Healing with Malachite

Feeling guilty? Even if you don't know why, try wearing some malachite. Known as the mirror of the soul, the healing powers of malachite have long been recognized, and it has traditionally been used to aid in recovery from physical and emotional illness, particularly for releasing guilt. Psychologically, it can be used to help recognize and release the lingering effects of negative experiences. It is said to allow the wearer to gain insight into the cause of ill-feeling such as relationship problems, fear, resentment, and anxiety and then to release the negative emotions.

In ancient times, Malachite was used in amulets to protect against the evil eye, while in the Middle Ages it was used to protect children from witches and other dangers and was kept in the bedroom to protect from nightmares.

Malachite is also said to protect the wearer from accidents and so can be useful for travelers to wear. Malachite has been also been used to promote success in business and avoid undesirable business associations.

Malachite can also aid in concentration and is known as a protective stone in the field of aviation, where it is believed to stimulate awareness and prevent vertigo - always useful for pilots!

Malachite promotes harmony and so helps the various parts of the body to work together. Malachite necklaces have been used to combat symptoms of tightness, congestion, stagnation or chronic injury, asthma, arthritis, swollen joints, tumors, growths, broken bones, and torn muscles. Given the latter, malachite is sometimes referred to as the athlete's stone.

However, when malachite is framed or mounted in metal, the metal is said to inhibit malachite's healing effects, although some say that combining it with copper can in fact increase the beneficial effects of malachite.

Not all malachite is believed to have a healing quality. Therapeutic malachite usually displays crisp, straight black or dark-green bands in a light green base. For maximum effect, the bands should form a bull's-eye on opposite sides of a central sphere. If the bands are irregularly shaped or muddy, the power of the malachite will be less, and the greater the contrast between the dark bands and light green base, the stronger the stone's therapeutic effects.

Whether the effects of crystals such as malachite are real or merely a placebo effect is unknown. All we know for certain is that the use of gemstones in healing goes back centuries. And we know that modern science has discovered some surprising applications for the unique properties of certain crystals.

First Published: May-23-2008

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