CHAPTER 11
Crystals for Physical Healing
Learning which crystals to use for physical ailments is a journey. I will let you in on a little secret: although there are literally thousands of crystals and thousands of body parts, choosing a crystal for healing isn’t a difficult process!
After you have identified the crystal to use for physical healing, the next step is to know how to use the crystal. Do you just wear it, or is there more to know? Of course, there’s more to know! Start with a positive attitude and then keep on reading.
Learn How to…
- ◆ Alleviate headaches and heal a cut.
- ◆ Reduce pain and speed healing of an afflicted area of the body.
- ◆ Select crystals for different types of illness.
How to Use Crystals for Physical Healing
Crystals can facilitate the healing process by providing focus, but they do not replace quality medical care. As always, consult a medical professional for your health issues and use common sense. If you need some help learning how to heal, now is a good time to seek a healer or healing facilitator. A healer provides knowledge and guidance and creates an environment for healing to occur, just like a sports coach provides guidance for self-growth.
Healing Takes Balance
When we are disconnected from the source of wholeness, our physical and emotional energy systems can go out of balance with our spiritual side. Returning to wholeness requires a multilevel approach of body, mind, and spirit to restore balance and health. Healing is the ability to direct energy to restore that balance.
Focused intent, breath work, and visualization are all part of the healing “team” that assists crystal healing work. Intuition is very important and helps guide us through that process. Healers use crystals on their third eye to open the center of intuition so they can see and feel what healing intervention a client needs.
If you have some doubt about crystal healing and are the type of person who wants to see something physically happen in front of your eyes before you believe it can actually happen, here’s an experiment for you. Try healing a small, superficial paper cut.
Using a clear quartz crystal 1- to 3-inches long, hold the tip of the crystal about 1⁄4-inch above the cut. Follow the line of the cut, moving the crystal very slowly back and forth over it for about 5 minutes, letting the energy from the crystal align with the internal skin structures. Repeat this exercise two or three times during the day. You should find that the cut heals quickly. You might also see a black carbonized line where the cut was, signifying the power of the crystal to accelerate healing of the tissues.
With body, mind, and spirit working in harmony to balance subtle energies, health will be restored. Be sure your mind is aligned, too, as it is an essential component to the healing process. The stronger the connection to the spiritual side, the stronger the energetic connections made for physical healing.
Source of Illness
Every system in the body can break down or run into problems. That’s just the nature of being human. Fortunately, there is a crystal for just about everything. It’s important to choose the right crystal based on the locale of the illness or problem and the spiritual connection to its manifestation. Having some intuitive sense in knowing which crystals are best for a problem is very helpful, too.
Crystal Selections
The first step in healing is selecting the crystal to use for the physical ailment. Choose from either the list of crystals for healing chronic conditions and pain in the next section or from the list of crystals recommended for various parts of the body at the end of this chapter. If you are unsure which crystal to use, select the crystal according to the color of the chakra which is closest to the trouble. For instance, if you have a sour stomach, the nearest chakra is the solar plexus. You could select from the list of solar plexus chakra crystals such as amber or calcite. Place it over your stomach for 5 to 10 minutes to calm excess acid.
A general rule is that red and orange crystals invigorate, blues sedate, pinks and greens soothe, yellows neutralize, and purples and whites purify. There are many healing systems, but for crystal healing, these colors work well for these conditions. I’ve also included information on infusing and increasing energy:
- ◆ To remove excess energy—Over the affected area, place four pointed clear quartz crystals, each 1⁄2-inch wide and 1 to 2 inches in length, with the tips pointing in each compass direction—north, south, east, and west. Place a physical healing crystal such as smoky quartz, purple fluorite, or turquoise into the center of the affected area to cleanse negative energy from it. This crystal layout should remain over the area for 3 minutes to 5 minutes to allow unwanted energies to escape; however, this is just a guideline. If you feel more time is needed, then listen to your intuition and leave them in place as long as necessary. (See Chapter 16 for more layouts.)
- ◆ To infuse energy—Again, place four pointed clear quartz crystals, each 1⁄2-inch wide and 1 to 2 inches in length, over the affected area at the north, south, east, and west, but this time point the tips inward toward the affected area. Place a physical healing crystal in the center to boost healing energy to the afflicted area. Malachite or bloodstone are great choices for high energy infusion. The quartz will amplify the healing effects of the malachite or bloodstone and intensify healing energy in the area.
