by Sarah Maxwell
All medicine traditions are born out of and reflect prevailing climates and
cultural conditions. Given the ubiquitous availability of stone, it is no
surprise that this earth material has a long history in traditional
medicines. Here are some recorded instances of healing stones and earth
medicine in ancient history.
Prerecorded Ancient: Paleo-archeologists have uncovered evidence showing
that early hominids applied warm earth, clay and stone in their medicines.
These findings are reported to date back 250 million
years. Medicinal use of clays was recorded on clay tablets in Mesopotamia
around 2500 B.C. However, some scholars believe that prehistoric ancestors
such as Homo erectus and Homo neanderthalensis used ochres to cure wounds as
well as paint caves. Ochres are a mixture of clay and iron hydroxides. Iron
is an important element in the basalt stones so popular in today's healing
stone massage practices.
In Egypt: Cleopatra is recorded as having used clays to preserve her
complexion. Pharaohs' physicians are recorded to have used the material as
anti-inflammatory agents and antiseptics. Clay was also an ingredient used
for making mummies.
Vedic/India: The Charaka Samhita, the oldest recorded medical doctrine,
dating 7,000 years, indicates that stones were heated in warm, aromatic oils
in a ritual healing ceremony and applied to the body with herbs for various
conditions.
China: The Iron Age in China began around 8th century BC with the discovery
of lodestone, which is magnetic rock. There is evidence that during this
period bone needles for acupuncture were replaced by magnetic stone ones.
Descriptions of early Chinese medical practices are found in The Yellow
Emperor's Inner Classic, written some time between the third and fifth
centuries BCE. Contained in these books are descriptions of the therapeutic
heat therapy of moxabustion, which involved application of burning herbs
and, in some instances, heated stones directly to the skin at specific
points on the body. This may be the earliest known precursor to the modern
practice of using warm stones in meridian-based therapies.
Japan: Warm stones were inserted into the kobi around the waist, to warm the
middle section as an aid in digestion.
Native American: Some tribal Native American elders and medicine keepers
consider stones to have souls and refer to them as "stone people." The
Lakota healers, for instance, were known to use stones in healing. They
considered all stones to be ancient beings and record keepers who, when used
in healing, allowed the recipient to recall lost truth.
Greco-Roman Hellenistic & Hippocratic Schools: There is evidence that the
Greeks were aware of and borrowed heavily from Indian Ayurvedic concepts
through the writings of Pythagoras, the 6th century BCE philosopher and
inventor who, according to legend, journeyed to India and studied medical
teachings. Also, the original spas of Europe based on the earth-centered
healing principles of thermo- and hydro-therapy (the word "spa" in Latin,
means salut par aqua or spirit of water).
Northern European: Legend has it that "holed" stones possess healing and
mystical powers in several northern European traditions. The Celts, for
instance, would instruct their infirm or crippled to either crawl through or
lay upon a holed stone to absorb the vitality of the Earth to assist the
innate healing power within each human. Stones were used in northern Europe
as the original radiators-people put warm stones in bed. Warm stones were
also used to help women in labor have reduced pain and spasms. This
practiced is being revived.
The use of stone in healing massage is emerging at a rapid rate and is being
embraced by many at one time worldwide, as never before. It re-emerged as a
mainstream practice in the 1990s, when several practitioners simultaneously
began to share and promote their work. One of those was Carollanne Crichton,
author, ayurvedic practitioner, and founder of the Stone Temple Institute,
who teamed with Sean Riehl to produce the video series "Healing Stone
Massage."
I have been a Healing Stone Massage therapist since 2003. Since the day after I studied with the founder Carollanne Crichton I immediatley began incorporating the stones into my practice and found it to be a natural addition. My clients always ask for them and my hands are greatful for the additional tool that can assist with pressure and relief of muscle tension that melts away the stressed-out, fast-paced world we live in today. |
