So, if you grew up in the 90s, there’s a solid chance you owned a rose quartz choker, a mood ring and a floral maxi skirt.

And now, twenty something odd years later – crystals – and the hippy-dippy sounding concept of crystal healing – is back.

On Instagram, hashtags for #crystals and #healingcrystals tick into the tens of millions. Hello magazine described them as this year’s biggest health and wellness trend. Healing crystals are reaching hip, urban and diverse clientele along with young celebrities such as Kylie Jenner, Katy Perry, Bella Hadid and Jaden Smith.

Gwyneth Paltrow sells quartz crystal-infused water bottles in the mindfulness section of her online Goop shop. Even Kim Kardashian embraced the healing power of crystals on her road to recovery after her robbery at gunpoint in 2016.

Its superpowers are stitched into fashion trends and layered into beauty routines. Healing crystals are trendy that’s for sure; a lot of people actually might actually want rocks in their stockings this Christmas! Crystals to be specific.

Here’s the claim: For the unacquainted, crystals (fossilized minerals) conduct ambient energy – like miniature phone towers picking up signals and challenging them to the user – thus rebalancing malign energies, healing both body and mind.

Crystal-healing fans turn to them for anxiety, others for relaxation, calmness and clarity. Different minerals contain unique properties to draw out negativity, hold onto certain intentions and provide desirable qualities such as calmness and strength – rose quartz for love and balance, amethyst for mental clarity, jade for fertility, and so on.

These rocks and crystals have a particular vibration and frequency which arise from their molecular composition allowing positive, fruitful energy to flow into the body thereby uplifting mood, mind and health, often in the same way that aromatherapy does.

Now for the reality: Scientifically there is no proof backing the power of crystal healing in treating or curing conditions.

Although people report that using crystals makes them feel lighter, happier and more energized, there is no scientific proof that this can be empirically attributed specifically to crystals. Sure, they certainly give off vibrational energies, but this is so weak causing the other energies around us - such as electromagnetic frequencies and radio waves - to overpower it. It’s hard to believe that it could have an effect. So, just pretty stones then?

The scientific criticism of crystal healing has done little to dim demand. Here’s the thing, it’s also true that the effects of many pharmaceutical drugs have been attributed to a placebo effect – a strong belief that crystals could create some kind of psychosomatic healing, could make all the difference. So yes, if you believe that crystals will make you feel better, that all powerful placebo effect and the power of suggestion, could help you feel just that.

The world we’re living in have become an unstable and scary place. The healing properties of crystals may not have been scientifically proven, but if they can enhance someone’s healing journey … then what’s the harm in that?

Source: wantedonline.co.za, theguardian.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, allure.com, womanshealthmag.com, eluxemagazine.com, psmag.com

DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.