Tourmalines are gems with an incomparable variety of colours. The reason, according to an old Egyptian legend, is that the tourmaline, on its long journey up from the centre of the Earth, passed over a rainbow. In doing so, it assumed all the colours of the rainbow. And that is why it is still referred to as the 'gemstone of the rainbow' today.
The name tourmaline comes from the Singhalese words 'tura mali'. In translation, this means something like “stone with mixed colours“. There are tourmalines from red to green and from blue to yellow. They often have two or more colours. There are tourmalines which change their colour when the light changes from daylight to artificial light. No two tourmalines are exactly alike. This gemstone has an endless number of faces, and for that reason it suits all moods.
Tourmaline is a balancing stone that cleanses and purifies. No wonder that magical powers have been attributed to it since ancient times, and is considered the gemstone of love and friendship. It is a source of spiritual energy and helps to clear the chakras. Shamans had used this stone for protection during ceremonies and divination.
Properties, Colours and Names of Tourmaline
Tourmaline is a mixture of aluminum, silicates, boron, manganese, magnesium, and different variations are observed in composition. Any small change in the chemical composition affects the colour of the crystal. It is extremely difficult to find tourmaline in one colour. Normally there is mixture of two or more colours.
The optical phenomenon “cat's eye” /presence of typical brilliant reflections on the surface of the gem/, can be observed among some of its representatives. When these reflections are parallel to each other, in sufficient quality and quantity and the stone is cut so that they are lined up correctly, then a single centrally located reflection on the rounded side of the cabochon (gemstone shaped with a rounded observe and a flat reverse/ is produced. This effect is known as the effect of “cat's eye”. Other gems that have this effect are apatite, actinolite, beryl, chrysoberyl, quartz and sillimanite, moonstone, opal and zirconium.
A typical feature of tourmaline is its dichroism, which means that it changes colour when viewed from different directions. Depending on the angle, the color may be different or with various intensity. The most intense is the colour when viewed from the main axis - a fact that those who cut the stone should have in mind.
The individual colour variants have their own names. For example, a tourmaline of an intense red is known as a 'rubellite', but only if it continues to display the same fine ruby red in artificial light as it did in daylight. If the colour changes when the light source does, the stone is called pink tourmaline. Some of the most famous and widely used brand names of tourmaline are:
- Achroite - very rare colourless or almost colourless tourmaline;
- Dravite - yellow-brown to dark brown tourmaline;
- Verdelite – green tourmaline; tourmaline with rich green colour due to the presence of chromium in the composition, it is also known as “chrome tourmaline ” or “chrome-dravite ”.
- Indicolite - blue tourmaline;
- Paraiba - light blue, blue-green or bright blue colour. Its name comes from the Brazilian state in which it was found. These stones are characterized by very good qualities and are highly sought after treasures today.
- Rubellite - red tourmaline;
- Schorl - black tourmaline;
- Siberite - purple to violet-blue tourmaline mined in the Urals;
- Burgerite - dark, rich in iron tourmaline;
- Watermelon tourmaline - tourmaline, which combines in an interesting way pink, green and white color zones, which in cross section resembles watermelon.
- Lightcoloured tourmaline with a black peak is referred to as " The Head of the Moor”. If the crystal is almost colourless and black at the ends only, it is called a 'Mohrenkopf', /resembling a certain kind of cake popular in Germany/.
The tourmaline has even more names: stones with two colours are known as bicoloured tourmalines, and those with more than two as multicoloured tourmalines. Slices showing a cross-section of the tourmaline crystal are also very popular, because they display, in a very small area, the whole of the incomparable colour variety of this gemstone.
Distribution of Tourmaline
Tourmalines are found almost everywhere in the world. The most significant deposits are in Brazil, Sri Lanka, South and Southwest Africa. Deposits are also found in Nigeria, Kenya, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the US tourmalines are found mainly in California and Maine.
Although there are many deposits of tourmalines, these with good quality and exquisite colours are not as common. For this reason, the price of tourmaline varies almost as much as their colour.
Mechanism of Action
Tourmaline is known for its ability to help detoxify the body, and research show that the increased occurrence of chronic diseases is associated with an increase of toxic materials in the body. Furthermore, it assists relieving stress, boosts mental activity, and improves blood circulation and functioning of the immune system. This colorful gemstone has a strong stabilizing effect on the nerves because of its ability to generate its own heat.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of tourmaline is its ability to acquire electrical charge under the influence of friction or sudden temperature changes. When electrically charged, one end has a positive charge and the other negative. This allows it to attract dust particles or pieces of paper. This property of pyroelectricity (heat) or piezoelectricity (friction) was well known by Dutch merchants in 1700, who used tourmaline to draw ash from their meerschaum pipes, calling the stone “Aschentrekker” (attracting ash).
