Pineal gland: A site of intuition and inner wisdom

SATURDAY

11 June 2022

PINEAL GLAND: SCIENCE & SPIRITUALITY

Pineal Gland is also called ‘the eye of intuition‘, and it is the doorway through which the individual enters the astral and psychic dimension of consciousness. Perhaps the most common name for this chakra is “the third eye”, and the mystical traditions of every age and culture make abundant references to it. It is portrayed as a psychic eye located midway between the two physical eyes and it looks inward instead of outward.” The pineal gland was one of the last brain organs to be discovered and has been the subject of much mythology and speculation.

What is the pineal gland?

The pineal gland was described as the “Seat of the Soul” and it is located in the Centre of the brain. The pineal gland is a small, pea-shaped gland in the brain. The main function of the pineal gland is to receive information about the state of the light-dark cycle from the environment and convey this information to produce and secrete the hormone melatonin. The rhythmic production of melatonin, secreted only during the dark period of the day, is extensively used as a marker of the phase of the internal circadian clock. Melatonin itself is used as a therapy for certain sleep disorders related to circadian rhythm abnormalities and for the alleviation of jet lag.

Pineal Anatomy and Structure

The pineal gland in humans is a small (100-150mg), highly vascularized, and a secretory neuroendocrine organ. It is located in the mid-line of the brain called the epithalamus, where the two halves of the brain join., outside the blood-brain barrier and attached to the roof of the third ventricle by a short stalk. 

Alternative names for the pineal gland

Pineal body; pineal organ; epiphysis cerebri; conarium.

Hormones do the pineal gland produce

The major hormone produced and regulated by the pineal gland is melatonin. Melatonin is best known for the role it plays in regulating sleep patterns. Sleep patterns are also called circadian rhythms. The pineal gland also plays a role in the regulation of female hormone levels, and it may affect fertility and the menstrual cycle. Melatonin may also help protect against cardiovascular issues such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. However, more research needs to be done into the potential functions of melatonin.

Pineal gland & circadian rhythms

The pineal gland is key to the body’s internal clock because it regulates the body’s circadian rhythms. Circadian rhythms (the roughly 24-hour cycle of biological activities associated with natural periods of light and darkness). are the daily rhythms of the body, including signals that make someone feel tired, sleep, wake up, and feel alert around the same time each day? The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythms. Melatonin is produced according to the amount of light a person is exposed to. The pineal gland releases greater amounts of melatonin when it is dark, which points to melatonin’s role in sleep. Serotonin is the precursor of melatonin. Serotonin is acetylated and methylated to yield melatonin within the pineal gland. The light exposure to the eyes affects the synthesis and secretion of melatonin.

Functions Of Pineal Gland

Secretion Of Melatonin

This gland secretes the hormone melatonin which regulates the circadian rhythm of the body and also certain reproductive hormones. The secretion of this hormone depends upon the amount of light a person is exposed to. This hormone is produced in large amounts when it is dark. The presence of light inhibits the secretion of melatonin which controls our circadian rhythms.

Cardiovascular Health

The melatonin secretion has a positive impact on the heart and blood pressure. It may also be used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

Reproduction

Melatonin inhibits the secretion of reproductive hormones from the anterior pituitary, which are responsible for the development and functioning of reproductive organs.

Disorders Of Pineal Gland

Listed below are few disorders caused by the malfunctioning of the pineal gland.

1. Depression.
2. Mood swings.
3. Peptic or stomach ulcers.
4. Disruption in sleep patterns.
5. An impaired pineal gland leads to hormonal imbalance.
6. Sexual disorders are caused by the dysfunctioning of the pineal gland.

Other disorders include:

Low melatonin secretion also leads to anxiety, low thyroid hormone production, menopause symptoms, etc.

Over secretion of melatonin can lead to low blood pressure and improper functioning of the thyroid glands and adrenal glands.

Seasonal affective disorders of pineal gland include a depressive disorder. This disorder is mainly caused in the winter season when melatonin secretion is high due to the presence of low sunlight.

Pineal Gland Controls One’s Mood

This gland was always recognized as being associated with the agna chakra. Today, neuroscientists say that the secretions of the pineal gland control and moderate one's moods and experiences. If you have a very stable and sufficient pineal secretion, having a pleasant mood within yourself is not a problem. The third eye is believed to reside within the pineal gland inside of the brain. The name “third eye” comes from the pineal gland’s primary function of ‘letting in light and darkness’, just as our two eyes do. Depression patients had smaller pineal parenchymal volume than healthy controls.

Different cultures and religions have their own takes on the third eye, but the Hindu religion is a big proponent of the phenomenon. One of the core Gods, Lord Shiva, possesses a third eye at the center of the forehead which stands for spiritual knowledge and power.

Pineal Gland is the Third Eye/Ajna Chakras

The third eye chakra is an energy center within the body on the forehead in the center of the brows. It is presumed that we would want all of the chakras in our bodies to be aligned and properly energized. Once our third eye chakra is opened, we can gain wisdom, intuition, deeper self-reflection, higher self-confidence, and logic, just to name a few.

Anyone would love to have those traits, but you now may be wondering: how does one open the third eye? A common practice is to do yoga and meditate.

 Your third eye might also be blocked, which prevents you from opening it. A blockage can cause poor memory, anxiety, and can impair physical, emotional, and mental health. Modern medicine might suggest that it is blocked due to calcification of the pineal gland. It can become calcified from fluoride exposure, different diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, kidney disease, or an unhealthy lifestyle. Although pineal gland calcification has been studied, it is not proven that it can cause medical problems, and you should consult with a doctor before undergoing any treatments to heal the third eye or pineal gland. The pineal gland can potentially be healed by using different methods such as meditation, crystal healing, yoga, exercising, and eating healthy.

Top 3 pineal gland boosting tips

Purify

Eat clean organic food that have purifying properties like raw cacao, organic honey, spirulina, zeolite, apple cider vinegar and vitamin D.

Meditate

By bringing your awareness to the pineal gland you’ll bring energy to it.  Try visualizing an illuminated pineal gland. The pineal gland is 12cm in from the root of the nose going towards the back of the head and 5cm up.

Sound

The pineal gland responds to vibration. Humming like a bumble bee creates a beautiful calming vibration to the nervous system and stimulates the pineal gland.  All you need to do is close your eyes, inhale and on the exhale hum like a bumble bee for 21 breaths.

You’ll feel calm and your mind will feel refreshed.

Conclusion

The existence of the pineal gland as third eye or mystic control has been described in Indian ancient science. The modern world is trending toward the same inference. Circadian rhythm, its maintenance, and role of melatonin are important in controlling the normal physiology of the body. Further melatonin has shown pharmacologic uses as anticancer and antiaging agents. Its role in preventing osteoporosis and menstrual irregularity is under trials. The author believes that someday the modern science could decode the mystery of “third eye” completely, and he intends to find the solution for supernatural controls also.

Pineal Gland the third Eye: Where Mysticism Meets Science!