Disruption or disturbances in the natural growth rate and condition of children can have many causes. These range from a psy-chological or emotional basis of simply
“not wanting to grow up”, through physio-logical or inherited development retar -dation, to lack of nutrition or consequences of illness. Each has to be considered as more than one factor may be relevant with every single case.
Emotional growth obstacles can occur as the aftermath of a severe disease, or by some trauma through which the child is severely and semi-permanently stressed or feels subject to some undue responsibility. A resulting decision, conscious or subcon-scious, might then be made “not to grow up,” or not to become a grown up – and this can actually lead to a slowing or even cessation, of the body’s natural growth process. If this happens, it is important to identify the serious incident or set of cir-cumstances that lie at the root of the prob-lem. If necessary, this can be done with therapeutic assistance, or talking it through under methodical supervision, in order that the child’s psychological decision can be retracted.
Crystal therapy is a valuable ancillary treatment in the above.
Larimar helps create a feeling of open-ness and assists in changing firm decisions.
Rhodonite will help in the healing of
the effects of any traumatic experiences.
A lack of the appropriate mental stimuli (e. g. isolation, too little contact with the real world or with nature, too much viewing of the “virtual reality’’ of computer games or television and not enough social contact) may play a role in growth disturbance.
If this is the case, it is important to encourage as much positive outside contact as possible for the child (e. g., play activity with other kids, helping other children, caring for pets and wild animals and being aware of nature). Beside that, it is im -portant to build emotional security by means of activities that stimulate the devel-oping senses and the emotions – socially, intellectually and physically (fewer com-puter games!).
There are several crystals that can be applied in order to boost this process.
Agate will encourage contact and a sense of protection.
Chrysoprase and Golden Topaz help to enhance feelings of safety, openness, and self-awareness.
Tourmaline in all of its varieties aids the natural process of overall development.
Inhibited and disturbed growth and development arising from a physiological cause s often regarded as irresolvable. How-ever, it can still be extremely stressful, espe-cially when the unfortunate child also feels inferior compared with its surroundings, siblings or friends, or if he or she is not treated appropriately.
However, what is sometimes seen as a predisposition to restrict growth can also represent mere “possibilities”, which can be activated or balanced. In this case, there are several crystals that stimulate growth where development appears to be impeded.
Apatite speeds up growth and is also included in homeopathic remedies to “build up” calcium in the bones.
Calcite, is another calcium-based min-eral, also furthers body development and is also used like Apatite in homeopathy “cal-cium carbonicum”.
In contrast to slow or restricted growth is the phenomena of growth being too rapid, or occurring in what are often referred to as sudden growth spurts. Associated problems here are usually pains in the bones, joints, back, ribs, etc.,
Aragonite, another calcium-containing mineral, often called “onyx marble”, will help with a re-harmonisation of growth
Fluorite may also help in pain relief and with normal growth regulation.
Hormonal disturbances, especially a lack of the growth hormone somatropine in the pituitary gland or of insulin (as in dia-betic conditions) and hormones of the thy-roid gland can also lead to growth distur-bances. Crystal therapy is helpful in such circumstances.
Aquamarine and Moonstone are good for treating the pituitary and thyroid glands.
Citrine or Ocean Jasper and Tourma-line (multicoloured forms) help with
insulin-related conditions and help in achieving a proper hormonal balance in the body (see also: Diabetes).
It is worth noting here that traditional Chinese medicine identifies metabolic dis-eases and liver inefficiently or malfunction (see Liver Health) as a loss of body energy in the form of a weakening of what it alludes to as the element “wood” – which is also analogous to the body’s growth and devel-opment.
All growth problems arising from these conditions should be examined and clari-fied by a doctor, or an alternative practi-tioner (especially one who works with acupuncture or Traditional Chinese Medi-cine – see above).
In this context, crystal therapy will assist and complement any treatment.
Amazonite will assist in cases of reduced growth caused by metabolic problems in the liver.
Dioptase furthers the body’s natural growth or “building up” processes.
Emerald furthers growth and regulates the metabolism.
As mentioned previously, the effects of chronic diseases can also impede growth.
Here, there are so many possible causes (e. g. rheumatic diseases, heart defects, kid-ney break down, inherited diseases, skeletal defects, poor digestion in the intestine, inef-ficient breakdown of nutrients, etc.) that specific causes need to be clarified and treated professionally.
Provided that such a treatment is carried out on a causal level, one can then also apply crystal therapy.
Emerald is useful for the after effects of chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatism.
Epidote and Zoisite are important, overall regeneration crystals.
Finally, it is unfortunate that in modern westernised society, under-nourishment still has to be taken into account as a recurring cause of growth disruption. Whilst it can be considered almost a crime that true malnu-trition is still rife throughout much of the world, it remains relatively rare in our part of the world – but only relatively!
