Crystals and your herbal practice

Crystal healing is an alternative therapy that has been used for thousands of years. It seems to originate in the ancient Ayurveda, as has much of our herbal knowledge. The original therapy assigns specific stones to planets that are then used to bring the energy of a planet to a more attainable spot for people. Throughout centuries and many  cultures, we find different techniques of ways that crystals, stones and minerals have been used for healing and health. Such as the practice of putting a small gemstone under the skin permanently for protection or to heal anemia. The crushing and ingestion of stones as the inuits did with labradorite, believing they were ingesting the northern lights. The laying on of stones in the American Southwest became the norm, not only for humans but for the livestock and horses as well. Crystals, stones and minerals have been intertwined with health since we knew they existed.

Traditionally we can find documentation that tells us to crush and soak a diamond in water then drink the water for poison, drink alcohol from amethyst to protect from drunkenness and the liver, crush garnet and sprinkle on food for anemia. How do these stones work? What is it they are supposed to be doing when used in this manner? Is this magic and fairy tale or is there actually something to this?

If we look at our modern day world, we may find some answers. Crushing a garnet and ingesting it sounds pretty gritty, however it would have been mixed with food and that food would be full of iron once the crushed mineral is mixed in, a principle constituent of garnet. A diamond is pure carbon, by crushing it and ingesting it the ancients were using a very expensive form of activated charcoal, both of these have carbon as their base and absorb poison in the system allowing it to pass and not cause harm. If we break down Amethyst, Silicon is the major constituent, as it is in a contemporary drug named antibuse. Silicon can cause a reaction within our metabolism that is antagonistic to the effects of alcohol. So the ancients weren’t that far off in their thinking.

Crystals have not always been ingested for health, sometimes just carrying them, sleeping with them, bathing with them were prescribed. Pliny the elder, who was very outspoken on the “charlatans” using crystals for healing, did admit that emerald was the best remedy for tired eyes, one was to simply lay the emeralds on the eyelids while laying down. Now this sounds like just shutting the eyes is the trigger for relief, however lets dig a little deeper. Chromium is the chemical in Beryl which gives emerald its green color, Chromium deficiency is a real thing, and recent studies show us that chromium plays a role not only in eye strain, but glaucoma. Chromium is also bioavailable through dermal absorption, so Pliny was right, emeralds on the eyes DO cure eye strain in some instances.

Crystals and minerals have always been used by man for their chemical constituents, similar to herbs. This idea did not stop with the ancients and it isn’t limited to health and healing. In fact most of us do not realize that minerals and stones are a foundation in our society that we could not live without , at least as we know life. Everything about our life is connected to crystals in some way, all of our technology relies on these minerals and metals. Our cars, our computers, our telephones, guns, space programs, even our modern healthcare relies on crystals to function. Many of our pharmaceutical drugs are mined from the ground, such as lithium, all of our data rests on the memory of silicon, fragile equipment requires the high melting point of tungsten, the list can go on and on, but the point is crystals are still widely used within our society and the world as a whole.

What does all of this information mean to my practice of herbalism? Crystals are much like herbs in that they come from the earth, their value is in the constituents that make them up and there is an abundance of folklore surrounding them. Crystals also bring an energy with them, some people call this energy vibration. Crystal Healers have known for a very long time how to use the vibration of crystals for healing. The principle is simple, a higher vibration will raise a lower vibration to meet it. So if disease is a low vibration and a crystal is a high vibration, then exposing that disease to the higher vibration will help to eliminate the disease. Crystals and stones tend to regulate energies within the human body, Chinese medicine would call this energy “chi”, In the Ayurveda this energy is broken down into categories known as chakra’s, the use of stones on the chakra’s is another way crystals have been used historically for health. When we look at the ancient chakra system, we see that it is basically a blueprint that paints us a picture of how our conscience comes together with our human body, and blockages in any of these areas can and will lead to dis-ease. 

