Crystal Therapy (Lithotherapy)

Presentation

Lithotherapy (from Greek 'lithos,' stone, and 'therapeia,' healing) is a holistic healing practice based on the energetic properties of natural stones and crystals. Each mineral has a unique crystalline structure that determines its specific vibrational frequency, linked to chemical composition, crystal system and color.

Traditions of using stones for therapeutic purposes date back to Egyptian, Sumerian, Greek and Chinese civilizations. Modern lithotherapy was systematized in the 20th century, notably by Melody ('Love is in the Earth') and Katrina Raphaell ('Crystal Enlightenment').

Core Principles

• Crystal resonance: Each crystal vibrates at a stable, constant frequency that can 'retune' disrupted body frequencies
• Piezoelectricity: Some crystals (quartz, tourmaline) generate electric current under mechanical pressure
• Color-chakra correspondence: Red stones (garnet) for root, orange (carnelian) for sacral, yellow (citrine) for solar plexus, green/pink (rose quartz) for heart, blue (lapis lazuli) for throat, indigo (sodalite) for third eye, violet/white (amethyst) for crown

Main Indications

• Stress and anxiety (amethyst, lepidolite)
• Self-confidence (citrine, tiger's eye)
• Physical pain (hematite, magnetite)
• Sleep disorders (amethyst, howlite)
• Energy protection (black tourmaline, obsidian)
• Emotional support (rose quartz, rhodonite)
• Mental clarity (fluorite, clear quartz)
• Grounding and stability (red jasper, mahogany obsidian)

Contraindications

• Some stones are toxic in water contact (malachite, galena) — never prepare elixirs with these stones
• Never substitute lithotherapy for medical treatment
• Strongly stimulating stones (ruby, garnet) may worsen hypertension or insomnia if misused
• Caution with magnetized stones for pacemaker wearers