# Crystals... do they work? What do you know about them? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 11, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998 "2001-02-11T05:20:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Silly\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Silly\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/1 "2001-02-11T05:20:26Z")
I have a good friend who is in a VERY dark time in his life right now. He and I have become quite close in the last few weeks. I want so badly to help him, but there really is only so much I can do. I take him to doctor appointments, we have lunch and talk, we chat alot online. One thing I would like to do is buy him a “healing crystal”. My Mom bought me one once when I was younger and, oddly enough, it did help. I can’t remember what it was. Has anyone had any experience with crystals and thier healing properties? Which ones worked best? (Mods = I was not sure where this thread belonged, I apologize if it is in the wrong area!!) ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/2 "2001-02-11T05:51:51Z")
Short answers: 1. “Healing crystals” don’t work. No crystals work, as far as anyone has been able to determine. 2. You’re going to have a hard time finding people who believe “healing crystals” work on the SDMB, I’m afaid. 3. I’m sorry to hear about your friend, but I think your support and concern would work much better than any lump of quartz that’s being pawned off as a “healing crystal.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/3 "2001-02-11T06:26:53Z")
Well, who cares what you say . . . crystals work for me. I feel really good energy emanating from them. I just bought a beautiful amethyst crystal for my wife, it was our 15th aniversary today. The crystal anniversary. She digs the _chi_ in it too. Not everyone responds to crystals the same. Take your friend to a place that has crystals and see how his experience is. ---
**Author:** ![Adventurious82](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e495f1/32.png) [@Adventurious82](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adventurious82)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/4 "2001-02-11T06:30:52Z")
Crystals are krap! They don’t work, just like those pyramid hats, houses, awnings, and tents are bogus. Don’t look for Earth power nexus either, because that’s bunk. Avoid all psychics because they’re fakes. A good psychotherapist, however, can do wonders. ---
**Author:** ![vertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/3ec8ea/32.png) [@vertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vertigo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/5 "2001-02-11T07:00:26Z")
The thought of “Fighting Ignorance…” and “crystals having healing power” seems inconsistent to say the least. Might as well start watching where you walk…, lest you fall off the edge of the [earth](http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/flatearth.html). ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/6 "2001-02-11T07:12:06Z")
Cecil has a [column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_078.html) entitled **Do crystals have special powers?** Odds are any conclusions would be a rehash of his. But then, this is IMHO and not GQ or GD, so, IMHO, they’re bunk. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/7 "2001-02-11T07:18:45Z")
I’m a rockhound, so I collect crystals (as well as rocks and minerals which aren’t as trendy) because I just like having them. They’re interesting to look at and feel. I believe that “healing power” is a placebo effect. If you believe you’ll feel better, you probably will. ---
**Author:** ![Tabithina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@Tabithina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabithina)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/8 "2001-02-11T12:28:57Z")
Another rockhound checking in. I design jewelry and frequently work with crystals and gemstones. I find them aesthetically pleasing to work with. Beyond that, they are just rocks, and have no special powers; I just happen to love them. When my customers sometimes ask, “What does this rock _do_?”, I tell them as much. I don’t want to encourage fallacies about minerals. That said, a gift to a troubled friend as a show of support can be a healing thing. But it’s your friendship that’s the \*real \* gift. ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/9 "2001-02-11T13:13:40Z")
Quartz is magic in the sense that it is used to manufacture one of the most fascinating and important electronic components the world has ever seen, the piezoelectric quartz crystal unit. Without this device, the field of frequency control would hardly exist. In addition to communications applications such as cell phones, crystal units are found wherever microprocessors are used. Your electronic wristwatch, your color TV, your computer, your microwave oven, and your automobile all use multiple quartz crystal units—several billion of these devices are manufactured yearly, yet most people have never heard of them. You might guess that I have more than a passing interest in these devices. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_hermes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dfb087/32.png) [@dr\_hermes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dr_hermes)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/10 "2001-02-11T16:50:56Z")
My sister owns a crystal shop in Woodstock, NY, where I have spent many happy hours socializing with the folks. Most of them believe the crystals themselves not only have magic powers, but that each variety has a different effect -black tourmaline dispels negative energy, rose quartz heals emotional distress, etc. ``` Since I am by nature and conscious choice a skeptic, my way of dealing with this is a compromise. I suggest that the stones are triggers which can activate the healing powers innate in the people. This seems to satisfy most of the pagan/Wicca/flower children I chat with. ``` ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/11 "2001-02-11T17:10:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*Well, who cares what you say . . . crystals work for me. I feel really good energy emanating from them. I just bought a beautiful amethyst crystal for my wife, it was our 15th aniversary today. The crystal anniversary. She digs the _chi_ in it too. > \*\* I, for one, care about what **rjung** has to say, but… I’m fascinated by your claim that crystals “work for you”, but some questions arise: “Good energy”? What kind? How can it be measured? _ANY_ kind of energy can be measured, you know. If it’s giving off enough energy that you can “feel” it, it’s giving off enough energy for a voltmeter or geiger counter to pick up. (If it’s giving off that much radiation, it could also be giving you something nasty, but since “good energy” is pretty undefined, who knows? More testing is clearly called for.) Anyway, I’d be interested in a double blind test of your ability to “feel” the “good energy”. Something simple like: three opaque boxes. One of which has a crystal that you’ve pre-determined has “good energy” emanations, one of which has a rock that you’ve predetermined doesn’t have “good energy” emanations and one of which has nothing, with a predetermined amount of tries. I’d love to see your results. Y’know, The Amazing Randi would probably want more controls and stuff, but you could easily win a cool million dollars with your “good energy” sensing ability. If you’re interested, I’ll happily post a link to the Million Dollar Paranormal Challange (or whatever it’s called) Fenris A rockhound who’s sick of a cheap $3.00 quartz crystal going for $40.00 because of “Krystal Kooks” as my local rock shop owner calls them. ---
