治療水晶有用嗎?
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.
紫水晶是一種美麗的紫色寶石。有些人認為它是一種簡單的石英,可以作為茶幾甚至鎮(zhèn)紙上的談資。
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.
但也有許多人相信紫石有治療的力量。他們相信它提供保護和凈化的好處,可以幫助睡眠,緩解疼痛和壓力。紫水晶是許多“治愈水晶”之一,水晶和其他石頭被認為對健康有好處。
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."
水晶并不能治愈扭傷的腳踝,也不能治愈癌癥,但有些人相信水晶能幫助緩解疼痛和疾病帶來的壓力和焦慮。米切爾稱它們?yōu)?ldquo;精神和情感的能量藥物”。
The science behind crystals
晶體背后的科學(xué)
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.
關(guān)于晶體有效性的科學(xué)研究很少。大多數(shù)出版物都提到了由倫敦大學(xué)金斯密斯學(xué)院反常主義心理學(xué)研究部門的心理學(xué)家克里斯托弗·弗蘭奇領(lǐng)導(dǎo)的兩項研究。
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.
研究人員發(fā)現(xiàn),那些相信水晶具有治愈能力的人感受到這種感覺的可能性是那些不相信的人的兩倍。但不管他們拿的是真石頭還是假石頭。此外,那些被啟動相信自己會經(jīng)歷感覺的人比那些沒有被啟動的人報告了更強烈的感覺。
"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.
弗蘭奇告訴MNN:“我們從這些研究中了解到,暗示的力量在一些人身上是如此強大,以至于它能讓他們體驗到純粹由他們自己的想象而不是任何外部刺激產(chǎn)生的感覺。”
The power of the placebo effect
安慰劑效應(yīng)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:迷信心理學(xué)》一書的作者、心理學(xué)家斯圖爾特·維斯認為,人們轉(zhuǎn)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.
“有些人覺得傳統(tǒng)藥物很冷,令人反感,更喜歡精神上的非傳統(tǒng)療法。在這個時代,許多年輕人正在尋找新的精神出口,因此,水晶和其他非傳統(tǒng)的方法,我有一個額外的好處,”他告訴MNN。
Vyse says sometimes crystals seem to help people in various ways just because they expect them to.
維瑟說,有時候水晶似乎能以不同的方式幫助人們,只是因為他們期待水晶能幫助他們。
"The most likely explanation is a placebo effect, which is made possible by the user's expectation of improvement or benefit," he says.
他說:“最可能的解釋是安慰劑效應(yīng),它是由使用者對改善或獲益的預(yù)期而產(chǎn)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."
盡管如此,沒有證據(jù)表明這是安慰劑,而不是暴露在自然發(fā)生的振動和頻率下。宇宙中所有的物質(zhì)最終都是由能量構(gòu)成的,這仍然是一個有待探索的科學(xué)領(lǐng)域!懷疑論者也有權(quán)擁有他們的信仰。我只是專注于工作,專注于那些想和我分享的人。”