- ◆ To increase the flow of energy—This increases the circulation of chi or prana along the internal pathways. Use at least four small clear quartz crystal points, each 1⁄2- to 2-inches long and 1⁄4- to 1-inch wide. Place two crystals, one above the other, in a line pointed to the area in need of healing. Then, place two crystals below the area in a line with the tips pointing down or outward to carry energy away from the body. You can tape the crystals in place, even on clothing, provided you remember to remove them before moving around.
Three crystal layouts.
Pain Relief
It is said that everyone deals with pain differently. So first off, try not to resist pain or any emotions that you might have about your pain. If you do, you are inhibiting subtle healing energy from reaching the part that needs to be healed. Shutting down your emotions over the long term might create lingering and chronic pain. When working with crystals, it’s so important to keep that energy flowing!
Crystals for Healing and Chronic Pain
Crystal healing provides a holistic approach to pain; that is, it has the ability to help transform a person’s attitude about the illness as well as the physical condition. There are many crystals available for healing. The following crystals, most are easily obtained, can help with chronic pain and other conditions—and with your state of mind, too.
| Crystal | How It’s Used for Healing |
|---|---|
| Amethyst | A master healer. Used for arthritis pain. Use surgical tape to hold the amethyst crystal over the area of pain. For deep pain, use two clusters of amethyst and place them on either side of the joint. For thyroid balancing, wear an amethyst crystal pendant at the heart chakra. |
| Clear quartz | A master healer. Place a clear quartz crystal of any size directly on the affected area. If it’s too painful, gather several crystals around the area with the points facing outward to draw out the pain, infection, or inflammation. |
| Carnelian | Heals skin, acne, herpes, scars, and wrinkles. Either place it directly over the area or hold it an inch above the area and move it slowly in small circles for 5 minutes, repeat this twice a day or more. |
| Copper | Used for arthritis pain. Wear as a bracelet. Natural oxidation causes the copper to leave green marks on the skin. That’s okay, just rub it off. Tape a small flat piece of copper over the afflicted area. |
| Garnet | For correcting gynecological issues, PMS, or infertility. Wear it as a necklace or pendant, or hold or tape garnets over each ovary. Directions on use for fertility are featured later in this chapter. |
| Hematite | Use for pain in the legs, arms, or back or to increase circulation. Tape small 1⁄4- to 1⁄2- inch pieces down the leg or spine and wear overnight. |
| Herkimer | Used for alleviating vertigo and dizziness. Keep a crystal diamond in each pocket or place one at the neck and one at the forehead for 5 to 10 minutes once a day. |
| Gold | Fortifies the energy fields to be more resilient to pain and increases pain thresholds. Gold also helps to boost immunity, reduce infection, and maintain physical strength. |
| Kunzite | Used for the prevention of heart disorders, for pain in the heart, and for post-operative recovery after heart surgery. Wear this crystal unpolished as a pendant at the heart chakra. |
| Turquoise | A master healer. It boosts the immune system and helps alleviate pain from digestive issues and sore throats. Wear as a pendant or chip necklace at mid-chest or at the heart or throat chakras. |
| Malachite | For the prevention of heart disease; wear it anywhere on the body. |
| Rose quartz | A master healer. Cools inflammation as well as emotional issues related to pain (for example, burns or trauma). Wear it as a chip necklace or tape a piece over the area overnight for longer-lasting effects. |
| Smoky quartz | A master healer. Draws out pain and releases negative emotions that might be causing physical pain. Place it over the affected area. |
Be sure to cleanse your crystals regularly when they are used for healing purposes. For complete instructions on crystal cleansing, see Chapter 8.
Headache Relief
Sometimes excessive energy gets directed to the head area, probably to protect the brain from something such as a sinus infection, stress, or even an overactive imagination. Well, that excess energy needs a way out! The closest chakra to the brain is at the top of the head: the crown chakra. If the crown chakra is open, the energy can rise and dissipate. If it is closed due to energy blockages, the energy backs up and you get a headache or, worse, a migraine.
Imagine having a gentle, easy, drug-free approach to getting rid of a simple headache. I’m about to give you more suggestions! In the last chapter, I gave instructions on using a crystal wand to remove a headache. If you do not have a wand, use either a single-point clear quartz crystal or a single-point amethyst. A small, smooth, tumbled crystal in rose quartz, smoky quartz, or lapis lazuli can also be effective with the following technique that opens up the crown chakra and kicks that headache:
- Take the crystal point and hold it on the top of your head in the middle of your skull with the point up.