Crystals are very complimentary to herbs, while herbs work on the physical symptoms of dis-ease, crystals work on the spiritual or conscious level of the dis-ease. There is absolutely no dis-ease that can occur within the physical body that did not start within our conscious body, it becomes a thought and manifests from there. It may have a series of events or exposures that are purely physical that “caused” it in the physical but it always originates on a conscious level. My father was a physician, he believed his most important role as a doctor was to make people want to get well, he knew that once the patient made the decision to get well, they would, no matter what he did for them. Crystals are the premier tool for helping our clients ‘want to get well’. Through my personal practice, I have found that crystals generally help one to become aware of the root of the disease, which can often be the first step in correcting it. I find that crystals assist clients in coming back to themselves and learning to listen to their physical bodies innermost voice, telling them what is wrong. Many crystals can have a physical impact, like fluorite which stays cool, so its a great ice pack, but most crystals will be working on an etheric level in a very subtle way. Perceptions change, beliefs breakdown, forgiveness comes. Below, I introduce some ways to introduce crystals into your herbalist practice and to your clients.

Green Fluorite Octahedrons: Use these for their naturally cooling properties. Fluorine, which is used in refrigerators to keep them cool is present in minute quantities, but enough that these stones remain cool and make excellent re-usable, sustainable ice paks. I keep a small bag of these in my fridge for extra cooling power, the best part, no messy melting and they can be popped right back in the fridge after use. 

These are also excellent for inflammation in the joints, wearing them around the joints helps to reduce swelling and pain in arthritis or injury.

Clear Quartz: Quartz is energetically considered an amplifier. In fact quartz is piezoelectric, meaning that a charge can be set off when the stone is under pressure, this is how radios and other technology works. When we work with quartz that is exactly what we are doing, we are putting the clients energetic system under a pressure waiting for the spark, so quartz is usually used when we want to increase something in the body. Energy, hormone production, blood production, liver function, kidney function. There are as many ways to accomplish this as there crystal healers. Some use strictly laying on of the stones, some use chakra layouts, some add the quartz to their formulas (quartz is rare in that it poses no risks in teas, tinctures or waters. Most stones can leach toxic constituents so be very cautious with this). Anytime I see someone struggling with a sluggish thyroid, I not only reach for the adaptogens, I reach for quartz. A necklace, placing the quartz directly over the thyroid is a beautiful way to compliment the adaptogen formula that the client is using. In cases of premenstrual syndrome a quartz stone in each pocket can help to  balance out many of the symptoms including inflammation and pain. Often times, quartz at the top of the head, the area of the crown chakra can help to dispel depression or grief and help one find inspiration again.

Turquoise : Historically Turquoise has been used for protection and health in many cultures across the world, before communication between these cultures. Most commonly used in the area of the neck, shoulders and throat, we find that turquoise has a cooling effect on sore throats, hoarseness, fevers, ringing ears, and even muscle pain in the neck and shoulders. Turquoise helps us to find our voice, to communicate those things we have kept inside to our own detriment. It allows us to not only speak up for ourselves, but to express ourselves, express who we are, who we came here to be. It is a stone that frees us from our own prison. 

Garnet: Garnets come in many colors, however most of us are aware only of the red garnets. Each color gets its coloring from different impurities within the stone, the reddish orange colorations come from iron impurities. Traditionally garnets were mixed up with rubies and not recognized as any color other than red until the late 1800’s, when identification became more technical. Garnets have been used with anemias, wasting diseases and to increase appetite. They are excellent stones to help a client find their own power and to step into it on their own. These are very good stones to use with individuals who are in a victim mentality, the garnet will help empower them not only with responsibility, but success.

Lithium included Quartz : An inclusion in a quartz crystal is a foreign substance that the quartz crystal formed around. Some inclusions cause new colorations and some are left in tact, forever suspended in the stillness of the quartz. Lithium is a mineral that is mined from the ground and used extensively commercially, including by the medical field. This mineral gets ground extracted and reformulated into a medication that helps individuals with depression and bi-polar disorder. Lithium is believed to act as a post-synaptic serotonin blocker within the human brain. When using the included quartz crystal, I have found that it helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns, mainly patterns that have to do with how they feel about themselves and their value. I recommend Lithium included Quartz with skin eruptions, reproductive issues, depression, emotional trauma and many more.

These are just a few examples of how to incorporate your crystals into your herbal practice, please visit my website’s resource page for more information on crystals and how to use them, crystaliscious.com. 

