History of Stones

The use of stones date back thousands of years. From the Pyramdis in Egypt to the Temples of Machu Picchu, many ancient monuments stand today, bearing witness to the powerful energies which stones possess. Stones have been used for healing, tools, heat, cooking, building, and currency.

The Mayans used Stones for divination, to tell them what illness a patient had and which course of treatment should be followed to aid the patient's healing. Native North Americans use heated stones in their sweat lodges for purifications. In Hawaii, the Kahuna lapa'au (or healers) use lava stones as aids in healing with their culture.

Even today, we carry stones for health and protection.

Treatment Benefits

Hot stone massage benefits the cardiovascular, lymphatic, musculoskeletal, endocrine, nervous and digestive systems. This stress releaving experience has the additional effect of "grounding". Hot stone massage therapy helps to achieve deeper relaxation and soothes both the body and the soul. The warmth of the stones calms the mind, re-energizes the body, and relieves muscle aches and pains.

The Stones We Use

For this kind of treatment we use two different kind of stones. The first stone is Basalt, which is a volcanic stone that contains many minerals and retains heat very efficiently. The second kind of stone is Marble, a metamorphic rock. Marble is smooth, light, and cold. It is most effective when used frozen.

The Contrast of Temperature

The Basalt and Marble stones can be used in alternation. The application of stones may be general or local, of short or prolonged duration. Hot and cold stones have a therapeutic effect when used together; the contrasting temperatures dilate and contract the blood vessels. Dialated blood vessels increase metabolism by bringing frest nutrients to the tissue, while cold Marble stones are very stimulating and effective in decreasing inflammation. Together, hot and cold stones decrease muscle spasm and pain.

Source: Stone Spirits