What Are Chakra Stones, And What Can They Do For Your Health?

Posted on March 01, 2022

Gemstones, crystals, healing stones — these vibrant hunks of earth go by many names, and they’re extremely popular among alternative medicine practitioners. But what exactly are they, and what’s the meaning behind chakra stones?

Are chakra stones just a new-age fad, or do they actually have healing properties? Keep reading to find out more!

What Are Chakra Stones

Chakra stones are minerals or gemstones — think quartz, topaz, or amethyst — that supposedly respond to concentrated energy centers located throughout the human body. These energy centers are known as chakras, and if you’ve taken a yoga class or had a reiki session, then you’ve likely already heard of them.

The idea behind chakras isn’t new. In fact, it’s been around for thousands of years, originally appearing in the Vedas, which most people consider to be the oldest existing religious texts in the entire world. The word chakra itself comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “wheel.”

There are seven major chakras located throughout the body:

Root Chakra: The root chakra, located at the base of the spine, is associated with the color red and serves as a foundation for an individual's life. Our root chakra helps keep us grounded and connected to the earth. Root chakra imbalances are sometimes associated with lower back pain and depression.

Sacral Chakra: The sacral chakra, located just below the belly button, is linked to the color orange and is responsible for our creative and sexual energies. The sacral chakra also influences how we relate to our own emotions and the emotions of others.

Solar Plexus Chakra: The solar plexus chakra, located in the stomach region, is associated with the color yellow and is deeply tied to a person’s self-esteem. When you have a “gut feeling,” you may be responding to stimuli coming from your solar plexus chakra.

Heart Chakra: As you might have guessed, the heart chakra is located in the chest. It’s associated with the color green, and sometimes the color pink, and is responsible for our feelings of love.

Throat Chakra: As the name implies, the throat chakra is located in the throat. It’s linked to blue and is considered the center of verbal expression.

Third Eye Chakra: The third eye chakra, located between the eyebrows, is associated with the color indigo, and is the center of learning and wisdom.

Crown Chakra: Finally, the crown chakra, located at the top of the head, is usually portrayed by the color violet or white. This chakra is the center of spirituality and represents one’s larger role in the universe.

What Are The Uses Of Chakra Stones

Chakra stones are primarily intended to focus, unblock, or balance our chakras. Different minerals or gemstones are purported to target the different major chakras, relieving a whole host of potential physical and mental symptoms.

Why Are There Multiple Chakra Stones, And What Do They Do?

Every chakra stone has a unique connection to one of the specific major chakras and may potentially help alleviate symptoms associated with that chakra’s imbalance.

Root Chakra Stones: The root chakra connects to the earth and helps us feel secure. When it’s imbalanced, we may feel a heightened sense of threat or insecurity. Some chakra stones that correspond with the root chakra include:

Red Jasper
Smokey Quartz
Red Tiger’s Eye
Black Tourmaline

Sacral Chakra Stones: The sacral chakra is deeply tied to our sexuality and creativity. When it’s blocked or imbalanced, you may experience sexual dysfunction or a lack of creative energy. Some chakra stones that correspond with the sacral chakra include:

Peach Moonstone
Carnelian
Orange Aventurine
Bloodstone

Solar Plexus Chakra Stones: The solar plexus chakra represents the center of our self-esteem. When this chakra becomes imbalanced, you may experience a lack of confidence and increased self-doubt. Chakra stones associated with the solar plexus chakra include:

Tiger’s eye
Citrine
Amber
Topaz

Heart Chakra Stones: The heart chakra is responsible for feelings of love and connections. A blocked heart chakra may make it difficult to open up with others and form deep relationships. Stones associated with the heart chakra include:

Rose Quartz
Green Aventurine
Amazonite
Malachite
Rhodonite

Throat Chakra Stones: The throat chakra influences verbal communication. When it’s imbalanced, you may find you have difficulty expressing yourself. Stones associated with the throat chakra include:

Blue Sodalite
Turquoise
Blue Lace Agate
Kyanite

Third Eye Chakra Stones: The third eye chakra is the center of knowledge. When this chakra becomes blocked, you may have trouble seeing the bigger picture. Stones that correspond to the third eye chakra include:

Amethyst
Lapis Lazuli
Sapphire

Crown Chakra Stones: The crown chakra our connection to the spiritual. Fully opening the crown chakra may help you attain deeper levels of consciousness. Stones associated with the crown chakra include:

Clear Quartz
Selenite
Moonstone
Labradorite

Do Chakra Stones Actually Work For Your Health?

It’s hard to say for sure whether using chakra crystals actually comes with any health benefits. While some anecdotal reports attribute tangible healing effects to these crystals and minerals, there’s almost no scientific evidence to support these claims.

The vast majority of the medical community considers crystal healing to be a pseudoscience. But, if people who use chakra stones are getting a benefit (real or perceived), does it really matter?

One 2001 study investigating the efficacy of crystal healing determined that their power lies “in the eye of the beholder.” During the study, patients were given either a real or fake chakra stone to hold while meditating. Afterward, patients answered a questionnaire regarding their experience.

Researchers found that patients who had previously tested higher on the paranormal-belief questionnaire felt the effects of the crystals, regardless of if they were real. Meanwhile, the reverse was true of more skeptical patients, suggesting the effects were purely placebo.

“We found that lots of people claimed that they could feel odd sensations while holding the crystals, such as tingling, heat and vibrations, if we’d told them in advance that this is what might happen. In other words, the effects reported were a result of the power of suggestion, not the power of the crystals.” According to Christopher French, a professor of psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London.

However, placebos are indeed powerful. If simply entertaining the idea that crystals can heal is enough to create a perceived effect, is it truly accurate to say that crystals don’t possess any power?

Do you have experience with crystal healing? Let us know what you think about the practice on Twitter!

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