- Hold the crystal steady, touching your skull for a minute to gather the energies. You might feel some pressure. Energy blocked at the neck will begin to flow upward toward the crown chakra.
- When you feel enough energy has collected, slowly raise the crystal 1 to 2 inches above the center of your head. You should feel all that excess energy being pulled up and out, directed by the crystal.
- Breathe deeply to help channel the energy from the head. When you feel the headache is gone, lower your hand. To add a longer healing benefit, rub a drop of lavender oil on a massage crystal and massage your temples.
There are a couple of other ways to alleviate head pain. You can use an amethyst or a clear quartz crystal ball and roll it across your forehead and temples and back of neck. This will pick up excess energy and transfer it to the crystal. To ease sinus headache pain, place golden rutilated quartz crystals over sinuses (on your forehead and cheekbones) and lie down with the crystals on for 5 to 10 minutes.
Breathe a Sigh of Relief
In yoga, different breathing patterns are taught in order to control the internal energies of the body. For example, when you’re holding a difficult pose, your yogi will tell you to expand your breath into your limbs to help steady yourself or lessen discomfort.
Just focusing your breath on a painful or troubled area provides additional energy for healing. When a crystal is added, the healing gets an additional energy boost.
One of the most frequent types of breathing used in healing with crystals is called a circular breath. This breathing pattern involves imagining that you’re breathing into and out of the crystal.
Ready to give this a try? Follow these steps based on an ancient meditation:
- Ground yourself. Relax and breathe regularly. Hold a cleansed and charged clear quartz or amethyst crystal that’s 1 to 2 inches long to the area of discomfort.
- Visualize the pain or discomfort as a mass of dark clouds over the area.
- On the inhale, draw the dark clouds representing your pain or ailment into the crystal.
- When you exhale, think of sending the clouds out from the crystals as white light.
- Continue inhaling and exhaling for 5 minutes.
Cleanse and recharge your crystal afterward so it’s ready the next time you need it.
Increasing Fertility
The pace of life seems to be quite a lot faster than nature intended and sometimes help is needed. There are financial, environmental, and health concerns for a newborn and a lot of competition to attract the right energies for a baby soul. Three karmic souls need to connect: the karma of the father, the karma of the mother, and the karma of the wee little babe who wants to come for an Earth visit on a lifetime visitor pass.
For a woman to increase fertility, she should wear the following two crystals:
- ◆ Rose quartz—It’s called the love stone for a reason! It really tempers the heart and creates a full, loving aura around the expectant mother allowing a soul to enter. Wear this crystal continuously as a necklace or pendant at the heart chakra, even during the pregnancy, to send your baby soothing, calming, loving vibes. Rub a rose quartz or use a rose quartz facial roller over your face and body to increase circulation and to create a loving aura for a blessed spirit to find its new mommy.
- ◆ Garnet—This red crystal gathers the physical and procreative energies and should be worn near the ovaries. A small, flat, 1⁄2-inch piece of tumbled garnet can be taped at the sacral chakra, about 2 inches below the belly button. Wear during ovulation.
For a man to increase fertility, he can also wear garnet as noted above, as well as either of the following two crystals:
- ◆ Green tourmaline—Tourmaline provides electrical impulses and can be worn as a pendant to strengthen internal chemistry. Green is the color of the procreative life force. Wear continuously as a pendant at the heart or throat chakra.
- ◆ Lapis lazuli—This deep blue crystal opens the higher psychic centers to connect with the emerging soul energies and offers fatherly protection. Wear continuously as a pendant at the heart or throat chakra or as a large ring.
Also, the energy in your home is important to attract a newbie human. Think about this from the perspective of the baby soul who is looking for parents. He or she wants to come into a soothing, nurturing, loving environment (wouldn’t you?). Use Feng Shui (see Chapter 15) to modify the vibrations in your home. Use crystals to calm your environment.
Timeline of Healing
When you first begin healing with crystals, you might actually feel worse. This doesn’t mean the treatment isn’t working—in fact, it indicates just the opposite! Energy is being released and is shifting around the body. This means it's working to find balance and then you will feel better, rebounding to a more harmonic state. A little crystal can go a long way toward improving health!
