Everything You Need to Know About Crystal Healing

Crystals are not just pieces of rock. They are derived from minerals and have life energy, said to unleash the healing power by connecting with your body's energy points - known as chakras.

Crystals carry energy properties and vibrations from the earth. Hence, they can work in tune with your body to promote balance, compassion and love. As well as meditating with a specific crystal, you can place the crystals around your home, office or use them as jewellery. All this can be used to channel their subtle healing properties and enhance creativity and happiness.

HOW DO CRYSTALS WORK?

Individual crystals have a unique frequency and energy field that gives them special healing properties. They are thought to bring harmony to the energy field of the human body. Think of a crystal a bit like a tuning fork. Quartz, for instance, considered a "master healer" crystal, can power a clock. The battery inside a quartz clock or watch sends electricity to the quartz crystal via an electronic circuit, causing the fork's prong to vibrate 32,768 times per second. The Quartz regulates the gears rather than a pendulum. This makes the clock far more accurate since you do not have to remember to wind it. If you believe a clock is powered by Quartz, it is easy to believe Quartz has the power to produce an electrical reaction when "charged".

Programming and charging are essential to activate Quartz crystals. You are required to programme the quartz crystals with your intention before use. The programming of a crystal means chanting or whispering your intention by taking the crystal in your hand.

In ancient traditions, the right hand and the left hand have different meanings. The left hand is the receiving hand that absorbs positive energy into the body. In contrast, the right hand is the giving hand that releases negative energy outside of the body.

Deciding which hand to hold your crystal depends on what you want to achieve. And the intention or mantra depends on what it is you want to achieve or manifest.

Charging your crystal is best carried out after you have cleansed it. You can submerge the crystal in a bowl of water with sea salt and place it in bright sunlight for a few hours. As the stone becomes cleansed, the sunlight will begin charging the crystal. You can also leave the crystal outside overnight to bathe in the light of the moon.

DO CRYSTALS REALLY HEAL OR IS IT JUST PLACEBO?

You might be wondering if it is all just New Age psychobabble, or is there any science behind crystal healing. There is no scientific research anywhere that backs up the claim that crystals can be used to cure disease. Because illnesses are not caused by negative energy or wavelengths, crystals technically can’t cure disease in the way that crystal believers explain they do.

Neuroscientists and psychologists will agree that crystal treatments might work. But not necessarily in the traditional way medicine works. The placebo effect, they will say, is almost certainly at work. With the belief in crystal healing at play, people can boost their mood, rid themselves of negative energy and boost hope. This in itself can be powerful enough to have substantial psychological benefits.

Like meditation and yoga, alternative medicine such as crystal healing is backed by scientific evidence simply because of the positive effects. The placebo effect is often wrongly assumed to be “all in your head”. But brain imaging studies have shown that when a patient performs an action, such as taking a sugar pill or getting a sham acupuncture session, it activates very specific regions in the brain. This can trigger the release of feel-good hormones like endorphins, dopamine, and natural painkillers.

The release of mood changing hormones is an actual biological process, not something you are just making up. Numerous studies have shown that when patients are told they are receiving a drug that will ease pain, they respond twice as well as when given that drug secretly. This fact suggests a large portion of prescription drugs’ effectiveness comes from the power of suggestion.

It's good to know that our ancestors have valued crystals throughout the ages. Humans have used stones for healing and energetic purposes for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians used crystals for healing and protection, and sacred Indian texts explain specific healing properties of various crystals and how to use them to treat illnesses. Chinese medicine often includes the use of crystals, and ancient Greeks and Romans utilised crystals for protection in battle and in medical treatment - just to name a few examples.

So whilst it's up to you whether you believe crystals will cure disease, there is no doubt the power of energy they have to increase positive energy and confidence. The power of positive thinking has most certainly affected health outcomes in patients going through treatments for disease.

WHAT HAS CHAKRAS GOT TO DO WITH ALL THIS?

A "chakra" is one of seven spiritual energy centres in the body. For instance, the throat (or voice) chakra is represented by a particular crystal. Kyanite corresponds to the throat chakra. You might place a piece of Kyanite on the throat area and meditate before having to give a speech in front of an audience. The Seven energy centres of the body are -