Healing Properties of gemstones and crystals

The listings below are not exhaustive delineations of the healing properties of a particular crystal. Nor have I included the huge variety nature has produced. Instead, I have given brief descriptions of those I have used with my artworks. I cover all the core crystals specified by the International Crystal Healing Organisation (IHCO).

Agate: Stabilises, grounds and strengthens, balancing and eliminating negativity where it is placed. It will sooth and calm, working slowly to dissipate inner tension. Good for trauma. Colours: green helps resolve disputes, pink improves parent/child relationships (place on the heart). It encourages the ‘digestion’ of life experience, leading to maturity.

Agate - Blue lace: Grounding, balancing, centring and stabilising. Soothing and calming. Slow acting build up of strength. Brings what is hidden into the light.

Agate – Moss agate: A birthing crystal, it assists midwives, lessening pain to help delivery and aid recovery and is anti-inflammatory

Amazonite: On a physical level it blocks geopathic stress, electromagnetic stress (mobile phones, TVs etc), absorbs microwaves. It soothes and calms the brain and nervous system, including emotional trauma, fear and worry, dispelling negative energy and aggravation. It balances male and female energies and other aspects of personality and provides protection from negative influences. It is good for self determination, emotional balance and the harmonious interaction of mind and intuition. Useful in childbirth to ease delivery

Amber: Helps let go of worries and aids trust and cheerfulness, strengthening self belief. Physically good for anything that reacts e.g. allergies and supports digestive organs: stomach, spleen, intestine, gallbladder, liver, diabetes, teething, rheumatism.

Amethyst: Comes in many varieties with different intensities of colour and the inclusion of bands of other material. Long associated with spirit. Protective. Relieves geopathic stress. Cleanses holistically, including the aura. Awakens spirit, aids meditation. Strengthens the immune system promoting inner peace. Relaxing. Aids sleep, alleviates pain and tension. Associated with throat and crown Chakras.

Apophyllite: Openness says it all – builds inner sense of security to allow the release of tension and the start of .... openness. Good for allergies, asthma and disorders born from anxiety.

Aventurine: (All colours) a cheering crystal aiding relaxation and reducing anxiety and helping sleep. Colour determines if warming or cooling effect. Usually easy to identify as most have glittering specks of Mica.

Beryl: Provides energy and drive fortifying physically and mentally to tackle problems and recover from stress.

Calcite: The most common crystal on the planet, calcite comes in a variety of colours. Promotes emotional intelligence and opens spirit. Amplifies, cleanses, energises. Actively enhances growth.

Carnelian The orange to red power stone that cleanses all others around it. A warming crystal that promotes courage, vigour, willpower, idealism, community. Stimulates and improves the metabolism and blood flow. Restores and promotes vitality. Grounds and anchors in the present. Stabilises. Supports courage. Sharpens concentration. Banishes negativity. Encourages love of life. Helps to relieve arthritis, rheumatism, neuralgia, accelerating healing of bones and soft tissues. Promotes the flow of blood around the body. Associated with the base (sacral) Chakra.

Celestite Stabilising and useful for bringing structure and understanding into being. Releases tension and spasm of mind and body
Chalcedony Warmth, vigour, openness, flexibility, self expression

Citrine Fortifies the system: mind, body and spirit. A tonic for the tired, fed up and depressed

Emerald Supports partnerships – great for domestic bliss - and helps to find a new orientation in times of crisis

Fluorite Dissolves adhesions and mobilises joints, alleviating arthritis and rheumatism. Stroked across the body towards the heart it provides pain relief. It is good for shingles and other nerve related pain. A fluorite wand, although artificially crafted from the pure crystal, if particularly soothing. Stroke it over the affected place to relieve pain and inflammation. After each use it should be immersed in water for cleansing and the watch returned to earth to release and transform the pain.

Garnet So many variety exists but all are a restorative, helping the immune system and increasing the power to resist

Hematite Progress, strength, endurance, determination, stamina

Herkimer Diamond Invincibility, promotes strength of character, adherence to ethics and self esteem. Encourages objective and responsible thinking.

