Crystal Healing: How It Works and Some Practical Tips

Many believe that crystals react to the thoughts that we imbue them with. Much of the theories of crystal healing is based upon a series of studies done by Marcel Vogel, a scientist who came to prominence through his work as a researcher for IBM for nearly 30 years.

According to Vogel’s studies he found a startling connection between our thoughts and crystals. He found that our thoughts can be stored within or amplified by quartz. He also discovered a method of using spinning water around a crystal, so that it can impart thoughts into the crystal. This is because our bodies, made up of 70% water, have a special connection to its molecular structure.

Interestingly, he also found that plants can respond to our thinking and that love is the most profoundly powerful emotion we have.

Even though different stones have different effects on our bodies, many practitioners believe that we can intuitively know exactly which stones we need at a particular time. They say that you don’t pick the crystal, but the crystal picks you. In a way, the best way to pick a crystal is by holding in your hand and deciding if its particular vibrations resonate with you and give you positive energy. It is best to use your intuition because your rational mind may actually block you from picking the best stone.

After purchasing a crystal, it is important that you cleanse it and charge it (and it may be good to do this for your own crystals from time to time). Burning sage or frankincense can help clear out any residual negative energy it may be holding. It can also be helpful to soak the stone in salt water (note that some stones may dissolve in salt water).

Next, you’ll need to charge the crystal with the power of the elements around you. It can be placed in the light of the sun or the moon for a few hours and can then be buried to help it pull up energy from the Earth. This can increase its power for crystal healing.

Crystal healing can be done in a number of ways, both active and passive. The easiest way is to carry specific rocks around with you or wear them as jewelry. The latter has the bonus effect of looking nice. Some people like to sleep with crystals near their beds, or if comfort allows, under their pillow. A more active method involves moving the stones around the body to help pull the energy around. This can be done by hand or with a crystal wand. Some claim that meditating near a crystal can have positive effects.

One can also undergo a form of crystal healing therapy where a trained healer can use a selected choice of stones placed on different parts of the body. Finally, it is suggested to make a crystal healing grid, which is a map of symbols laid out with carefully selected stones.

New Age beliefs, yoga, mindfulness, and an increasing number of alternative medicine modalities have revitalized the practice of crystal healing. The potential applications of crystals to promote human well-being are currently limited only by human creativity.

From crystal-infused water bottles, soaps, and perfumes to gemstone healing necklaces, facials, massages, and even chiropractic adjustments, there is a rich variety of options to choose from.

Furthermore, if one wishes to not only heal oneself but also to bring positive energy into one’s home or workplace, one may simply add crystals to one’s decor in order to maintain healthy feng shui within one’s living or working space.

The belief in crystal healing is often linked to chakras, vital energy, and energy healing. Generally, these people believe that there is an energy that flows through all living things through pathways called meridians. These pathways intersect at main crossways or nodes called chakras.

Imbalances in this energy within our chakras is thought to be a major cause of our physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual ailments. Crystals are thought to have a powerful healing effect on a person’s chakras. Essentially, one must place the crystal on or wear near the affected chakra and let the power of the crystal help realign and bring balance to that chakra.

Each chakra has a color that represents it and this can make it easy to decide which crystal is best for healing. The lowest chakra, the root chakra, located at the pelvis, can be healed by using obsidian, red carnelian, red jasper, or blood stone. Next is the Sacral chakra near the navel. It can be healed using orange stones such as calcite, citrine, amber, moonstone, or carnelian. Amethyst can also help. Above this, by the diaphragm, is the solar plexus chakra. It is responsive to yellow stones such as amber, citrine, lemon quartz, jasper, and tiger’s eye. The heart chakra can be balanced using pink stones such as the powerful rose quartz or green stones like jade, calcite, aventurine, or tourmaline. The next up is the throat chakra and it can be healed using green or blue stones. For example, amazonite, turquoise, lapis lazuli, and aquamarine have all been said to help. The third eye chakra is often linked to amethyst, moldavite, purple fluorite, and black obsidian. The topmost chakra, the crown chakra, can have its balance restored using clear stones such as diamond, clear quartz, and selenite or with amethyst.

Naturally, this is just a guideline and each stone will have slightly different properties.

Many sellers and advocates of crystal healing claim that stones have been used for their magical healing properties for thousands of years. There seems to be little disagreement over whether this is true, but just the fact that it is an ancient practice does not legitimize it. Most of the positive benefits seem to be anecdotal.

The energy that gets stored within quartz and other stones that may be related to the claims of crystal healers is called piezoelectricity. Often it is used in electronics. It was discovered by the Curies in 1880. Even though this does seem to be a measurable effect, there seems to be little research that shows that this could be what is driving the power of crystal healing. Many of the crystals used in healing do not have piezoelectric effects.

In a commonly mentioned 2001 study, psychologist Chrisopher French had patients hold either “authentic” healing crystals or glass fakes. Everyone was given a small guide that describes the typical effects of holding the crystals including warmth, tingling, focused attention, relaxation, and a general sense of well-being among others. A significant number of (74 of 80) reported to have felt one of more of these feelings, whether holding a real or fake crystal. There also seemed to be higher reported effects in those who claim to believe in crystal healing. This suggests that much of the positive effects of crystal may be nothing more than the power of suggestion.

Despite what science may say about the real cause of any possible positive effects of crystal healing, it seems to be able to help some people. It has been reported to at the very least be relaxing for some and anything that is relaxing and reduces cortisol levels in our body can be seen as beneficial.

Even if the effects of crystal healing are nothing more than a placebo, this does not mean that it has no use. Placebos have been shown to have significant analgesic properties and there are even suggestions that placebos have the potential to increase an immune response.

The biggest dangers of using crystal healing is accepting it as a replacement for conventional medical practices, especially when serious medical conditions are concerned. Another concern surrounding crystal healing is its cost. Some of the cheapest stones can cost as much as $5.00, so if one were to purchase a full arsenal of healing stones, the price could add up. This is especially egregious in light of the French study that shows that the rock itself may not have as much effect as the suggestion.

One might claim the deep philosophy and even cost involved in crystal healing is necessary for it to work. Cognitive dissonance has been shown to help people believe in the things they make a financial commitment to. Even practitioners claim that believing is crucial to its efficacy and this is in line with what placebo science claims. According to a paper, having a deeper story and richer explanation can help give legitimacy to the placebo and increase its effectiveness.

Either way, crystal healing remains a fascinating area for future study and it appears to do little harm. At the very least, the rocks can be pretty.

Updated: July 22, 2024. – This article was originally published on February 31, 2021.