Obsidian: Dangers, Contraindications & Precautions

Is obsidian dangerous?

Let's say it straight away, to put your mind at rest: worn as jewellery, obsidian is not dangerous. It is a natural stone that people wear every day without concern, as millions do.

Its reputation as an "intense" stone in crystal healing does sometimes cause worry. But to see clearly, two very different things need separating:

We'll go through both openly, without dramatising anything or leaving anything out.

The real precautions: a stone made of volcanic glass

The only precaution that is truly factual comes down to what obsidian is. It is a volcanic glass of moderate hardness (roughly 5 to 5.5 on the Mohs scale). In practice that means it can scratch, chip, and above all break cleanly into sharp-edged pieces. That is not a small detail: our ancestors knapped obsidian precisely to make blades and arrowheads.

Good habits:

• avoid knocks and drops onto hard surfaces;
• if a piece breaks, handle the fragments carefully (the edges can cut);
• on a bracelet, the weak point is the elastic thread: take it off before showering, swimming and exercise (see my guide to cleaning your obsidian).

Obsidian is not, however, a toxic stone: wearing it against the skin carries no risk.

Elixirs and water: the cautious approach

In crystal healing, some people make "elixirs", water that has been in contact with a stone. As a matter of caution, it is better not to drop just any stone straight into water you intend to drink: depending on their composition, some stones can release unwanted elements.

If the subject interests you, always favour the indirect method (the stone in a separate container, never in direct contact with the water you drink) rather than immersion. And above all, keep in mind that an elixir remains a wellbeing practice: it is not a therapeutic drink and it replaces neither proper hydration nor any treatment.

What the traditions say: an "intense" stone

This is where most of the worry comes from. In crystal healing traditions, obsidian is often described as a "blunt" stone, one that "reveals the truth", and sometimes called intense. According to those beliefs, and to some practitioners:

• it is said to bring buried emotions to the surface, so people advise getting used to it gradually;
• some recommend not wearing it continuously at first, or pairing it with a gentler stone (rose quartz, amethyst);
• others prefer not to sleep with it.

It is worth stating plainly: these are beliefs handed down by tradition, not demonstrated facts. No study shows that a stone acts on emotions or on sleep. And if obsidian makes you uncomfortable, for whatever reason, there is of course nothing wrong with simply taking it off.

Are there any contraindications?

In the medical sense of the word, crystal healing has no contraindications, for a simple reason: it is not a treatment. A stone produces no medical effect, positive or negative. There is therefore nothing to "contraindicate".

A few common-sense precautions do remain:

• Young children: small beads are a choking hazard, and fragments of a broken stone can cut. Keep jewellery out of reach of little ones.
• Never as a replacement for care: a stone is no substitute for medication, medical follow-up or therapy.
• Pregnancy, fragile health: wearing obsidian jewellery carries no toxicity, but if you have any doubt or a health question, ask a professional, and never stop a treatment on your own initiative.

The principle fits in one sentence: obsidian is an object of wellbeing and pleasure, not a health device.

Choosing and wearing your obsidian well

For a relaxed experience, two or three pointers are enough:

• a real obsidian: genuine volcanic glass, not an imitation in coloured glass or plastic, to understand the stone properly, see my complete guide to obsidian;
• gentle care: a soft cloth, no salt and no harsh products (how to clean it);
• unhurried cleansing if you follow crystal healing customs (cleansing and recharging).

And if you are just starting out and obsidian's reputation feels intimidating, simply begin with a bracelet, worn whenever you feel like it: nothing obliges you to keep it on all the time.

The point that matters most

This is the heart of the article, and it deserves saying without hedging. Crystal healing is a wellbeing practice rooted in tradition and belief. The properties attributed to stones are not scientifically demonstrated and are in no way therapeutic claims.

My obsidian pieces

If you would like to treat yourself, every one of my pieces, bracelets, necklaces, pendants and rings, is handmade, with real obsidian chosen one stone at a time:

Frequently asked questions