Healing Stones - Alternative Therapy Using Healing Crystals

What is Crystal Healing?

The use of healing stones to enhance the health and well-being of an individual is a form of alternative therapy that is quite popular with people who believe in alternative therapy. Just like any other alternative therapy, crystal healing is said to have positive effects only on people who have strong faith or confidence in the basic principles or concepts of this form of healing. Crystal healing is thus not a medical therapy, which means that the therapy does not actually function on the basis of any stringent medical practices and scientific laws. It is based on a belief system and is more of a spiritual healing process than a medical one.

History of Crystal Healing

Although magical crystals and precious gemstones with miraculous powers have always been a part of many fictional stories and legends, there actually exist a number of ancient references to this form of alternative therapy. The most primitive records of crystal healing are the ones in Egypt, which are papyrus records that mention the medicinal benefits of many gems. The Indian Ayurveda also mentions benefits of gemstones and their healing properties. Ancient traditional Chinese medicine also bears records of healing stones being used as part of therapy.

How Does Crystal Healing Work?

Practitioners of crystal healing or 'crystal healers' as they are popularly known believe that every living organism has several chakras or energy centers that are said to vitalize the physical body and are associated with the interactions of a physical, emotional and mental nature. According to the crystal healing belief system, every living organism is surrounded by electromagnetic fields that are referred to as auras, subtle bodies and meridians. Crystal healers claim that with the use of right crystals, the energy systems or vibrations of the body can be tuned to improve the health or general well-being of an individual. With the energy of the crystals the healers can transfer, focus, direct and diffuse energy within the body of an individual. The healing properties of these crystals depend upon several factors like the color, chemical composition, atomic structure and the overall physical form.

Chakras and Crystals

The vibrations in every Chakra in the human body can be tuned using different stones. The healing effect of the crystal healing therapy is enhanced when the crystal is placed on the specific chakra areas of the body. This form of therapy accredits every healing stone with specific healing properties such as:

Jasper: Jasper is known as the bloodstone and is supposed to strengthen the blood cells by bringing more oxygen to the blood stream. It is associated with the root chakra and supposed to bring intuition, creativity and spiritual harmony.

Quartz Crystals: The clear quartz crystal composed of the widely found mineral quartz is said be an overall health enhancer and said be a strong dispeller of all the negativity around. The rose quartz crystal, which is also popularly known as the 'love stone', has an overall calming effect and is said to enhance functions of the kidney spleen and circulation system.

Moonstone: It is a translucent, white stone which is similar to the appearance of the moon and hence the name. This is a stone that is supposed to possess energy that is beneficial to women. It assists in period problems, childbirth and fertility in women.

Here is a list of all the chakras and the stones that are used.

Heart Chakra: Rose Quartz, Chinese Fluorite
Throat Chakra: Aquamarine, Turquoise
Forehead Chakra: Amethyst, Sapphire, Turquoise,
Root Chakra: Jasper (bloodstone), Garnet, Onyx, Rubies
Solar Plexus Chakra: Citrine, Amber, Topaz
Crown Chakra: Clear quartz, Amethyst

Criticism Against Crystal Healing

Although many people claim to benefit from crystal healing, hardcore medical practitioners and scientists claim that this alternative therapy has no scientific evidence. There are three firm explanations for the positive effect of this kind of healing:

Placebo Effect: This explanation states that any patient who has been given a dummy-pill (placebo) tends to react to the treatment or therapy only because he believes it will work. Due to a strong faith in the authoritative figure/ practitioner who recommends the medicine, the patient's condition tends to improve.

Cognitive Bias: This explanation states that a person who has developed certain set notions about a particular concept, whether positive or negative tends to develop a bias which is reflected in his actions and reactions. Hence a person who has a strong belief in the principles of the crystal healing process tends to obtain positive effects from the therapy.

Well, as far as your crucial health matters are considered, many of the crystal healing practitioners suggest the use of this therapy only as a supplementary aid and not as the only treatment of any ailment or disease. Every person has his or her own set of beliefs, and whether you have that faith in the crystal healers, or the professional medicine practitioners, is up to you. At the end of it all, what matter is healthy living.