**Author:** ![Silly\_Rabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47774/32.png) [@Silly\_Rabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silly_Rabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/12 "2001-02-11T18:47:30Z")
Thank you all for your responses. Regardless of whether crystals are merely placebo or give off a true vibration to assist the soul in healing certain ailments within, I feel that when one is presented as a gift of the heart, it’s job has already begun. However, I do have faith in crystals and how they affect us. > [@](#): > > **Avoid all psychics because they’re fakes.** FWIW,I do NOT equate the belief in crystals to my belief in most dime store psychics. ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/13 "2001-02-11T20:17:05Z")
1. Quartz crystals will resonate, but only if you run electrical current through them. So if you do feel anything from wearing a quartz crystal, you’d probably have to be electrocuting yourself. 2. I couldn’t find anything directly related to crystal “therapy,” but if you’re interested in becoming educated about other healing quackery/scams, I suggest you check out [quackwatch.com](http://www.quackwatch.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Space\_Vampire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Space\_Vampire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Space_Vampire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/14 "2001-02-11T21:25:45Z")
[http://skepdic.com/crystals.html](http://skepdic.com/crystals.html) Don’t be naive. A present is nice, but getting your friend believing in New Age hippie crap is not the way to help him. ---
**Author:** ![Wozzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@Wozzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wozzo)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/15 "2001-02-11T21:43:27Z")
I don’t believe that crystals have healing powers. I don’t believe that “Get Well Soon” cards have healing powers, either, but I do send them. If your friend has a sentimental or wishful turn of mind, giving him a crystal isn’t any sillier than giving him flowers - and crystals last longer. I’ve only “responded” to two minerals (call it chi or sentiment or what you will): hematite and amethyst. Hematite gives me a “speeded up” feeling, and amethyst gives me a “slowed down” feeling. Perhaps your friend would feel the same. That’s my two cents. ---
**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/16 "2001-02-11T22:29:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silly Rabbit \* > \*\* > FWIW,I do NOT equate the belief in crystals to my belief in most dime store psychics. \*\* “most” dime store psychics?..So there are psychics that you DO believe in? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/17 "2001-02-11T23:09:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silly Rabbit \* > \*\* > However, I do have faith in crystals and how they affect us. > \*\* :rolleyes: In what way do you believe they affect us? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2001, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/18 "2001-02-11T23:35:22Z")
Do I believe that crystals have healing powers? No. Do I believe that a person’s outlook can have an affect on their well-being? Most assuredly. Do I believe in the supernatural abilities of psychics? No. Do I believe that some people are incredibly observant and intuitive, and that many other people are both suggestible and desirous of believing what they wish to believe? Yes. Is it my job to change the minds of naive people, or those who wish to have their beliefs in spite of a lack of supporting evidence? No. Is it my job to work on eradicating ignorance or naivety in myself? Yes, I I feel it is. The mind is incredibly powerful. If someone believes that something will help them, sometimes it will. ---
**Author:** ![David\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@David\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_B)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/19 "2001-02-12T00:53:49Z")
Silly Rabit, crystals are for kids! (Somebody had to say it.) Anyway, SR said: > [@](#): > > Regardless of whether crystals are merely placebo or give off a true vibration to assist the soul in healing certain ailments within, I feel that when one is presented as a gift of the heart, it’s job has already begun. And can’t that be said about _any_ gift? Why get an expensive piece of rock? Get something that the person likes if you want to make them feel better. ---
**Author:** ![Meephead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Meephead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meephead)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2001, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998/20 "2001-02-12T01:27:05Z")
Just a quick thought… This is not a personal attack on **Adventurious82** , so please don’t take it as such. I quoted th following post because it represents much of what has been said in this thread and others. > [@](#): > > Crystals are krap! > > They don’t work, just like those pyramid hats, houses, awnings, and tents are bogus. > > Don’t look for Earth power nexus either, because that’s bunk. > > Avoid all psychics because they’re fakes. I am not saying that Crystals work, or that psychics have specially developed powers, because I believe that proving such a thing may not be possible. My problem with the above statements is that, to me, they sound like a direct attack on someone’s beliefs. How are the above statements any different than me saying, “Christianity is crap. Prayer doesn’t work. Allah is a myth. Buddah is fake. Judaism is ludicrous…” We can’t prove or disprove any of those any easier than crystal healing and psychics, IMO. It is OK to have differing beliefs, since that is what keeps lie interesting. If you state that you don’t believe what someone else does, it doesn’t have to come off as a personal attack. Please be a bit more sensitive. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/crystals-do-they-work-what-do-you-know-about-them/53998.md?page=2)