Is There Nothing Superstitious About Using Natural Things?

People in the middle ages did wear items around their neck for purposes of healing and protection. Sometimes this would involve wearing written words, like a passage from the gospels or it might involve symbols. Even to day, people wear blessed religious medals, like a miraculous medal or a scapular. These are even considered as sacramentals by the church. In essence, these things are a kind of acted out prayer where, by ring an item, you are asking god to heal or protect you.