Healing Crystals: What They Can and Can’t Do
Crystal healing is a type of complementary and integrative medicine that may support overall health and wellness. However, most of the evidence is anecdotal rather than scientific.
Crystals are a group of minerals. Very simply, they’re beautiful, semi-rare stones — some are clear, and some have bright colors.
Some believe that holding crystals or positioning them in various areas of the body can have tangible effects on the mind, body, and soul.
Many people use crystals for stress and focus, while others believe that crystals have the power to help heal physical ailments and illnesses.
Crystal lore
One common belief is that crystals interact with the body’s energy fields, also known as vibrational energy.
The idea is that crystals can redirect and re-channel energy flow with their unique energetic vibrations, helping to unblock areas of the body or energy field that have become “stuck.”
As the crystal vibrations interact with the body’s natural energetic frequency, the body is said to be left feeling focused, relaxed, and clear.
Although there is no research to support this theory, it’s worth noting that there are established methods of treating pain and other disorders with electrical currents. This includes:
- radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
- electronic muscle stimulation (EMS)
- transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
- transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Compared to these therapies, any frequency a crystal might emit would be extremely small.
Crystal science
When it comes to the science, there’s almost no evidence to support crystal healing.
Two researchers, the brothers and Jack Curie, conducted a study in 1880 and found that changing the temperature of crystals and putting pressure on them could create electricity.
This is known as the piezoelectric effect. It’s used in technology like:
- microphones
- quartz watches
- inkjet printers
- sonar
- medical implants
The work of the brothers Curie suggests that holding crystals may have a minor effect on the body’s energy levels, though whether that effect can produce healing power is still up for debate.
Another study by C.C. French on crystals and healing was presented at two international conferences in 1999 and 2001 but never published in a peer-reviewed journal.
In the study, 80 volunteers were given either real crystals or fakes. Six participants reported feeling nothing, while the rest reported feeling a change in energy.
In other words, the knock-off crystals were considered to be just as effective, which suggests that the placebo effect was working its magic.
As psychologist Richard Wiseman told The Telegraph at the time, “It is suggestive that the power of crystals is in the mind instead of in the crystals.”
Even some people who work with crystals believe that the real power of crystals lies in the placebo effectTrusted Source.
What works and what doesn’t?
If you’re considering adding crystals to your wellness routine, it’s important to be realistic about what they can do and what they can’t.
Mental health
Crystals are sometimes called on to support mental health conditions like anxiety or depression.
There’s no scientific proof that crystals have any significant effect on energy, emotions, or mental health. Don’t replace medical treatment for anxiety, depression, and other diagnosable conditions with crystals.
Instead, use them to create a sense of being grounded and centered while also following your doctor’s or psychologist’s advice.
Plus, if you feel that crystals are helping, it’s always worth using them, even if it is just the placebo effect at play.
Crystals can provide support, not treatment.
Mood and overall outlook
Crystals can help you boost your mood. They can be used as a tool to invoke feelings of:
- grounding
- connection
- spiritual meaning
- purpose
- a sense of something greater than yourself
This likely has more to do with your relationship to the crystal rather than the crystal itself.
Pain and illness
While some crystal practitioners believe that crystals can help with physical ailments, there have yet to be any scientific studies to support this theory.
While using crystals likely won’t hurt you, follow your doctor’s guidance when it comes to physical injury, chronic pain, or illness.
The more support you have from different modalities, the better. That doesn’t mean crystals can’t be one tool in your toolbox.
Crystals and meditation
By combining crystals’ placebo potential with the scientific evidence behind meditation, a positive effect can be created.
A 2021 review noted that mindfulness meditation (MM) had a significantly larger effect on alleviating military-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to control conditions.
A 2021 study of 53 adolescents in an inpatient psychiatric unit found that MM was an effective and relatively immediate intervention to lower anxiety. The study also found MM to be especially beneficial for symptoms of psychosis.
If you believe that crystals make a difference, adding them to your meditation practice is likely a winning combination. If you feel unsure or skeptical about crystals, skip them and consider meditation instead.
All in all, taking a moment to hold a crystal may affect your energy in some subtle, barely measurable way.
More importantly, it may invite you to slow down, breathe, and focus your mind on one thing. This meditative practice in and of itself will likely help you feel more at ease.
