What Are Healing Crystals?

Crystals are stones with physical characteristics, such as a specific formation or ordering of atoms, that affect light refraction, electrical charge and more. Crystal healing emphasizes these qualities and how they might affect the human body’s vibration, electrical charge and functionality. “These vibrations and frequencies can also be understood as qi, or vital energy that makes up any living entity,” explains Jenelle Kim, a doctor of Chinese medicine and founder and formulator of JBK Wellness Labs.

How Do Healing Crystals Work?

Crystal healing is believed to affect an individual in two possible ways: through vibration and through mindset.

Vibrational Medicine

In the 1970s, IBM researcher Marcel Vogel coined the term “vibrational medicine,” referring to the belief that crystal healing alters the vibration of the body’s molecules to match the vibrational energy of whatever crystal is being used. “Crystals have a similar wavelength to the human body, which means they vibrate at the same tone as humans and can enhance the body’s natural healing [process],” says Dr. Kim.

Los Angeles-based holistic chiropractor Alexandra Trevisan further explains, “As humans, we have the ability to operate within this energy scale, either ascending or descending. Think love and enthusiasm at the top, and fear and hate at the bottom of the scale. Healing crystals typically hold one or more of the frequencies at the high end of the energetic scale (love, clarity and/or hope) or repel energy from the low end of the energetic scale (anger, jealousy and/or despair).”

Mindset

Crystal healing can also harness the power of the mind in a way that’s perhaps even more potent than vibrational energy improvements. Throughout history, poets and religious leaders viewed crystals as symbols of purity, pleasure, faith and perfection. They used crystals as a source of inspiration, devotion and creativity.

Stanford researchers agree that mindset plays a significant role in health and healing. Practitioners believe the intention-based mindset of crystal healing—like what’s cultivated in mindfulness meditation—can help with immunity, focus, emotional processing, stress reduction and nervous system regulation.

How Do You Use Healing Crystals?

There are multiple ways to use healing crystals, from meditation to decoration and beyond.

Meditation

Holding or gazing at a crystal that represents a mantra, emotion or intention is a simple and effective way to return to your meditation practice when the mind wanders. “On a more practical level, they serve as a grounding tool,” says Trevisan.

Wearing

Many crystal healers recommend wearing crystals on your skin or in your clothes to benefit most from the vibrational medicine theory. Trevisan, for example, places crystals on her client’s body—“on a chakra, or energy centre”—while she works with them.

Decor

Shanise Spruill, a certified holistic practitioner and founder of JOHARI and LOU Artisan Soul Stones, suggests adding crystals to your home decor to “maintain healthy feng shui within your home.”

Spa Treatments and Wellness

Many holistic health practitioners use crystals in facials, massages and even chiropractic adjustments.

Benefits of Healing Crystals, Supported By Science

Is there data to suggest crystals offer any healing or restorative properties? Look a bit deeper, and sceptics might find a surprise or two.

Placebo Effect

The placebo effect is the most effective and identifiable result of crystal healing. Often unappreciated due to its ability to blur research results, this effect is a powerful tool when working in the medical and wellness fields. Closely related to mindset, there are countless benefits to believing that you’re healing, whether physically or emotionally.

Cross-Cultural Significance

Despite the lack of peer-reviewed studies to support crystal healing, the practice boasts an undeniably rich historical and cultural significance. “As a ninth-generation doctor of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, my expertise is rooted in the principles of qi, the connection and wavelength of the universe, and the human mind and body,”. “This knowledge has been passed down in my lineage from generation to generation for centuries.”

The Piezoelectric Effect

The piezoelectric effect is a scientific principle used, in part, to explain vibrational medicine. The piezoelectric effect enables crystals to transform mechanical pressure into another form of energy, such as light, electricity or sound, and then amplify it. This technology is used in many materials, such as microchips and batteries. In crystal healing, this concept is applied, magnifying the potency of the energies in a person’s body or surroundings.

The Most Popular Healing Crystals

There’s a wide array of crystals and stones that are said to offer a variety of benefits or contain specific properties. Here are some of the most common and popular options.

Quartz (Rose and Clear)

Rose quartz is known as the stone of “unconditional love.” It’s used to nurture and manifest love of all kinds—not just romantic. Clear quartz, is known as the “master healer” because it helps align all your chakras and energetically attune to all other crystals. It can help you access and manifest higher states of consciousness.

Amethyst

Amethyst is “known to help get rid of addictions and disruptive behaviours, as well as enhance your intuition'. “[It] calms rebellious neural signals to restore a sense of calm to your nervous system.”

Moonstone

Moonstone helps process change, patterns and inner cycles. It is believed to improve intuition and help the user access their inner wisdom.

Obsidian

Black obsidian acts like a shield, protecting your aura from negative energies. The reflective nature of obsidian also acts as a mirror or a screen to project lessons—or force us to see our negative tendencies.

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