治疗水晶有用吗?

治疗水晶有用吗?

Amethyst is a beautiful purple stone. Some people see it as a simple type of quartz that makes a lovely conversation piece for the coffee table or maybe even a paperweight.

紫水晶是一种美丽的紫色宝石。有些人认为它是一种简单的石英，可以作为茶几甚至镇纸上的谈资。

Each crystal is thought to have different properties and capabilities for those who believe in their powers. (Photo: Monika Wisniewska/Shutterstock)

But there are many others who believe the violet stone has healing powers. They believe it offers protective and purifying benefits, can help with sleep and ease pain and stress. Amethyst is one of many "healing crystals" — the name given to crystals and other stones in the world of alternative medicine that are believed to have health benefits.

但也有许多人相信紫石有治疗的力量。他们相信它提供保护和净化的好处，可以帮助睡眠，缓解疼痛和压力。紫水晶是许多“治愈水晶”之一，水晶和其他石头被认为对健康有好处。

Crystals aren't going to heal a sprained ankle or cure cancer, but some people believe they can help with the stress and anxiety that comes with those pains and illnesses. Mitchell calls them "energy medicine for the spirit and the emotions."

水晶并不能治愈扭伤的脚踝，也不能治愈癌症，但有些人相信水晶能帮助缓解疼痛和疾病带来的压力和焦虑。米切尔称它们为“精神和情感的能量药物”。

The science behind crystals

晶体背后的科学

Crystals are used by some people as healing therapy. (Photo: wavebreakmedia/Shutterstock)

There have been few scientific studies on the effectiveness of crystals. Most publications point to two studies led by Christopher French, a psychologist in the Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit at Goldsmiths College at the University of London.

关于晶体有效性的科学研究很少。大多数出版物都提到了由伦敦大学金斯密斯学院反常主义心理学研究部门的心理学家克里斯托弗·弗兰奇领导的两项研究。

In the study, which wasn't published but was presented at several conferences, the researchers found that those who believed in the healing power of the crystals were about twice as likely to experience sensations as those who didn't. But it didn't matter if they were holding real or counterfeit stones. Also, those who had been primed to believe they would experience sensations reported stronger feelings than those who had not been primed.

研究人员发现，那些相信水晶具有治愈能力的人感受到这种感觉的可能性是那些不相信的人的两倍。但不管他们拿的是真石头还是假石头。此外，那些被启动相信自己会经历感觉的人比那些没有被启动的人报告了更强烈的感觉。

"What we learned from these studies is that the power of suggestion can be so strong in some people that it can lead them to experience sensations that are generated purely by their own imaginations not by any external stimulus," French tells MNN.

弗兰奇告诉MNN:“我们从这些研究中了解到，暗示的力量在一些人身上是如此强大，以至于它能让他们体验到纯粹由他们自己的想象而不是任何外部刺激产生的感觉。”

The power of the placebo effect

安慰剂效应的力量

Crystals are popular elements of jewelry, whether people believe they heal or not. (Photo: LaineN/Shutterstock)

Psychologist Stuart Vyse, author of “Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition," believes there are a number of reasons people turn to crystals.

《相信魔法:迷信心理学》一书的作者、心理学家斯图尔特·维斯认为，人们转向水晶的原因有很多。

"Some people find traditional medicine cold and aversive and prefer a more spiritual, non-traditional therapy. In a time when many young people are seeking new spiritual outlets, and as a result, crystals and other non-traditional approaches my have an added benefit," he tells MNN.

“有些人觉得传统药物很冷，令人反感，更喜欢精神上的非传统疗法。在这个时代，许多年轻人正在寻找新的精神出口，因此，水晶和其他非传统的方法，我有一个额外的好处，”他告诉MNN。

Vyse says sometimes crystals seem to help people in various ways just because they expect them to.

维瑟说，有时候水晶似乎能以不同的方式帮助人们，只是因为他们期待水晶能帮助他们。

"The most likely explanation is a placebo effect, which is made possible by the user's expectation of improvement or benefit," he says.

他说:“最可能的解释是安慰剂效应，它是由使用者对改善或获益的预期而产生的。”

"That being said, there's no evidence to suggest it's placebo as opposed to being exposed to naturally occurring vibrations and frequencies. All matter in the known universe is ultimately made of energy, it's still a field of science to explore! Skeptics are entitled to their beliefs, too. I just focus on the work and the people who are seeking out what I have to share."

尽管如此，没有证据表明这是安慰剂，而不是暴露在自然发生的振动和频率下。宇宙中所有的物质最终都是由能量构成的，这仍然是一个有待探索的科学领域!怀疑论者也有权拥有他们的信仰。我只是专注于工作，专注于那些想和我分享的人。”