For as long as people have admired gemstones they’ve believed in their power to heal, protect, and guide. Across thousands of years and countless cultures, crystals have been woven into rituals, medicines, and even armour. Let’s take a walk through history and see how different civilisations turned to crystals, not only for decoration, but for well-being.
China: Jade, the Stone of Life
In China, as far back as 5000 BCE, jade was revered above all other stones. The ancient Chinese believed it could purify the body and even lengthen life. Emperors were buried in jade suits, crafted to preserve their bodies and perhaps grant them immortality.
Healers also shaped jade into rollers and massage tools, and if that sounds familiar, you’re right. This is a practice that has been revived in modern skincare routines today.
Ancient Mesopotamia: Gemstones for all
Roll on a couple of thousand years, and in the Mesopotamian region, people were already wearing crystals with purpose. While the ancient Chinese focused primarily on jade, by around 3000 BCE, various Mesopotamian cultures were exploring the uses of multiple gemstones, each believed to offer different benefits. This was one of the first steps toward what we now think of as modern crystal healing.
The Sumerians and Babylonians used lapis lazuli, agate, and carnelian in amulets and seals, convinced these stones could guard against disease and ward off evil spirits.
And this wasn’t a practice reserved only for the kings or priests, everyday people wore protective talismans too. Crystals were woven into daily life, serving as a trusted shield against harm.
Egypt: Medicine, Magic, and the Afterlife
The Egyptians took things a step further. They didn’t just wear crystals for their healing benefits, they also used them in medicine. Lapis lazuli, malachite, and turquoise were ground into powders and prescribed for ailments ranging from eye infections to heart troubles. Not something I’d recommend! Eating stones doesn’t seem great for anyone’s health, and putting them into an infected eye? Yikes!
Pharaohs and priests relied on gemstones for both strength and protection. Tutankhamun’s famous burial mask, inlaid with lapis lazuli, wasn’t just for decoration, it was meant to help guide his soul safely into the afterlife.
🔗 Interested in Egyptian use of gemstones in ancient funeral rites? You might enjoy Gemstones in the Book of the Dead
India: Crystal Healing in the Vedic Tradition
India’s history with crystal healing is both deep and detailed. The Vedas, sacred Hindu texts written over 4,000 years ago, reference gemstones as tools for balancing energy in the body. Ayurvedic healers prescribed specific stones for the doshas, our inner energies.
And then there was the famous Navaratna, or “nine gems,” which included ruby, sapphire, emerald, and diamond. These gems were worn in crowns, jewellery, and armour, and were believed to align the wearer with cosmic forces and bring overall well-being.
🔗 Deep dive into the Navaratna in my blog The Nine Celestial Gemstones (coming soon)
Greece and Rome: Writing the First Lapidaries
The Greeks and Romans approached crystals with curiosity and analysis. Theophrastus, a student of Aristotle, wrote about their uses in the 4th century BCE, and centuries later Pliny the Elder included them in his Natural History.
Amethyst was a favourite, said to prevent drunkenness. The wealthy had it set into goblets and amulets. Another example is hematite. Roman soldiers carried it into battle, trusting it would make them stronger and protect them from harm.
Indigenous Traditions of the Americas
Across the Americas, Indigenous peoples wove crystals into their healing practices. The Hopi of Arizona used quartz crystals for diagnostic rituals, while the Mayans crafted obsidian into sacred healing tools.
Shamans across different cultures used crystals to cleanse negativity and restore harmony. These practices weren’t written in books, but were passed down through generations, and many still influence modern approaches to crystal healing.
Medieval Europe: Healing Stones of the Courts
In medieval Europe, gemstones were part science, part faith. Alchemists and scholars studied them for hidden powers, while religious leaders saw them as gifts of divine healing.
Royal courts often kept physicians who prescribed gemstones for specific conditions. Emeralds for eyesight, sapphires for plague protection, garnets for vitality. Even King Edward the Confessor was said to own a sapphire ring that he believed held miraculous powers.
So, does it work? (The science)
From a strict scientific point of view, there isn’t evidence to support the claims around crystal healing. The theories about atomic vibrations and energy fields fall into the realms of pseudoscience. And just to be clear, crystals should never replace conventional medicine. If you’re unwell, talk to your doctor.
But, and this is me speaking as someone who completed a bachelor of science in complementary therapies, with the goal of working alongside medical professionals, my personal take is… does it really matter if the science says no? I don’t really mind if it turns out crystal healing isn’t something science just hasn’t figured out yet. It’s fine if it’s just a placebo.
If carrying a stone helps you feel balanced, calmer, or more positive, why dismiss it? Many people use crystals alongside their everyday routines, including myself, and find them beneficial. Or at the very least, find they don’t make things any worse. So, if it helps you feel a bit better, or stay focused for a little longer, does the how or why really matter?
Crystal Healing Today: Ancient Practices in Modern Times
Even though modern medicine doesn’t include crystals in its toolkit, their appeal has never really faded. From Mesopotamian amulets to alchemists’ studies, they have been a constant symbol of protection, balance, and beauty throughout history. And even today, people still reach for amethyst for clarity, jade for balance, and clear quartz for energy, just as they did in ancient times.
🔗 Want to explore the symbolic & spiritual meanings of individual gemstones? Explore my Gemstone Meanings blogs here.
📌 Don’t forget to save this brief history of crystal healing so you can find it again.
