Some NEW Facts About Basalt Lava Stones Used in Hot Stone Massage

Many Original Hot Stone Massage Practices Have Been Updated or Retired

Did you know that the number one liability in the massage industry became hot stone massage practice?  That’s because quite a few clients have burned due to improper application or lack of training or care. 

One instance of a retired hot stone massage practice is stones should no longer be placed stationary on bare skin, as shown in the picture above. Stantionary stones must be the correct temperature, and placed on top of two physical barriers when applied to a client, as taught in our hot stone massage classes, and recomended by the ABMP. 

Many of the older hot stone massage practices required extreme attention to temperature and application, and when this wasn’t used properly, clients were burned.  As such, the hot stone massage industry has eliminated some of its older practices in an attempt to prevent burn injuries during hot stone massage, which you can learn more about by taking our hot stone massage training, and by clicking HERE.

Where Did the Word Basalt Come From?

The word or term “basalt” was created by Wedgwood, an English fine china and porcelain manufacturer founded in the 1700s, as explained in the picture below from the Birmingham Museum of Art. 

While most Wedgwood objects are light blue and white, called “Wedgwood Blue”, a second color pattern of black and white was then created and named “Black Basalt” as pictured here in Birmingham:

When I personally think of black basalt lava stones, I feel like that term should have been born from Hawaiian language where the lava is so prevalent.  It was interesting to learn the term “basalt” came from an English fine china manufacturer instead, as explained by this museum of fine art in Birmingham.

Why are Older Naturally Tumbled Stones for Hot Stone Massage Rusted or Dented?

First is, there is a clear difference between a rusted, slightly dented and cracked or sharp stone. We never used cracked stones or stones that have rough edges. If a stone is cracked or has a rough edge, then it should not be used for massage, ever. Please properly discard a cracked or sharp edge stone immediately.

If you’re in the market and looking to purchase used stones, don’t worry if you find stones that are rusted or have small indents (pictured below). Believe it or not, those dented stones are usually more desirable (these will be small indents as pictured below and NOT CRACKS!)  

Stones from hot stone massage that have small indents are where metallic content used to sit, and was likely rusted away, leaving the indent where that metallic content used to sit.  So if the outer layer of the stone has small indents from where metallic content rusted away during use, that means the inner core of the stone likely has that same rich metallic content which can conduct and retain heat longer than other stones.  That higher metallic content are the types of stones we want to use for hot stone massage or thermal therapy. If you think about it, hot stones are regularly sitting in hot water, and that’s what causes some of the metallic content of the outer stone to rust and eventually leech out of the stone leaving those small indentations as pictured below. 

On a final note, if a hot stone somehow becomes brittle or those metal leeching indentations turn into sharp cracks or rough edges to the point that it could cut a client or the practitioner, then it should be discarded and no longer used for hot stone massage. I have personally never seen metal leeching from a basalt lava stone to cause it to become sharp, brittle or cracked; however, there might be a possibility that could happen. It is important to place human safety as paramount when compared to attempting to save the use of an inappropriate stone.

Why Are My Brand New Basalt Lava Stones Grey?

Black basalt lava stones are regularly grey (as pictured below) when shipped or found dry in nature.  They turn that beautiful deep rich black in color once the stone is wet or cured with oil.  We teach this process as well as how to “recharge” stones in our hot stone massage CE courses.