How Do Crystals Work? The Facts and the Science

Character with a beard and glasses, scratching his head. Text above says crystal healing, the facts and the science

The Science Behind Healing Crystals

How crystals work is a question that comes up often. With the rise in popularity of crystal healing, an abundance of information on this subject is now available.

Countless articles, books, and social media posts discuss the different healing properties of crystals. Look long enough, and you'll find they can do almost anything.

Many articles make some pretty outlandish claims regarding what can realistically be achieved, but the problem is the lack of proven scientific evidence.

The concept of how crystals work is rooted in metaphysical beliefs rather than empirical science. According to these beliefs, everything in the universe, including crystals and living beings, emits a vibration. The vibrational frequency is said to interact with an energy field surrounding the human body.

It's believed that when one aligns with the other, it can affect physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. The idea is that by using crystals with specific vibrational frequencies, it's possible to influence or align the energy field surrounding the body, promoting balance and healing.

There is a scientific basis for saying that crystals vibrate, but the word 'vibration' has a very different meaning in physics. The atoms within a crystal are not completely stationary. They move around their equilibrium positions, and collective vibrations within a crystal are known as phonons.

An article published by the American Physical Society explains that "a crystal is a highly ordered structure, it is never at rest: its atoms are constantly vibrating about their equilibrium positions." These vibrations influence genuine physical properties of crystalline materials, including the way they conduct heat and electricity. They are not evidence that individual crystals possess metaphysical frequencies.

In crystal healing, crystals are believed to possess particular vibrations or frequencies that interact with an energy field surrounding the human body. In Judy Hall's Crystal Bible, she says: "Crystals interact with the human energy field to heal, calm, stimulate or adjust the energies within it."

The problem is that no scientific evidence shows that the vibrations or frequencies attributed to crystals interact with a human energy field as crystal healing claims.

a figure sitting cross-legged, clearly meditating. They're surounded by an amethyst geode, rose quartz and quartz crystal.

The US National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health makes this point when discussing Reiki, another therapy based on a purported human energy field. It states: "There's no scientific evidence supporting the existence of the energy field thought to play a role in Reiki."

The US National Cancer Institute makes a similar distinction when discussing energy healing. It explains that these practices are based on the belief that a vital energy flows through the body, but states: "There's not enough evidence to support the existence of energy centres."

This should not be confused with the genuine electrical and magnetic activity produced by the human body. An ECG can measure the heart's electrical activity, while magnetocardiography can measure the weak magnetic field it generates. The brain also produces electrical activity measured by EEG and magnetic fields that can be detected using magnetoencephalography.

These are measurable physical phenomena that scientific instruments can detect and established physics can explain. They are not the same as the aura, subtle energy field or biofield described in crystal healing.

The existence of measurable electrical and magnetic fields around parts of the human body does not demonstrate that crystals can interact with them, alter them or produce a healing response.

It's claimed that when a crystal's vibration connects with the human energy field, chakras can be realigned. This realignment is said to restore an uninterrupted flow of energy, which is believed to improve mental and physical health and overall well-being. It's also claimed to help with issues such as focus, concentration, calmness, and releasing anxiety.

Different crystals are said to align with different chakras. Therefore, crystal healers place specific crystals on or near different chakra points.

amethyst pyramid being held in someone's cupped hands

The Healing Power of Crystals

People who use crystals for healing often say they can feel their energy. They may hold them and claim they feel hot. Some describe sensations such as warmth, tingling or a vibration.

There is no scientific evidence that these sensations are caused by energy emitted by the crystal. Temperature is partly explained by heat being transferred between the hand and the stone, while expectation and intense focus can also influence what someone feels. Someone who expects to feel something, whatever that may be, is likely to notice and experience a sensation.

Experiments involving placebo treatments have shown that people can experience genuine physical sensations even when no corresponding stimulus is present. Research into tingling has also shown that expectation and concentrating attention on a particular part of the body can make normally unnoticed sensations far more noticeable.

