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The Hindu Gem Therapy is a unique therapeutic system based on Vedic astrology and Ayurveda (traditional Hindu medicine). Gemstones have been an integral part of Hindu culture for thousands of years, and in contrast with other cultures their medicinal use in India was far more documented and systematized with strict rules to dictate their proper use.

Unlike modern Crystal Therapy which mainly uses raw crystals by temporarily placing them on the patient’s body or using them as part of a massage, the Hindu Gem Therapy uses only very high quality gemstones which can be constantly worn for years by the patient in the form of jewelry made from specific metals to maximize their effect.

Hindu Gem Therapy uses nine main gemstones called the Maharatna:

These gemstones represent the seven classical planets that are visible to the naked eye together with the solar and lunar eclipses. A talisman containing all of the main gemstones called the Navaratna (nine gems) was used for millennia as a royal and sacred emblem, and today it is the national as well as the royal symbol of the king of Thailand.

Together with the nine main gemstones, several alternative gemstones are utilized in case the main ones are not available, which are known as the Uparatna. These include the following:

*Some of the gemstones mentioned above are relatively new and their use as secondary gemstones is not well documented.

Despite the prestige of wearing gems such as diamonds and rubies, Gem Therapy emphasizes quality and not type hence a flawless quartz is considered far superior to a rough diamond full of inclusions.

Image by Justin Kauffman
Image by Bas van den Eijkhof
Image by Content Pixie

When selecting the most appropriate gemstones for a person, Hindus utilize their form of astrology, called Vedic Astrology or Jyotish, which focuses not on the month of birth but on the sign rising at the moment of his birth. After the astrological analysis is concluded and the appropriate gemstones are chosen, the Hindus recommend a testing period when the gemstone is sewn into a bandage and tied to a person for at least three days. If during this time the person starts feeling ill, catches a disease or has bad dreams the gemstone is deemed unsuitable. If on the other hand the person had sudden good luck or success, or alternatively if no significant event took place during this time the testing period is extended to 7 days and if these pass without incident the gemstone is considered suitable for the person.

After the testing period, the gemstone is set in a talisman made from the appropriate metal and that talisman is worn for the first time on a suitable day close to the full moon. The proper day varies for each gemstone, and in certain cases the waiting period is extended to the passing of the moon in specific asterisms deemed auspicious for the event. After the dawning of the talisman, it continues to be worn up to the point when it has to be replaced due to damage or loss, however some suggest that even if the stone is undamaged it should still be replaced every two to five years depending on its type.

The great diligence with which the Hindus choose their gemstones stands in stark contrast to the way the subject is handled in most new age and modern crystal therapy books and websites. The reason for that is the numerous mentions in Hindu texts of the destructive powers of the gemstones and their capability to induce significant harm and even cause death, which completely contradicts the modern belief that gemstones cannot harm their users in any way.

The Hindu belief in the destructive capabilities of gemstones is even expressed in the connection they sometimes draw between events such as the death of Princess Diana and the fact that she wore a large blue sapphire, which is considered especially destructive, in her wedding ring. Even in their ancient texts one finds mention of the fact that a gemstone with cracks and inclusions is unsuitable for use and would bring only sorrow to the wearer.

Diamond Loupe
Personal experience with therapeutic gemstones

After years of working with gemstones both in personal use and for treating others, I am able to share a few important observations regarding their effects. The first and probably the most important of these is their significant ability to cause harm to the wearer, which has ironically proven their effectiveness to many a sceptic far more than what would have been achieved with any sort of positive effects.

When it comes to their ability to heal (or at least assist in healing) injuries and diseases, I was able to observe on different occasions both a direct effect on the healing process and “coincidences” which assisted recovery such as faster doctor appointments or even faster appearance of transplant donors. In addition, while at first I thought that their role would be an aid such as glasses or a pacemaker, over time it became quite clear that gemstones help to solve the problem and not just treat or mask it.

When it comes to their effects beyond the medical realm, here too I was able to witness quite a few surprises. After all, who would have thought that a tiny stone, only a few millimeters in size, is capable of causing quarrels, loss of jobs, accidents and injuries, while another tiny stone could save people from all of these time and again. It would of course be impossible to prove in any way that it was the gemstone that somehow affected the events in question, but the timing (in some cases a few hours or days) certainly supports its involvement.

Despite all of the above, I was able to observe several drawbacks regarding gemstones which are worth considering. For example, sometimes the gemstone that is able to solve one problem would at the same time cause another, making it unusable. In addition, the need to wear a ring or a necklace containing the gemstone can sometimes interfere with everyday activity. Another thing to consider is the fact that in certain cases gemstones become inert, for example after flying in pressurized aircraft, and require prolonged soaking in water to recover their effects. These issues restrict their usefulness in certain professions. Another thing to note is that gemstones should never be worn in cemeteries or when in contact with the dead, and such activities would even require burying the stone as it becomes unsuitable for use.

 

To conclude, the information outlined here is not supported by modern science and is meant for educational purposes only. If you wish to use gemstones as therapy I would highly recommend trying everything that modern medicine has to offer beforehand.

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