Tourmaline is a crystal silicate mineral, it crystallizes in the form of vertically striated prismatic crystals. The name comes from the Sri Lanka Singhalese  word ‘turamali’ or ‘toramalli’, meaning ‘many coloured’.
No other gemstone is found in such a wide variety of shades and colors. This also means – although the structure stays the same - that its healing properties differ.

We distinguish the following varieties:

Achroite: colorless (from the Greek word for ‘colorless’)
Dravite: dark yellow to brownish black
Elbaite: pink or green, also multicolored
Indicolite: intense indigo to ink-blue
Rainbow Tourmaline or ‘papageios’: multiple colors of top of one another
Rubellite: pink to red, sometimes with a slight shade of violet
Schorl: dark, intense black
Verdelite: all shades of green
Watermelon: dual-colored tourmalines with a red centre which changes to green towards the edges

The energy of tourmaline generally brings out the noblest qualities in people.
Tourmaline cleares the mind and strengthens the spirit. It comforts and is a support in difficult times, and it often seems to say: ‘cheer up’.
It attracts inspiration and encourages self-confidence.
 
Tourmaline is especially useful for aiding children in learning to walk. It will protect them from falling, which also makes it an excellent gemstone for elderly people.
In gemstone therapy, tourmaline is probably the best choice to help people who experience dizziness or balance disturbance.

All healing properties of other gemstone families are actually united in this important gemstone!

Red or pink tourmaline mainly works on strengthening people who experience weakness, but should never be used in case of over-active or quick tempered people.
Blue tourmaline works a bit more soothing, and green tourmaline is the most neutral.
Black tourmaline is suitable for people who are chaotic and tend to overreact.

A particular esoterical application of black tourmaline (Schorl) is that this stone is very effective in neutralizing tension. It has been used to deflect harmful radiation energy from TV’s and computer monitors. Attach a few small black tourmalines in the corners of your computerscreen, this will have an immediate relaxing effect. You will feel less tired by the end of the day. 

Black tourmaline is also very suitable to protect yourself from negative influences of other people. This stone leads these negative influences away from you. It’s especially suitable for people who are forced to deal with negativity on an everyday basis.

Finally, tourmaline is a very helpful gemstone to transform negativity - such as anger and aggression - into a positive and constructive life approach.