Unfortunately – almost as much dam-age can be caused by the wrong diet or by unbalanced nutrition, than by a serious need of food. Apart from a lack of vitamins and minerals, sugar (as the so called “cal-cium thief”), is also often implicated in growth problems. Despite a growing aware-ness of the damage it causes in recent years, sugar is still consumed by children in the form of sweets and soft fizzy drinks at far too high a level.
Osteoporosis and associated develop-mental disruptions are being identified in young people today. In such cases, of course, only a proper whole-food diet, with a reduced sugar content will help.
Apatite, Aragonite, Calcite and Fluo-rite are all recommended. In addition, being a cubic crystal, configuration Fluorite
helps one “let go” of detrimental habits.
Wear the crystals as a raw or a tumbled stone, or as a bracelet, necklace or pendant 24 hours a day. As a supplement, or as an alternative, take gem essence (3-9 drops, every hour), or gem water (100–300 ml taken in small sips over the course of the day).
Gout
Gout is caused by problems with the body’s uric acid metabolism. When too little uric acid is secreted by the kidneys, uric acid salts are deposited in joints, in mucous bags, in the skin or in the inner organs.
These deposits often remain unnoticed, until an infection, injury, hypothermia, excessive alcohol consumption or strongly acid-forming food triggers an attack, of gout pain in a joint. Such painful attacks occur typically at night or early in the morning and can result in a raised temper-ature, a racing heart, general feelings of being unwell, problems with the joint(s) and severe pain and sensitivity to touch.
As a rule, only one joint is affected by the first attack. In most cases, this will be the basic joint of the big toe, the foot or the knee joint, or the basic joint of the thumb.
There may be long periods without prob-lems after the attack. This should not lead one to believe that new uric salt deposits are not being created. Indeed, new attacks may
only occur after several months, even occurring in parts of the body previously un -affected. If the gout becomes chronic, knots and abscesses are generated, which grad -ually become stiff. If there are similar deposits in the kidneys, there can also be inflammation, high blood pressure and – in the worst case – kidney failure.
Gout can only be healed through a consistent diet, which contains few animal proteins and very little alcohol. Further-more, one should undergo a thorough detoxification (see Detoxification), take plenty of fluid (tea or water!), plenty of rest and enough sleep. In acute cases, the affected joint should be kept still and cooled with compresses. However, regular, but moderate, physical exercise – such as walk-ing – is necessary between the attacks. Of course, all these measures should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor or an alternative practitioner.
Crystals and other remedies can support such measures – and, indeed, without them, the crystals will have no lasting effect!
As gout is a disease that is very aggressive, it is also helpful to consider if there are areas of one’s life, where anger, impatience or aggression remain unexpressed, being bottled up and so ‘gnaw’ away at you inside.
If this is the case, therapeutic help can also indirectly contribute towards relief.
Amber has a relieving effect on acute rheumatic attacks, pain, and sensitivity to
touch, raised temperatures and inflamma-tion. Raw or polished amber helps relieve damage following acute gout and should, therefore be placed on the tender or painful areas as quickly as possible. It furthers a calm mood and a sunny outlook, and thereby helps to relieve the rheumatic attack, physically as well as emotionally.
In order to relieve symptoms that follow an attack, place a raw or a polished crystal on the tender areas as quickly as possible and wear a necklace or a pendant with body contact. Also, take gem essence (4-6 drops every half hour) or gem water (300 ml taken in small sips over the course of the day).
Chrysoprase can be placed on the ten-der area together with Amber when an attack of rheumatism occurs. Besides that it can be worn even when there is no pain, in the form of a necklace or a pendant with body contact.
You can also take gem essence (3 drops, 3 times daily) or gem water (20-50 ml taken in small sips over the course of the day). In this way it furthers detoxification of the tissues and helps heal the body of the gout. Emotionally, it helps bring grief and suppressed anger into one’s awareness and even helps one to ‘let go’ of these things. It is one of the few crystals that can help with jealousy.
Diamond has a relieving effect on the rheumatic attacks of chronic gout, if it is
applied properly. Place small raw diamonds into 100 ml of water or (diluted) white wine for this purpose for at least 24 hours. Drink the water, or the wine, over the course of the following day, while the next batch is made ready (Hildegard von Bingen’s recipe). Carry on for several months, until all rheumatic symptoms have vanished.
Diamonds bring order and clarity, with-out compromise, into one’s life; they cleanse and remove what we do not need and thus help us to discover even the most hidden causes of disease – and then eradi-cate them.
Fluorite helps dissolve uric acid crystals in joints in cases of advanced problems. It makes one conscious of suppressed feelings and helps one emotionally to release old burdens.
Place Fluorite on the tender areas whilst also taking gem essence (5-7 drops, 3 times daily), in order to focus the effect. It can also be worn in form of a necklace or a pen-dant with body contact for longer periods of time.