Crystals and their healing energies have been used since ancient Egyptian times and well before what we now call the New Age. Ancient Physicians used to grind the crystals down into powder and mix with various liquids to make medicine. The Electromagnetic energies work on the human body to encourage it to heal itself. Some crystals work on specific parts of the body and some are ' non specific ' and work on all parts. Below is a brief history of what ancient civilizations used crystals for.

Prehistoric

Archaeologists have discovered in graves and barrows excavated in Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Africa, beads, carvings and jewelry of amber, jet, turquoise, lapis, garnet, carnelian, quartz and other stones. It is believed that the carvings were probably amulets and talismans used for protection and as reminders of religious rites.

A striking example of prehistoric reverence for crystals is the solar temple, Newgrange. This ancient passage grave in the Boyne Valley of Ireland, which is older than the pyramids, was built so that the sun would stream through the 70-foot-long entrance tunnel on the Winter Solstice. Its roof was originally covered with white quartz, to symbolize the White Goddess.

Ancient Egypt

A hieroglyphic papyrus from the year 2000 BC documents a medical cure using a crystal, and several from the year 1500 BC have additional prescriptions.

Lapis was considered to be a royal stone. It was often pulverized and made into a poultice to be rubbed onto the crown of the head. It was believed that as it dried it drew out all spiritual impurities. The pharaohs often had their headdresses lined with malachite in the belief that it helped them to rule wisely. In powder form this stone was used for poor eyesight and inner vision.
Many other stones were found in the tombs, including carnelian, turquoise and tiger's eye. These were often shaped into amulets, shields and hearts, the Eye of Horus and scarabs.

Native Americans

The original settlers of North, Central and South America used crystals widely for spiritual, ceremonial, healing and practical purposes. The ancient Mexicans, for example, made mirrors out of pyrite.

Obsidian served both practical and ritual purposes. The Mayans used it for ceremonial knives and other tribes believed that it served to sharpen both outer and inner vision. Turquoise was believed to be a stone, which bridged heaven and earth

(a belief also held in Tibet).

Mayan Indians used quartz crystals for both the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Some Mexican Indian tribes believed that the souls of those who led good lives would go into crystals.

China and Japan

Quartz was traditionally revered in the Far East, especially in carved form, Quartz crystal balls were considered to represent the heart or essence of the dragon. Dragons were thought to have great power, and a deeper meaning for "dragon" is that of a very wise and evolved individual.

The stone most associated with China is jade. It was termed the concentrated essence of love. Many kinds of amulets are carved from jade, including those for friendship and for romantic love. A jade butterfly was a symbol of successful love.

India

The culture of ancient India is a rich source of information about crystals. The system of chakras (energy canter's), which help us to place crystals on the body for healing and meditation originate from there. Astrological documents written as early as 400 BC contain detailed observations about the power of various stones to counteract the negative effects of planetary positions.

Stones were regarded as having great spiritual and emotional powers. Moonstone, for instance, was a sacred stone, believed to arouse love. Onyx, in contrast, was believed to help release the ties of old loves. The ruby was a highly valued gemstone, and was known as the " king of precious stones. "

Crystal properties

A few crystals below with their spiritual and healing properties.

Spiritually: It helps us pursue and achieve goals with determination. Red jasper is supposed to be the most dynamic for this, yellow jasper the calmest, and green jasper the most balanced.
Healing: Stimulates circulation and energy flow (red). It fortifies the immune system (yellow) and has detoxifying and anti-inflammatory effect (green). It helps with diseases of the sexual organs, digestion and intestinal problems. Turitella jasper increases resistance to environmental stress (pollution, toxins, radiation).

Spiritually: Encourages spiritual growth, foresight, farsightedness, mediumistic qualities and clairvoyance. It makes us upright and honest, goal-oriented, dynamic, persistent and successful.
Healing: Harmonizes the pituitary gland and the thyroid gland, thereby regulating growth and the hormone balance. Improves short and long sightedness and calms overreactions of the immune system, autoimmune diseases and allergies, especially hay fever.

Spiritually: Encourages a calm and contemplative view of life and helps with concentrated, positive regulations of our affairs.

Healing: Balances our Auras and the energy body. Has a protective effect, harmonizes and stabilizes health. Helps with diseases of the eye (conjunctivitis), gastritis and stomach ulcers, bladder and intestinal inflammation, as well as the uterus. Aids the digestion and strengthens the blood vessels, also helps with skin diseases.

Spiritually: Encourages constant spiritual wakefulness. It imbues a sense of justice and the ability to judge and provokes honesty and uprightness. In meditation it helps quiet the mind and is an aid to finding deep inner peace and discovering the wisdom residing in ourselves.
Healing: Helps to get rid of pain and release tension, especially headaches, injuries, bruises and swellings. It helps with all illnesses of organs that have been formed out of ectodermis, that's is, it helps with nervous complaints, diseases of the lungs and the respiratory tract. Skin blemishes such as verrucas and intestinal complaints.

Spiritually: Helps us to be firm but gentle. Also encourages helpfulness, openness and the desire for a pleasant ambiance.
Healing: Stimulates the blood circulation in the tissues. It fortifies the heart and sexual organs, helps with sexual problems and encourages fertility.

Spiritually: Encourages clarity and neutrality, therefore, improves perception and understanding.

Healing: Revitalizes parts of the body that have lost feeling, are cold, numb or paralysed. It balances both sides of the brain, fortifies the nerves and stimulates glandular activity. It can also supply energy and alleviate pain, swelling, nausea and diarrhea.

Spiritually: Helps to get through difficult phases in life without losing courage.
Healing: Has a pain-alleviating effect. It slows down the flow of energy in the body and dampens over excitation of the nerves and over stimulation of the adrenal glands.

Spiritually: Encourages self-realization. Helps to see our own abilities in a realistic light and encourages self-confidence. Imperial Topaz helps us strive for fame and recognition.
Healing: Imperial topaz helps with states of nervous exhaustion. It fortifies the nerves and increases their activity. Also stimulates the appetite and helps anorexia. It activates the life force, processes of combustion in the body and the entire metabolism.

A verse taken from the Vedas (Hindu sacred texts).

There is an endless net of threads, throughout the universe,
The horizontal threads are in space. The vertical threads are in time.
At every crossing of the threads, there is an individual.
And every individual is a crystal bead.
The great light of absolute being, illuminates and penetrates.
Every crystal bead, and also, every crystal bead reflects.
Not only the light, from every other crystal bead in the net,
But also every reflection, of every reflection, throughout the universe.

Check your Birth stone

Excerpts on crystals taken from the book, Crystal Power, Crystal Healing - The Complete Handbook by Michael Gienger.