How will the ECS effect herbalists?

When we think of Cannabis, we may conjure visions of smoke filled rooms, dirty hippies and reefer madness. Some may have fond memories of past times, while others have opinions shaped by propaganda, politics and policy. Many people across the nation do not understand what has fueled the medical marijuana movement across 28 states and the District of Columbia. I heard over and over that the medical marijuana movement was just a back door to legalization, however with a little research we find what really launched this movement to where we find ourselves today. A quiet scientist in Israel, Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, held the key to a movement that is sweeping the world.
Dr. Mechoulam has spent most of his career studying cannabis, in fact, he is the scientist who identified THC as the active constituent in cannabis. He started this work to learn how cannabis effects our moods, after all the opiate receptors had been identified almost 150 years prior to Dr. Mechoulam work, it was time we understood the effects of cannabis. Over the course of his career, Dr. Mechoulam has made great strides understanding the constituents of cannabis, the importance of good policy and a very important function of the human body. He identified a system within our physiological process, one that modulates energy intake, nutrient transport, metabolism and storage. He happened to be studying cannabis when he discovered this, so he named the new system, the endocannabinoid system or ECS.
The ECS is a group of receptors found within the brain and throughout our body, It is comprised of two main cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. There are other receptors that have been identified, just not studied as well, GPR18, GPR119 and GPR55. These receptors respond to both endocannabinoid, created within our own bodies, and phyto cannabinoids, those

found in cannabis, and surprisingly a few other plants as well. The brain is plentiful with CB1 receptors, in fact there are more CB1 receptors present than any other type of receptor thus far identified. CB1 receptors are also present in other areas of our nervous system with none being found within the brainstem, which is why lethal overdose is not a risk with cannabis. CB2 receptors are found more within the immune system, the gastrointestinal system, as well as in our glands, organs and tissues. Since the identification of these receptors and this physiological system, increased research suggests that the ECS plays a major role in regulating psychological and physiological health and disease.
It is important to remember that our own bodies make cannabinoids, they are found throughout our bodies, released on demand and have been found to be present in breast milk. There are currently two identified endogenous cannabinoids, Anandamide, which mean bliss in sanskrit, and AG2. Scientist have researched these to some extent, but its my understanding that it has been easier to research the phytocannibinoids due to poor policy.
Phytocannibinoids, are of course present in cannabis. A few of these are THC, CBD, CBG, CBN, there are reportedly over 100 in process being identified. However many do not realize that plants such as echinacea, kava, black pepper and Liverwort all stimulate the endocannabinoid system as well. Many others are being studied at this time for suspicion of stimulating the ECS, and one Naturopathic physician in Washington State, Dr. Michelle Sexton, has gone as far as to call cannabis an adaptogen, and hinted that plants in this category will definitely be studied with respect to our ECS. The ECS performs different tasks, dependent on the tissue, however the goal seems to always be the same, homeostasis,

Maintaining our internal environment despite what is happening in our external environment. Cannabinoids promote health and homeostasis at every level, one example is Apoptosis, programmed cell death. The ECS mediates this process, this is the process that gives us the idea that cannabis may have some effects on cancers. Endocannabinoid's and cannabinoids are also found where our bodies systems meet up, helping the cells communicate. For example, cannabinoids can be found in injured tissue, stabilizing the nerve cells, calming the immune cells and decreasing the release of sensitizers, in other words protecting from damage and decreasing pain.Three different tasks, performed by the same constituent.
Over the course of the last few decades, researchers have found that the ECS is involved in an enormous array of functions within our bodies. These include helping to control brain and nerve function, including memory and pain, energy metabolism, heart function, the immune system and reproduction. Because of the diversity of the ECS, it is implicated in a large range of disease, such as obesity, diabetes, epilepsy, heart disease, chrohn’s disease, IBS, chronic pain, cancer, to name just a few.
I’m sure many of us have heard the claims that cannabis has become a miracle cure for many conditions, I must admit the first time I heard that cannabis cured cancer, I was not a believer, I happened to teach DOT drug screening protocol at the time. However a cursory search on the internet, or a few minutes spent on youtube, will show us a green rush is sweeping the nation. An illegal industry being brought into the light, with entrepreneurs, investors, growers, distribution, taxes, policies, regulations and legitimate job creation.

