Crystals and gemstones have attracted the attention of people around the world for centuries. Many believe that crystals have healing properties due to their vibrations or energies. While these ideas are widely held, there is limited empirical evidence in the scientific community to support these assumptions. In this article, we focus on the peer-reviewed studies that attempt to explain the effect of crystals on the human body.
Crystal structures and vibrations
Crystals, such as quartz, amethyst or tourmaline, have a specific atomic structure. These structures are regular and ordered, resulting in a stable oscillation frequency. A crystalline body consists of atoms that are arranged at regular intervals, and this arrangement leads to oscillations or vibrations that occur at a certain frequency. This is known as the piezoelectric effect.
A peer-reviewed study by Hossain and Islam (2016) examines the piezoelectric properties of quartz and finds that these crystals generate electrical charges when pressure is applied. These charges can be used in specialised applications such as watches or microphones, but the effects on the human body are still not clearly understood. It is speculated that these electrical impulses could cause subtle changes in the body when they come into contact with the human energy field.
Reference: Hossain, M. Z., & Islam, S. M. (2016). Piezoelectric properties of quartz crystal: A study for technological application. Journal of Applied Physics, 119(11), 115301. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4945592
Electromagnetic fields and crystals
There are also theories that crystals could interact with the electromagnetic fields of the body. Crystals such as quartz and tourmaline are known to produce electromagnetic fields that could theoretically interact with the human body. These fields could have a subtle effect on electrical activity in the brain or nervous system.
A study by Kumar et al. (2018) investigates the electromagnetic fields of crystals and their possible effects on the cells in the human body. However, it is concluded that there are no long-term, measurable biological changes caused directly by contact with crystals. The effects that many people feel, such as warmth or tingling, can be partially explained by the placebo effect.
Reference: Kumar, P., Meena, M., & Sharma, R. (2018). Electromagnetic fields generated by crystals and their impact on human physiology. Journal of Crystal Growth, 488, 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrysgro.2017.12.028
Conclusion on the effect of crystals
Scientific research on the beneficial effects of crystals on the human body is limited and the empirical evidence for the physiological effects of crystals remains unclear. While crystals produce electromagnetic fields and vibrations, it has not yet been proven that these fields have a significant physiological effect on humans. Further studies are needed to determine if and how crystals affect the human energy field.
