Crystal healing

Crystals have been used for centuries both as decorations and as symbols of power. And in ancient cultures, their healing properties were as important as their beauty. Today, many people still believe that crystals have the power to heal. Here, in this extract from Judy Hall's The Crystal Bible, we explore the healing power of crystals

Crystals have been used for millennia to heal and bring balance. They work through resonance and vibration. To gain maximum benefit from crystal healing, you need to be properly trained or to be treated by someone who is well qualified and experienced. But you can find benefit in crystals for common ailments and they are effective first-aid rememdies, especially when made into gem essences.

Some crystals contain minerals that are known for their therapeutic properties. Copper, for instance, reduces swelling and inflammation. Malachite has a high concentration of copper, which aids aching joints and muscles. Wearing a Malachite bracelet allows the body to absorb minute amounts of copper in exactly the same was as a copper bracelet does. In ancient Egypt, Malachite was powdered and applied to wounds to prevent infection. Today it is a powerful detoxifier but, as it is toxic, it should only be applied externally. This property of toxic crystals to detoxify is rather like the homeopathic principle of 'like cures like.' Crystals safely deliver infinitesimal vibrational doses of something that, taken in large quantities, would be poisonous.

Crystals are used in modern medical practices. They are piezoelectric, which means that electricity, and sometimes light, is produced by compression. This property is harnessed in ultrasound machines, which use a piezoelectric crystal to produce a sound wave. Sound is now being applied at the leading edge of surgery. A tightly focussed beam of ultrasound can cauterise wounds deep within the body and blast tumours apart without the need for invasive procedures. Shamans and crystal healters of old were familiar with this ability of crystals to focus sound and light vibrations into a concentrated ray, which is then applied for healing. Rotating a crystal wand on the skin causes compression, which releases a focussed beam to the organ beneath.

Ancient healers also knew that, whereas some crystals are either energising or calming, there are crystals that will both sedate an overactive organ and stimulate a sluggish one. Magnetite, with its positive and negative charge, does exactly this. It sedates an overactive organ and stimulates an underactive one. There are crystals that will heal quickly, but may provoke a healing challenge, while others work much more slowly. If you want to deal with pain - a signal that something is wrong in your body - you can do this with crystals. Pain could result from a excess of energy, a blockage, or a debility. A cool and calming crystal such as Lapis Lazuli or Rose Quartz will sedate energy, whereas Carnelian will stimulate it, and Cathedral Quartz is excellent for pain relief no matter what the cause

Crystals are excellent for dealing with headaches. Lapis Lazuli will quickly draw off a migraine headache. But you need to know from where the headache stems. If it is caused by stress, Amethyst, Amber, or Turquoise placed on the brow will relieve it. If it is food-related, however, a stone that calms the stomach, such as Moonstone or Citrine, will be appropriate.