Crystals for Physical Healing
The following sections are arranged by an organ or a body part or condition. For body parts not mentioned, use the crystal for the chakra that is closest to the area. If you are uncertain, use one of the five master healers discussed in Chapter 9. Meditate and let your inner vision show you which crystal is needed. You can also use your pendulum by holding it over the name of each crystal until you receive a response.
| Body Part or Condition | Crystal/How It’s Used |
|---|---|
| Adrenal gland | Sugilite |
| Arthritis | Chrysololla (strengthens tendons and muscles) |
| Asthma | Fluorite (opens congested airways), rutilated quartz |
| Bladder | Bloodstone, rose quartz |
| Blood and blood disorders | Amethyst, aventurine, bloodstone (oxygenates), copper (for blood flow), fluorite (cleanses), garnet (circulation), gold (purifies), hematite (blood stream), jade (quality of blood), malachite, rose quartz, ruby, turquoise (immunizes) |
| Blood pressure | Amethyst dioptase, kunzite, turquoise |
| Blood sugar | Rose quartz, malachite, opal |
| Bowel troubles | Black tourmaline, red calcite (stops diarrhea) |
| Bone strengtheners | Calcite, fluorite, kyanite, lapis lazuli, selenite |
| Brain | Diamond, gold (balances left and right brain hemispheres), tourmaline (neural pathways), pyrite, rhodochrosite (improves memory), sugilite |
| Ears, eyes | Amber (pain), Herkimer diamond (balance), agate (soothes), jade, kyanite, opal. Hold against ears or on side of temples to warm and transfer energy |
| Female reproductive organs | Garnet, jade, rose quartz, rutilated quartz, smoky quartz |
| Hormones | Epidote (to offset a hot flash), labradorite (regulates metabolism) |
| Immune system revitalizers | Turquoise, amethyst, emerald, garnet, jasper, peridot, ruby, rutilated quartz, turquoise |
| Intestines | Pyrite, calcite |
| Inflammation | Rose quartz |
| Joints | Amethyst, chrysocolla, hematite |
| Lymphatic system | Fluorite, moonstone, rose quartz, sodalite |
| Lungs | Fluorite (colds/flu) |
| Heart | Malachite (cardiovascular disease prevention), bloodstone (strengthens the heart muscle), dioptase, emerald, jade, kunzite (a significant heart crystal), lepidolite, peridot, rhodochrosite, ruby, sugilite. |
| Kidney, pancreas | Amber, aquamarine, yellow or green calcite, carnelian, citrine |
| Liver, gallbladder soothers | Emerald, green fluorite, hematite, malachite (for detoxifying) |
| Spleen | Jade, jasper, malachite, peridot, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rose quartz, smoky quartz, sodalite, sapphire, tiger eye, topaz |
| Lungs | Aventurine, turquoise, rutilated quartz |
| Metabolism | Apatite (suppresses hunger) |
| Muscles | Amber (pain), copper (rheumatism), hematite (increases magnetic activity), purple fluorite (for numbness) |
| Nervous system | Tourmaline, amazonite, aquamarine, azurite, dioptase, gold, rhodonite, selenite, sapphire, obsidian |
| Nose, throat | Celestite, kyanite, rhodochrosite (nasal tissues), turquoise |
| Pineal gland | Lepidolite, opal, clear quartz |
| Pituitary gland | Garnet, lepidolite, moonstone, opal, clear quartz, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, sapphire |
| Skin, tissue | Carnelian, gold, gypsum (wrinkles), peridot, rutilated quartz, sapphire, labradorite (emphysema) |
| Spleen | Bloodstone (strengthens), moonstone (calms) |
| Stomach, intestines | Chrysocolla (digestion), dioptase (nervous stomach), moonstone, obsidian, pyrite, tiger eye |
| Teeth | Fluorite, selenite |
| Thyroid | Amethyst, celestite, lapis lazuli, rhodonite |
| Urinary tract | Rose quartz, sodalite |
Remember that your attitude, outlook, and determination are powerful tools in healing and recovery. When you’re sick, it can be hard to muster up the energy needed for healing—that power is there; it’s inside everyone of us, and we can use it to facilitate our own healing.
Always ask permission before giving healing and be gentle when you are using crystals for healing. You are among the very few who can step outside themselves to help another person. Give yourself a pat on the back for using your crystal healing skills and knowledge.