Located at the base of your spine (tailbone), the Sanskrit name translates to Root Support. Associated with Mother Earth, you are given a strong, stable foundation to build on. Much like plant roots, you are literally connected to the earth and thereby eternally attached to your Ancestors. As the first chakra to develop, development happens after conception, the root chakra starts to connect us to the Earth and our natal family so we can learn how to live in a body, be part of a tribe, and how to survive.
The root chakra is linked to the color red and so with that, red stones are best used to represent this chakra. A few examples of red stones are: Red Jasper, Garnet, and Ruby. Although there are some stones that are associated with multiple chakras such as Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone and Carnelian. Affecting the perineum, rectum, legs, and feet. Represented by the Earth elemental, and govern by the celestial body Saturn, its main focus is physical existence. So its related to your overall health and vitality, as well as your ability to manifest physical things like money, and good health. Directly influencing your finances, work, family, and home life.
Diseases tell us which chakras have been out of balance. Each chakra is affiliated with a particular endocrine gland and any illness or injury located from the feet up to the tailbone is related to the root chakra. A few of them are the colon, rectum, anus, and intestinal diseases. As well as issues associated with the bowels, bones, blood, and many skin and dermatological issues. For men, diseases of the testes, prostate cancer or any kind of infertility is effected by this chakra. The most effective essential oils are many of the tree or wood-related oils, like sandalwood, cedarwood, rosewood, patchouli, vetiver. With the modality of the root chakra being smell, aromatherapy is arguably the best healing method. Here is a great video for meditatively healing your root chakra which is one of many ways to do so. This is but a fraction of information available on the root chakra, and if you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to do further research.
Until next time, remember do no harm, but take no shit!