Basalt an ordinary volcanic rock, formed when lava from the Earth’s mantle rapidly cools on its surface. This grey-black and fairly lightweight stone has pores on its surface that become smaller and denser towards the centre and a fine-grained, crystalline texture. All basalt is rich with iron and magnesium, with the occasional presence of olivine, serpentine and manganese. The most prevalent uses of basalt are in building materials, massages and healing work.
Basalt’s noteworthy property as a heat insulator makes it a favourite in hot stone massages, where stones of assorted weight, sizes and shapes are heated in water at around 50ºc (120ºF) and placed, by an expert on specific locations of the body. These specialized stones are typically places on either side of the spine, or along the ‘Chakra centres’ while the masseuse kneads the client with warm, oiled stones. The heat from the basalt unclenches muscles, improving blood flow to the area. Furthermore the stones release toxins in the tissue and relieve muscles of aches and pains. The intensity of the massage depends what you request but at the end of the day, the therapy leaves one feeling both mentally and physically relaxed.
Hot Basalt Stones – thermotherapy/hydrotherapy
Heat from the stones warms skin and muscles up, allowing the body to absorb therapeutic oils the stones have been ‘seasoned’ with; also the muscles unclench so the therapist can access relieve them of aches and pains, as well as access the deeper tissues. Local blood flow increases, giving better circulation to surrounding tissues too and this better enables the transport of toxins and waste from the area.
Cold Basalt Stones – cryotherapy
Just as ice packs as used to relieve swelling and inflamed tissues (such as the orbits), cold stones can be used to do the same and more. These stones are strongly decongesting, hence they are often used on the sinus area to increase metabolism and release local waste. Coldness has an invigorating effect on the body and a good cold stone massage will give your immune system a temporary boost and stimulate the autonomic nervous system.
Using both Hot and Cold Basalt
Heated stones soothe and relax you while cold basalt provides stimulation. Heat dilates blood vessels while the cold constricts them so the use of basalt stones of dramatically different temperatures will have a wonderfully unique, therapeutic effect on the body. The area being worked on by both hot and cold stones will have massively improved circulation as well as the many effects of the individual stones.
The technique was first pioneered by Native Americans that used basalt stones heated in fire for healing purposes. Today, an array of hot stone massages is offered in most spas. One worthy of mention is LaStone Therapy, which uses 54 hot stones, 18 frozen ones, and also a stone at room temperature. In 1993 Mary Nelson, aided by her Native American spirit guide developed a technique to gradually open all the Chakras of the body. This healing process is trademarked and anyone offering the real deal would have to be a certified LaStone therapist.
The stones are gathered all over the world since they can be formed by terrestrial or underwater eruptions. The best basalt stones are harvested from rivers and beaches where sand and water have eroded them into smooth shapes. Thus they would have originated from relatively ancient eruptions. After being gathered, basalt stones are power-washed. Some retailers treat them with a coating of oil which seeps in through the pores while others leave the stones unseasoned so the therapist can use his own choice of essential oil. A well-seasoned basalt stone is darker and more lustrous than one that is untreated.
