Are Gems a Girl's Best Friend... And Nature's Medicine?

Many people think that medicine must come in the form of a pill, an injection, or a sickly sweet syrup... but a stone? Naturopathic physicians have long believed in the natural curative ability of gemstones. Said to heal the body by neutralizing negativity and releasing energetic blockages in the body, is it possible that gemstones are truly one of the greenest ways to health and healing? Maybe... if you source local stones. It's certainly one thing to green your health by avoiding popping pills, but avoiding the carbon footprint carried by stones mined and shipped from Zambia or Namibia is also an important component to the green healing equation. And of course, be sure to only select conflict-free gems.

More than baubles that embellish an outfit, gemstones have been touted for their therapeutic benefits rooted in Ayurveda, the 7,000 year-old Indian system of holistic and medicinal healing and health. Based on the belief that imbalances are what cause the body to be sick, specific stones are prescribed as nature's potion to bring the body back into balance.

Despite the fact that Americans are increasingly more conscious and seemingly accepting of "alternative" approaches to wellness, the American medical system of chemically-driven treatments has yet to fully integrate gemstone therapy into our health care system. But turn your attention to the Brits who not only recognize the benefits, the British National Health Insurance covers gemstone treatments!

What is Gemstone Therapy?

Gemstone therapy, at its core, is all about energy. Mined from deep within the Earth, gemstones intrinsically contain energy that, oddly enough, is embraced and utilized by the techno world (the same world that can't figure out how to utilize that apparently powerful force to heal the body... ironic) to support the functioning of ordinary and extraordinary mechanisms like, for example: televisions, quartz clocks, watches, cordless phones, computers, even laser medicine (okay, so it is circuitously connected to healing the body). Yup, all of those gadgets that have been fully incorporated into our lives depend on rubies or sapphires to precisely transmit information.

The human body is comprised of over 80 percent water and an array of minerals, much of which creates a crystalline constitution similar to gems (though it takes a gem thousands of years to form its firm and stable environment and we are still a new and malleable combination of atoms). Like gemstones, humans emit energetic vibrations. The theory behind gem therapy is that, when placed against the skin, a gemstone's stable vibration can have a profound effect on the human's unstable vibration, thereby altering the body's energy.

The practice of gemstone healing addresses the body, mind and spirit as a whole, targeting underlying dis-ease that cause illness before those issues are able to be embodied as ailments. Dr. Ada Gonzalez, a Naturopathic Physician with a private practice at The Golden Heart Center for Wellness in Portland Oregon, says "Being elements of nature, it makes sense that there is an interaction between gemstones and humans. But just like any medicine, gemstone therapy can do both harm and good. Diamonds are really strong and not for the beginner. Only a trained medical practitioner should heal the body with diamonds."

Different stones are believed to hold different therapeutic qualities from cellular repair- kind of like medications. You don't pop a pill for stomach acid when you have a headache, and the same goes for which specific gemstone you need to heal.

What Gem Can Heal Your Specific Ailment?

- Energy Boost— Place quartz along your charkas

- To Ease the Mind— Opt for aquamarine.

- Improve Concentration— Hold onto a ruby

- Calm Emotions— Secure amethyst to your skin

- Overall physical, mental and spiritual revitalization— Diamonds

Healing Stones at Home:

Siren Jewelry where you can buy energy specific necklaces, bracelets, and rings or have one creating just for your exact needs according to your ailment.

Energy Muse, a celebrity favorite, has the perfect necklace or bracelet to help with almost any area in your life- bringing out your inner Aphrodite to increasing your athletic potential.

Artemis Healing Gems Facial Scrubs slough off dead skin cells and revitalize the natural luminescence with six soothing options: Amethyst to relax, Tourmaline to balance, Rose Quartz for sensuality, Topaz for power and Clear Quartz for energy.

Colorescience Achromatherapy Gem Spritzers provide a mist of organically grown aromatherapy oils and gems to rejuvenate, revitalize and protect the skin.

Aveda Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Crème and Radiance Masque uses finely powdered tourmaline, considered to be one of the most naturally energizing minerals, to boost skin's radiance and increase its bioenergy field.