Let’s dive into how each can support your digestive health from the inside out.
Acupuncture for Digestive Balance
Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture is a time-tested therapy that regulates the flow of vital life force, or “Qi,” through the meridian pathways of the body.
In TCM, digestive issues are often seen as imbalances in the Stomach, Spleen, and Liver meridians. When Qi is stagnant, or there’s a deficiency in these channels, it can manifest as poor digestion, sluggish metabolism, or inflammation.
As part of Alessio’s holistic physiotherapy approach, and with his advanced acupuncture certification, he offers gentle, personalised treatments designed to:
- Stimulate digestion by enhancing gut motility and enzyme production
- Calm inflammation in the stomach and intestines
- Support detoxification by improving liver function
- Regulate stress hormones such as cortisol, which play a major role in gut irritation
- Restore parasympathetic function, encouraging the body to shift from “fight or flight” into “rest and digest”
Most clients find the experience deeply relaxing — even if they came-in feeling anxious or bloated, they often leave the session feeling lighter, grounded, and more at ease.
Moreover, Alessio is currently exploring the Classical and Neo-Classical approaches to acupuncture, which are rooted in Taoism (or Daoism). These approaches focus on the client’s inner body awareness and self-knowledge, allowing for an individualized and tailored application of specific acupoints, revealed through body reading during conversation and palpation. This method aims to reach deeper into the root cause of issues, supporting faster recovery and often leading to unexpected emotional releases or profound moments of self-awareness.
Energy Healing: Addressing Emotional Roots
Beyond the physical layer, digestive issues are often tied to emotional suppression, chronic anxiety, or unresolved trauma. This is where energy healing becomes a transformative tool.
At Hito, we offer therapies led by Alessio such as:
- Chakra rebalancing: Especially focusing on the solar plexus chakra (located in the upper abdomen), which governs digestion, self-worth, and personal power while using light touch to clear energetic blockages and restore balance to the body’s subtle systems
- Sound therapy: Using gongs, crystal bowls, chimes, we vibrationally attune the energy field to promote harmony in the digestive organs
These therapies create space for deep emotional release. Clients often report waves of calm, emotional clarity, or even memories surfacing during a session — which points to the profound gut-emotion connection being activated and healed.
Combining Modalities for Holistic Results
What makes our approach at Hito truly unique is our multi-dimensional care plan. We don’t just treat the symptom — we treat the person. For clients with chronic digestive issues, we often recommend combining:
- Acupuncture for physical and emotional support
- Energy healing for emotional regulation and physical releases
- Visceral Induction Therapy to restore the natural mobility and function of the organs
- Breathwork and Journaling to process stored tension
- Coaching to uncover the emotional patterns tied to digestive stress
The result? Sustainable improvements, not just in gut function but in overall emotional well-being and vitality.
Patient Success Story: Sarah’s Journey Back to Health
When Sarah first came to us, she was struggling with severe acid reflux, stomach pain, and significant weight loss. Daily discomfort had become her norm, and medications weren’t offering lasting relief. Like many others who come through our doors, Sarah was searching for more than symptom management—she was looking for healing.
“I came with severe acid reflux, stomach pain and weight loss. I had 6 appointments and will keep coming. My relief was so fantastic. To be looked after and healed was amazing. I am off meds now and eating well again.”
— Sarah C.
Through a series of six holistic therapy sessions with Alessio, combining advanced visceral induction therapy, advanced acupuncture, and energy healing, Sarah began to experience a transformation. Her pain subsided, her digestion improved, and most importantly—she regained the joy of eating and living.
Sarah’s story is a powerful reminder that healing happens when we treat the root, not just the symptoms. We are honoured to walk alongside our clients on their path to lasting wellness.
Self-Care Tip #1: Journaling for Emotional and Physical Well-being
Journaling is more than just writing your thoughts down — it’s a practice of emotional release, clarity, and healing. Regular journaling has been shown to reduce stress, improve immune function, and support emotional regulation.
When we write about our experiences, we engage both hemispheres of the brain, fostering insight and reducing emotional overwhelm. In the context of physical health, journaling helps us uncover patterns — like how certain stressors trigger physical symptoms or how unspoken emotions create tension or fatigue.
Tips to get started:
- Write freely for 5–10 minutes, possibly by hand and on paper, without worrying about grammar.
- Use prompts like: “What emotions have I been holding in my body today or this week?” or “What does my gut want to tell me today?”
- Try the free writing approach of writing on the fly, without thinking about something you want to find or an analytic process but just discharging on paper whatever comes to your mind from thinking or feeling the symptoms affecting you, even if the writing doesn’t make any sense.
- Revisit past entries to observe emotional and physical patterns: a good way to do it is dividing your paper sheet into 3 columns: medical history, life events, emotions/feelings. In this way you can “connect the dots” between recurrent symptoms/conditions, intense positive or negative experiences and the inner “reading/perception” of them.
Make journaling part of your daily or weekly self-care ritual — a gentle conversation between your inner world and your body.
Self-Care Tip #2: Loving Kindness Meditation (LKM)
Loving-Kindness Meditation (LKM) can be helpful for solar plexus and digestive issues, both directly and indirectly. Here’s how:
1. Reduces Stress & Anxiety (Indirect Benefit)
LKM activates the parasympathetic nervous system, calming the “fight-or-flight” response and promoting relaxation, which aids digestion.
2. Releases Emotional Blockages
LKM fosters self-compassion and emotional release, helping to clear energetic blockages in this area.
3. Improves Gut-Brain Connection
The gut-brain axis is highly sensitive to emotional states. Since LKM enhances positive emotions, it may help regulate gut function by reducing stress-induced inflammation or spasms.
4. Boosts Energy Flow (Subtle Body Benefit)
LKM’s focus on warmth and loving energy can rebalance Manipura, improving metabolic and digestive function.
How to Use LKM for Solar Plexus & Digestion:
- Focus on the Solar Plexus (just above the navel) while repeating the phrase “May I be well. May I be happy. May I be free.” and visualize warm, golden light filling this area.
- Extend kindness inward—many digestive issues relate to self-criticism or stress.
- Combine with deep breathing (diaphragmatic breaths) to massage internal organs.
Scientific Support?
- Studies show LKM reduces stress markers (cortisol) and improves vagal tone (key for digestion).
- While not a cure for medical conditions (like ulcers or gastritis), it can complement treatment by addressing emotional contributors.
Are You Ready to Reclaim Your Power?
If you’ve been experiencing unexplained digestive issues, abdominal tightness, or emotional fatigue, your solar plexus chakra may be asking for attention. Whether you start with breathwork, acupuncture, energy healing, or a combination of these, Hito offers a safe, compassionate space to begin your healing journey.