Howlite Aids sleep by stilling the mind. Balances internal calcium levels to assist bones, teeth, soft tissue. Opens spirit and prepares for receiving light. Calming.

Jade Is a symbol of serenity. Used for centuries in the East, it signifies wisdom gathered in tranquillity. It has long been associated with good luck and friendship. Blue and blue-green Jade are the most calming, bringing patience and help to those who feel overwhelmed by situations they cannot control. Green is particularly good for the nervous system and can provide for the slow and steady harmonising of dysfunctional relationships.

Jasper The supreme nurturer, it sustains and gently supports in times of stress, promoting wholeness and bringing tranquillity. It’s a great unifying force and is often used in Chakra sets because of its ability to align and bring into balance. There are many forms of Jasper with slightly differing attributes

Dalmatian Jasper: supports and sustains unifies, balances, nurtures, stabilises. Promotes wholeness and tranquillity. Aligns Chakras and aura.

Yellow Jasper: as above and in addition releases toxins, protects during travel and spiritual work.

Labradorite (rainbow moonstone Improves perception and sensitivity, sleep and dream recall. Promotes alertness and sense of wellbeing. Good for the menstrual cycle and period pain

Malachite This is a very powerful crystal and versatile in healing. Particularly useful for menstrual cramps and facilitating childbirth. It resonates with the female sexual organs and treats any sexual dis - ease. Use only polished/tumble malachite. Do not use it on its own unless experienced as a healer. Position appropriately for healing – it works at a deep level, going to the core of a problem.

Marble Helps to liberate the self – from unhappiness, suppressed desires, discontentment, resignation. Good for cleansing and elimination. Opens up new possibilities by creative problem solving

Moonstone Increases intuition and bestows depth of feeling, making receptive to inspiration and impulse. The stone for period problems, menopause and after childbirth

Obsidian This is one of the top power crystals, created from molten lava that cooled rapidly so it is not strictly a crystal. Its strength is partly an ability to provide insight into the cause of dis – ease by exposing flaws and blocks, bringing negativity to the surface and impelling growth. It detoxifies and dissolves blockages and tension physically and energetically. Protects, grounds, strengthens. It can reduce the pain of arthritis, joint problems and injuries. It alleviates pain and reduces bleeding. Associated with base (sacral) and solar plexus Chakras. Needs to be cleaned after every use. Place as appropriate. Meditate with it for mental illness. There are varieties of Obsidian, e.g. Mahogany and Snowflake. They are a gentler energies than the raw black.

Peridot Placed on the abdomen it aids giving birth by strengthening the muscle contractions but lessening pain. Wear at the throat or place as appropriate.

Quartz The amplifier for any crystal or gemstone nearby, Quartz is pure light energy
Quartz – Rose Long associated with unconditional love, many complementary therapists work with a piece in their treatment room. Draws love and friendship to you. Calming, healing. Excellent for trauma or crisis. Strengthens self worth. Associated with the Heart Chakra.

Ruby in Zoisite (Anyolite) Awakens the crown chakra, stimulating the heart chakra by opening the flow to increased energy and passion, at the same time protecting.

Tiger Iron (Jasper, Hematite, Tiger’s Eye) blends the qualities of all three gemstones

Tiger’s Eye The original protective crystal carried against the evil eye. Grounding. Anchors change into the physical body. Clarifies thought and exposes what is needed over what is desired – a good choice for making up your mind about something, big or small. Integrates left and right brain, bringing together scattered information into a coherent whole. Useful for mental and emotional dis – ease. Promotes self worth.

Turquoise Turquoise is an anti inflammatory and detoxifier that relieves pain and rheumatism as well as viral infections. Place anywhere but preferable on the throat, 3rd eye (between the eyebrows) or on the solar plexus.

Unakite Aids healthy gestation, supports the reproductive system.