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Using gems, stones and crystals, crystal healing is considered an alternative or complimentary healing tool to conventional medicine. Practitioners of crystal healing utilize gemstones and crystals for healing spiritual woes as well as physical illnesses. A form of alternative medicine, crystal healing is not meant to take the place of conventional medical treatment, but to be used in conjunction with modern techniques to help alleviate stress and strengthen the immune system.

Crystal healing may have been around for centuries, originating in Egypt where a papyrus dating 1600 BC was found giving directions on the use of precious stones and crystals in curative treatment. Not only were gems placed around or on the body, they were often crushed or pulverized and added to the ill person's diet. It is thought that crystals channel and amplify subtle energies, and healers can tap into this energy and use it to facilitate healing on a spiritual or physical level. This type of energy is linked to the energy of the chakras.

Chakras are energy points in the body from the crown of the head to the toes. A trained practitioner in crystal healing is familiar with these points of energy and the functions they serve.

Quartz is a popular choice of crystal used to align the chakras, or energy points, in the body. These crystals are considered very valuable in crystal healing, possessing six primary properties that can cleanse, activate, energize and balance the chakras. Each of the seven major chakras is associated with a specific color. It is believed that if one chakra is distorted, this can have a negative effect on one's overall health. The point of crystal healing is to align the chakras to treat the underlying disease or illness, instead of treating the symptoms. Therefore, improvements may appear subtle but significant.

The healing crystals are applied on and around the body to aid in establishing a flow of energy that encourages healing. Some crystals that are used include quartz, amethyst, citrine, jade, and malachite. Each gem is attributed to a certain use; for instance, amethyst is considered good for uplifting spiritual woes and also beneficial for stomach problems. Jade is used for relaxation, and malachite is considered a grounding stone. Crystal healing practitioners will usually use gemstones in a color that corresponds to the seven chakras.

Crystal healing is meant to utilize gemstones or crystals as a holistic approach to illness, to be used in combination with other therapies to relieve stress, promote spiritual healing, and alleviate pain. It is advised that crystal healing should be administered by a qualified healer, trained and educated in this particular branch of alternative medicine.

Learn more about this author, Annetta Ribken.
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