Healing Crystal Effects

During the past decade or so, crystal healing has gained widespread popularity and interest. Whether you’re looking to boost your energy or heal your chakras, many alternative medicine practitioners swear that crystals have powerful healing properties. But does it really work? Aside from optimistic anecdotes and placebo effects, there isn’t much evidence that this practice works. But if you’re a believer, there are ways to integrate healing crystals into your routine.

Healing crystals are stones that have been claimed to have positive health effects due to their vibrations and frequencies, which can be understood as qi (pronounced “chee”), the vital energy that makes up a person’s body. Specifically, the crystals are said to resonate at the same frequency as the human body to establish a connection on a wavelength level.

Crystals are also said to have been charged by the millions of years that they’ve endured, giving them an innate energy. This energy can be harnessed and used to achieve a specific purpose, like encouraging self-love or increasing abundance. There are a variety of ways that crystals can be used in a healing process, including wearing them as jewelry, carrying them with you to absorb their energy, and placing them around the home or office to encourage positivity.

Although there’s not a lot of scientific proof, it’s not uncommon for crystals to seem to alleviate psychosomatic complaints such as anxiety and depression. However, this is likely because of the placebo effect, a phenomenon in which patients experience positive effects from treatment due to their belief that they will receive a beneficial outcome.

Some researchers have attempted to validate the effectiveness of crystals for healing by examining their physical properties, such as the way that they refract light or how they create electricity when put under pressure. However, the studies weren’t successful because it’s impossible to isolate the effects of a crystal’s properties from those of a patient’s mindset and other factors that can influence a person’s wellbeing.

Navya Mysore, MD, a primary care physician and medical director of One Medical, says that while there is no concrete proof that healing crystals have any physical effects, it’s important to remember that the placebo effect—and the power of positive thinking—are real. She also emphasizes that crystals should never be used as a substitute for medication or other treatments for serious illness and injury.

In terms of how you can use crystals in your everyday life, Askinosie suggests holding a stone in both hands and thinking about your intention while doing so. She says that this will “program” the crystal, and you can then keep it on your desk or in your purse to be a reminder of that intention whenever you need it.

If you’re still interested in using crystals to support your wellness goals, Mysore recommends consulting a certified holistic healer to learn about which ones would be most effective for you. She also advises being mindful of how you choose your crystals and how you use them, as some can affect people differently.