Pharmaceutical companies are lobbying, researching, trying to beat the others out with the first “clean and pure” product on the market. Millions are being invested, all with the promise of being pioneers in a budding new industry, an industry that vows to expand and grow over the next 5 years. This movement, these claims, the snake oil salesmen, the legitimate caregivers, the 20,000+ research articles on PubMed, the policy changes, the new regulations, this whole industry is possible because of Dr. Mechoulam’s identification of the ECS within the human body.
So what does this mean to those of us using plants and herbs as our healthcare? How will we, as herbalist’s incorporate this information into our routine practices? While this information is slowly making it’s way into mainstream medicine, how will this effect our understanding of how different plants are used in herbalism?
I imagine that the majority of herbalist’s are sitting back with a smile on their face thinking ‘told ya so”. Not just about cannabis, but about many other herbs that are definitely effecting our body in a positive way against all of the pollution we face on a daily basis. This information is affirming what herbalist already know, phytotherapy works, it is the heart of herbalism and the foundation of allopathic medicine. There are over 20,000 scientific studies on one plant, all proving action of some sort in the human body. This alone, should remind not only the herbalist, but all main steam healthcare practitioners that plants and herbs are more important than ever, our efforts to understand them have only just begun. This scientific research into one plant, has lit a fire in the research community to understand more and more about the actions of plant constituents and how they effect the body, bringing herbalist more information than ever before on how

these plants interact within our body. I’m sure that within a decade, these new studies will help us as herbalist’s understand the action of several plants and why they work, helping us to be more precise in our practices.
With the questionable legality of the cannabis plant, many herbalist across the nation will not have immediate access to it. At the time of this writing 28 states have passed some form of cannabis legalization, in medical programs or full recreational. This is a challenge in those states where no form of legalization has passed and or large criminal penalties exist for possession of this plant. Herbalist in those states should not ignore this information, nor should they jump into buying and preparing formulas against local laws. However, we as herbalist, have a responsibility to educate ourselves on these findings and then educate others. There are many resources on the ECS available, even in states that harbor criminal penalties for cannabis possession and consumption. The more we educate ourselves and others on this crucial role of the ECS in our health and how plants play a role in the balance of this system, the closer these regions will come to passing legislation that brings relief to the millions of people looking for alternatives to opiate’s and other harsh pharmaceutical chemicals.
In states that have passed legislation legalizing cannabis and its constituents for medical or recreational, the laws are still fuzzy, regulations change weekly and it is difficult to keep up with what the rules are, when and where. There are still federal raids happening in states that have voted for full legality, there are still cease and desist letters being sent out to small companies by the FDA, asset forfeitures are still a top line item in many law enforcement agencies budgets. This is no time to ignore the legal ramifications and pay attention only

to the materia medica. This is a time to educate ourselves, not only on the ECS and how plants effect it, but on the law and making sure that we are working within the confines of the law for our clients. A quick google search will show us horror stories of desperate parents being prosecuted for treating their child with cannabis, or themselves while the child is in the home. These are the types of situations that an herbalist in a legal state should be very aware of. There are many stories of people who thought they were doing everything legally, only to be facing years in prison for by passing an unknown regulation. As the logistics of the regulations and laws shake out over the next decade, we as herbalist are responsible for staying on top of these so that our clients remain safe and within the law.
It’s exciting to me that we are on the precipice of a new dynamic in healthcare with the discovery of the ECS. I can only compare the possibilities I see to what those individuals who saw the birth of penicillin must have imagined as they witnessed a miracle that changed the course of medicine. We are witnessing a moment in time that will shape medical history for decades to come. An affirmation of the importance of nature to the body, new understandings of how our body constantly works to create homeostasis, rather than disease. We are seeing the death of the age of disease, and the birth of an age of well being. Where our scientific research is mutating from studying pathogens and the harm they cause, to studying the balance of the body and how to support it. This will not only effect herbalist, it will spill over into the mainstream healthcare, into mainstream thinking, and as a result we will see not only more plants and herbs being used for health, we will have a better understanding of exactly how they are working in the body.