When this is experienced, the sensation is real. What cannot be established is that the crystal produced the sensation.

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The work of Marcel Vogel is often used to support the theory about how crystals work.

Vogel was an inventor and research scientist who worked at IBM's San Jose Research Center from 1957 until 1984.

His scientific work included luminescence, magnetic recording materials, phosphor technology and liquid crystal systems. He later became known within the metaphysical community for his research into the purported healing properties of quartz crystals.

In later life, he conducted experiments in which he claimed plants could respond to human thought. He concluded that they could act like batteries, storing the energy of his thoughts and intentions. Modern academic discussion describes these claims as scientifically unsupported.

Vogel later applied similar ideas to quartz. He believed specially cut crystals could store, amplify and transmit thought or intention, and experimented with cutting quartz into particular geometric forms. These became known as Vogel crystals.

A double terminated clear quartz crystal known as a vogel crystal

He wrote, "The crystal is a neutral object whose inner structure exhibits a crystalline state of perfection and balance. When cut precisely to the proper geometric form and when the human mind enters into a relationship with its structural perfection in the vibration of love, the crystal emits a vibration which extends and amplifies the power and grasp of the user’s mind. Imaged thought intent is amplified."

Marcel Vogel's work with crystals has been pursued and expanded upon by many within the metaphysical community. 'Vogel crystals' continue to be made and used today. Some command extraordinary prices.

His explanation of how crystals work has not been embraced by mainstream science. The idea that crystals have energy and properties that can be used for healing remains controversial and largely unproven. Many of Marcel Vogel's experiments have never been reproduced.

Another genuine scientific phenomenon frequently used to support explanations of how crystals work is piezoelectricity.

Certain crystalline materials, including quartz, develop an electrical charge when mechanical pressure or stress is applied. The reverse effect also occurs: applying an electric field can cause the crystal to change shape slightly and, under the right conditions, vibrate at a precise frequency.

The following screenshot is from an article I read called "How Crystals Work." The information is misleading and incorrect. It's one example of how misinformation spreads when scientific facts are not fully understood.

text explaining, albeit incorrectly, how crystals work

The Placebo Effect

Quartz crystals are widely used in computers, but not to store information, as many people believe. They're used for timing and frequency control because they vibrate at an extremely precise and stable rate when electricity is applied. This precise vibration helps regulate signals in electronic devices.

Most crystals used in computers today are synthetic.

The belief that quartz crystals can retain information has led to the idea that a crystal used for healing can be 'programmed' to store intentions or meaning. Healing crystals are said to be 'programmed' to help the user achieve a goal, intention, or desire. This is where the placebo effect begins.

Extensive scientific studies have shown that the placebo effect is largely responsible for the positive response to a treatment with no medicinal ingredient.

The phenomenon comes from a conscious or subconscious belief that the treatment will be effective. The placebo effect has been tested extensively in clinical trials of new drugs and therapies.

The positive outcome comes from the power of the mind, not from the treatment itself.

Text explaning how to set an intention for a crystal

Research has shown that if a medical professional tells someone a treatment is powerful, they're more likely to experience a positive outcome. This demonstrates the impact that perception can have on someone's attitude towards certain conditions.

The rise in popularity of crystals for healing is largely due to the desire to find new ways to improve health and well-being. They offer a less invasive and less toxic alternative to traditional drugs.

People who use crystals for healing are less interested in a scientific explanation of how they work.

The human mind, which governs the way we think and see the world, is complex. Sometimes in life, it can be a struggle to understand ourselves or the world around us. Using something tangible to help deal with those challenges can be hugely beneficial.

The mystery and appeal of crystals, along with their purported healing properties, create a sense of hope for many people. They may help someone explore and manage their emotions and can be worn, carried, used in mindfulness or meditation, or displayed as decorative objects to bring good energy.

Some people feel a response when handling them, while others enjoy their presence. There's no right or wrong way to use crystals; they can be used and enjoyed by everyone.