Crystal-infused water bottles may transfer the crystal’s energy directly into the water. But there’s no scientific evidence to support their health effect. Using one is likely safe if you follow a few precautions.

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Crystals are popular, and it’s easy to see why. They’re pretty, mysterious, and some say even a little magical.

While crystals have been used for millennia in ritual and ceremony, some are devising ways for the modern on-the-go consumer to get their crystal fix.

The latest trend? Crystal-infused water bottles.

It began a few years ago when Vanity Fair proclaimed the water bottles would be THE status symbol of 2018. Since then, celebrities, like Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham, and Miranda Kerr, have all sung their praises.

A reporter for healthyish who had never tried crystals before found herself feeling transformed after drinking from a crystal-water bottle for a month.

So, does drinking out of one of these fancy mineral bottles really give you any health benefits, or is it just another marketing ploy designed to appeal to crystal lovers everywhere? Let’s get to the bottom of the crystal-infused water bottle fad.

Many people believe that holding, rubbing, or placing crystals on the body can help to re-balance the body’s energy field, resulting in lower levels of:

While there’s no scientific evidence to support the use of crystals beyond the placebo effect, they remain popular and important to many.

Crystals have been used for thousands of years in various ancient civilizations and religions for their supposed health benefits, from ancient Egypt and Greece to India and Tibet.

Different crystals are said to offer different benefits. For example:

  • Clear quartz. This crystal is a “master healer” used to improve immunity, memory, and focus.
  • Rose quartz. This crystal is used to help improve interpersonal relationships.
  • Obsidian. This crystal is used to help improve internal clarity and give the user a greater sense of purpose.

While science is mostly mum, people still really love crystals.

So, why put crystals into your water bottle?

According to Jude Polack, the owner of crystal water bottle company bewater, gemstones are believed to transfer their energy directly into water, thereby affecting the water’s:

“Gemstones… absorb energy from light, heat, and pressure and convert it into electric energy, each emitting a unique frequency,” Polack says. “This is why quartz is used in watches, mobile phones, radar, and equipment.”

Polack believes these frequencies can affect the water when crystals are placed in the container.

A good way to understand the concept is to think of it like heat or light energy.

“Just as putting ice all around a glass of water rather than in the water itself will still cool it, or shining a torch through a glass will still light up the water, putting gemstones around your water will still energize it,” she says.

When it comes to the science, there are likely no measurable benefits to using crystal-infused water bottles.

According to Jerry Bailey, functional medicine practitioner at Lakeside Holistic Health, there’s no evidence to suggest that crystal-infused water bottles have any real effect on what you’re drinking.

“There currently isn’t any research to show that drinking crystal-infused water or using a crystal-infused bottle offers any health benefits,” Bailey says.

That said, Bailey thinks crystals may have some merit based on the power of belief.

“If we take into account the ritual or spiritual effects of using crystals and the power of having belief in their powers or healing abilities, those aspects work just as well as prayer and meditation would on the body and mind,” he says.

In Bailey’s opinion, the psychological benefits of using crystal water bottles might be just as powerful as any changes in frequency or electrical charge of the water itself.

“Just because we don’t have a double-blind clinical study showing that a crystal will, in fact, change physiology, it doesn’t mean it can’t have an effect on how your body calms itself or restores itself to a parasympathetic or relaxed state,” he says.

In other words, simply feeling as though your crystal supports your health may be enough. Bailey encourages his patients who use crystal water bottles to continue for this reason.

“They believe and feel that it helps them, so by any means or measure, that is a success towards their ultimate health goals,” he says. “Sometimes a belief in something is all we need to help improve our health, mind, and wellness.”

In other words, any benefits of crystal-infused water bottles are likely from the placebo effect.

According to a 2020 review, placebo effects have been associated with the release of:

The placebo effect is well-documented in research as a powerful force. According to a 2018 study, placebos are routinely used in treatment by general practitioners.

There aren’t any medical benefits to using crystal-infused water bottles, though there may be subtle mental and emotional benefits from the placebo effect.

Never replace medical care with the use of crystals. As long as you use crystals to complement your health regimen, there’s no harm in giving them a try.

While there’s no medical reason to use a crystal water bottle, it’s likely safe if you follow a few precautions.

If you want to use a crystal water bottle, do your research to find a reputable brand with crystals in a separate chamber from the water. It’s also best to find a brand that doesn’t use adhesive, glue, or metal wire to secure the crystal in place.

Don’t put crystals directly into your water. While some crystals aren’t harmful in water, others can be dangerous.

According to the International Gem Society, there are numerous gems that can make your water toxic to drink, including:

  • algodonite
  • azurite
  • cinnabite
  • moonstone
  • pyrite
Warning

Never put crystals directly in your water. Many crystals can be toxic when immersed in water. If you are going to use a crystal-infused bottle, be sure the crystals are in a separate chamber and don’t touch the water. Check that the company doesn’t use adhesive, glue, or wire to secure the crystal in place.

If you want to get the most out of your crystal-infused water bottle, it’s important to follow the instructions provided.

In most cases, you’ll probably be instructed to wait around 10 minutes before you start drinking.

“The change to the water molecules made by gemstones happens in around 7 minutes,” Polack claims. “The shape of the container holding it, the length and material of pipes it may have travelled through, the substances or objects it comes into contact with all affect the quality of water.”

Some companies may also instruct you to “charge” your crystal before using it in your water bottle. A few ways to charge your crystal include:

  • holding it intentionally for several minutes
  • putting it in direct sunlight for an hour
  • burying it in sea salt overnight
  • using sound, like a singing bowl, bell, or drum

While it’s unlikely that crystal-infused water bottles have any measurable health effects, there’s power in the placebo effect.

Simply feeling that your water bottle helps you may lead to a sense of ease, balance, and well-being, which is nothing to sneeze at.

As long as you choose a water bottle that’s safe to use, follow the instructions, and don‘t replace medical care with crystals, there’s no harm in giving it a try.

Meg Walters is a writer and actor from London. She is interested in exploring topics such as fitness, meditation, and healthy lifestyles in her writing. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, yoga, and the occasional glass of wine.