The Healing Power of Crystals, fact or fiction? (blood, choice)

[Mr Spinkles]

Crystals.

I need a definition of "crystal" (the kind used for New Age purposes), a summary of what they supposedly do, etc. if anyone would be so kind.

What exactly is it that crystals do, and why didn't I learn about their suppposed healing properties when we studied crystals in chemistry?

[Feathers in Hair]

I'm sorry, since I can't really come up with a good definition of crystals for you. A summary of what they supposedly do would really depend on what kind of crystal you're talking about.

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

What exactly is it that crystals do, and why didn't I learn about their suppposed healing properties when we studied crystals in chemistry?

The best explanation that I've heard given was when a doctor was talking to the fellow that leads my shamanism courses. He told my teacher that he'd believe in "any old crap, except crystals. I draw the line at rocks." My teacher replied that, naturally, that was the students' choice, and he wouldn't try to change it if that was what the doctor wanted. "But," asked my teacher "do you believe in X-Rays?"

There's a tiny (or huge, I've never seen the thing) crystals in use on each X Ray machine that focuses the light/ energy from the machine onto the persons body.For the most part (and I could be wrong on this) those that use crystals to heal believe that one is doing pretty much the same thing when they work with said object. They're using their healing intent and allowing the crystal to be an object of focus of it.

Hope this helps!

[Mr Spinkles]

Here is dictionary.com's definition of "crystal":

Originally Posted by dictionary.com

crys·tal n.

1. 1. A homogenous solid formed by a repeating, three-dimensional pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules and having fixed distances between constituent parts.
   2. The unit cell of such a pattern.
2. A mineral, especially a transparent form of quartz, having a crystalline structure, often characterized by external planar faces.
3. 
   
   1. A natural or synthetic crystalline material having piezoelectric or semiconducting properties.
   2. An electronic device, such as an oscillator or detector, using such a material.
4. 
   
   1. A high-quality, clear, colorless glass.
   2. An object, especially a vessel or ornament, made of such glass.
   3. Such objects considered as a group.
5. A clear glass or plastic protective cover for the face of a watch or clock.

Originally Posted by FeathersinHair

There's a tiny (or huge, I've never seen the thing) crystals in use on each X Ray machine that focuses the light/ energy from the machine onto the persons body.For the most part (and I could be wrong on this) those that use crystals to heal believe that one is doing pretty much the same thing when they work with said object. They're using their healing intent and allowing the crystal to be an object of focus of it.

Thanks for helping me out here, Feathers. However....I still need some clarification. What do crystals DO, exactly? Do they destroy cancer cells? Do they increase the number of white blood cells? Do they help the body produce anti bodies? How does a crystal interact with the body, and what does one do to facilitate this interaction--do you rub it or lick it or what?

For example, here is what an X-Ray machine does and how it works: An X-Ray machine emits photons of electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths which are reflected by objects as dense as bone. The reflected radiation can then be captured to form an image of bones and other structures within the human body. These images help doctors diagnose and treat things like bone fractures and gunshot wounds. We can tell how accurate X-Ray machines are by comparing the images generated by them to what is found inside the body when performing surgery.

I honestly don't know where a crystal comes into play in an X-Ray machine....you say it focuses the radiation? So crystal is used as a lens, then? How would such a lens be useful in doing anything other than directing electromagnetic radiation?

[Jaymes]

The only crystal I've seen "work" was a quartz stone given to the adoptive mother of a friend when said friend went to meet her birth mother. She rubbed the crystal whenever she felt nervous and it calmed her down. It was most likely more psychological... then again, that's what I think about most new age stuff.

[Feathers in Hair]

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

[/list]Thanks for helping me out here, Feathers. However....I still need some clarification. What do crystals DO, exactly? Do they destroy cancer cells? Do they increase the number of white blood cells? Do they help the body produce anti bodies? How does a crystal interact with the body, and what does one do to facilitate this interaction--do you rub it or lick it or what?

I'm sure you'll cringe at this, but I don't think that whatever crystals do (if they do anything) has ever been scientifically studied. Again, that's where one is having to deal with things that depend on both the person using it and the crystal in question. For example, some crystals are seen as being powerful for working with emotional problems. A good summary of types of crystals can be found over here.

The link that I got that site from was an interesting article written by a sceptic, over at The Sceptics Dictionary. A part of the essay was particularly interesting.

The New Age idea that crystals can harness and direct energy seems to be based upon a misunderstanding of one of the more curious characteristics of certain crystals, namely, that they produce an electrical charge when compressed. This is known as the piezoelectric effect and was discovered in 1880 by Pierre and Jacques Curie. Other technological developments had to occur before the piezoelectric effect could be put to use, however, and it was not until the 1950s that the piezoelectric effect could be put to general use in record player needles and a variety of measuring devices. Nowadays, these devices "are used in almost every conceivable application requiring accurate measurement and recording of dynamic changes in mechanical variables such as pressure, force and acceleration."

The piezoelectric effect, however, does not give crystals healing or protective power, despite the claims of those who use and sell crystals in New Age and neo-pagan occultist shops. However, wearing crystals seems to give some people a feeling of protection. This, and their aesthetic qualities, seem to be the only virtues of crystal jewelry.

Again, their opinion of it being the only virtue of crystals and crystal jewelry is their opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Originally Posted by Mr_Spinkles

I honestly don't know where a crystal comes into play in an X-Ray machine....you say it focuses the radiation? So crystal is used as a lens, then? How would such a lens be useful in doing anything other than directing electromagnetic radiation?

That's where one keeps getting into the difficulty of what one believes. If you believe that there's more to this than a placebo effect, one sometimes then believes that they harness and/ or focus intent. I've done studies of my own where I put a number of crystals on a table, mixed them up without looking, hovered (didn't touch) my hand over them with my eyes closed, and was able to correctly identify which type of crystal it was without opening my eyes. This wasn't a scientific experiement, obviously, and I was only interested in proving to myself if I could do it or not.

[Watcher]

Spinks, I believe that crystals are mainly used as a tool to focus your energy. I don't think that it is the stone itself that heals you. You almost need to have faith that the crystal will work then approaching it with a closed mind.

Good explanation Feathers ("you must spread some karma around before giving it to Feathersinhair again")

[Lightkeeper]

Crystals have energy and have been used in radios.

[Jayhawker Soule]

Originally Posted by Lightkeeper

Crystals have energy and have been used in radios.

Good grief! Lumps of coal have energy and have been used in Habachis.