In 1880 lab experiments performed by Pierre and Jacques Curie proved that tourmaline generates weak electrical charge. This electrical charge enables tourmaline to produce far infrared photon energy, negative ions, and alpha waves. The combinations of these three major characteristics provide numerous benefits to the body.
Negative Ions
Hav you ever noticed how refreshed, invigorated and just “alive” you feel when you are at the base of a waterfall, near a natural spring, walking along the beach or in the woods, or right after a good rain? The reason you feel that way is because negative ions are present in abundant numbers!
To understand best the benefits of negative ions, it is important to understand the effects that positive ions have on our bodies. High concentrations of positive ions (and the lack of negative ions) are associated with most of the environmental stressors found in our daily lives, such as exhaust fumes, cigarette smoke, pesticides, dust and soot, and the radiation released by high-voltage power lines, computers, cell phones and electric appliances, to name a few.
These positive ions create free radicals, which are known to be harmful to our health. Tourmaline converts moisture in the air into negative ions, which neutralize the free radicals created by positive ions. The higher concentration of negative ions produced by tourmaline result in the same healthful effects on the body as the negative ions produced in nature.
The health-promoting benefits of negative ions can be summarized like this:
- Revitalization of cell metabolism
- Strengthening of the immune system
- Stabilization of blood pressure
- Improvement in blood circulation (dilation of vessels)
- Strengthening of the bones
- Facilitation of breathing
- Reduction in pulse rate
- Enhancement of heart function
Tourmaline heals, soothes, stimulates and detoxifies the body and mind, enables operation of mitochondria in the body cells. Stimulates metabolism, purifies the blood and lymph circulation, and normalizes acid-alkaline balance in the blood.
Negative ions are also incredibly important in determining mood. Michael Terman, PhD of Columbia University in New York, has researched negative ions and reports, “The action of the pounding surf creates negative air ions and we also see it immediately after spring thunderstorms when people report lightened moods.”
Additional research at Columbia University has shown that winter mood disorders may be improved just through negative ion generators instead of using antidepressants, but without the negative side effects. These ions promote oxygenation of the brain, which boosts psychic energy.
Infrared Photon Radiation
Infrared rays are invisible waves of energy that have the ability to penetrate all layers of physical body. They increase blood flow by the expansion of the capillaries and thus help oxygenation and regeneration of tissues. Infrared Rays have been called the “Light of Life”, because they comprise the particular portion of the entire energy spectrum that is most responsible for sustaining life on Earth-photon energy. To understand this, let us look at the full spectrum of energy emitted by the Sun:
- Infrared (near, middle and far)
- Visible Light
- Ultraviolet
- X-Rays
- Gamma Rays
By far, most of the Sun’s energy is in the infrared part of the spectrum. These rays are not seen as light (the visible part of the spectrum), but rather are felt as heat. Infrared rays are divided into three wavelength frequencies: near, middle and far, and they collerate with the temperature of the body that emits them. The higher the temperature, the shorter is the length of the wave and the higher is its ability to penetrate, the lower the temperature of an object, the longer the wave is, which means that the wavelength is inversely proportional to the temperature of the body, which radiates it.
A narrow spectrum of far infrared waves in the 4 to 14 micron range is known to have particularly beneficial and healthful effects on the body. Why is this so? Consider that human beings send and receive infrared waves measuring in the 3 to 50 micron range, When receiving waves of similar length, such as those emitted by tourmaline, the warming that is produced by these waves can penetrate bodily tissues deeply and evenly.
This warming therapy is known to have many health benefits, including:
- Promotion of blood supply, circulation and body warming
- Purification of body fluids, and elimination of harmful toxins
- Reduction of spasms through the warming of muscle fibers
- Strengthening of the immune system
- Relief from stress and fatigue
- Promotion of sound sleep
- Stimulation of enzyme activity
- Reduction of nerve pain
The infrared rays radiated by tourmaline actually produce the same resonance in the body that is normally found in water. It has calming effect on the nerves. Three quarters of the human body consist of water and this form of resonance absorption increases the vitality of tissues, energy levels and metabolism.
Health Benefits of Tourmaline
Preliminary studies on the effect of tourmaline stones over plants and animals, discovered that, this gem has activating effect on their metabolism, and, buried in the soil, encourages the growth and health of all crops. It is extremely beneficial for the garden and plants. Tourmaline can act as a natural insecticide, keeping pests away.
It is believed that the most powerful action have black, green, pink and watermelon tourmaline. There are many ways to take advantage of its healing power. You can wear the selected gem in the form of jewelry or put it at your home.
Commercially, there are a wide variety of products with tourmaline- underwear, scarves, gloves, knee pads, belts, mats and others, that can be used on a particular area of the body.