Gemstone Facts and Folklore
The belief that gemstones held healing properties has a long and colorful history. Crystal balls have long been associated with foretelling the future, healing and other magical properties. Ancient civilizations might not have had the high-end technical mining, cutting and setting tools we do today, but they still found some astonishingly beautiful ways to appreciate and wear the gems Mother Nature provided.
Healers who work with crystals today continue to believe that each gemstone has the power to affect the health and well being of the wearer. The light reflected back off gems that are placed on key nerve points is believed by these healers to be absorbed by the body, offering a powerful healing energy.
As you try to decide which piece of unique medical alert jewelry we’ll be making for you (or someone you love), why not take a few minutes to learn a bit more about the many wonderful gemstones we can use in your piece.
Agate — No gemstone is more creatively striped by Nature than agate, which forms in concentric layers in a wide variety of colors and textures. Agate was highly valued as a talisman or amulet in ancient times. It was said to quench thirst and protect against fever. Persian magicians used agate to divert storms. Agate is also believed to cure stings and bites and soothe the mind.
Amethyst — Crystalline quartz in shades of purple, lilac or mauve, this is the most valued member of the quartz family. This stone has traditionally been worn to guard against drunkenness and to instill a sober and serious mind. It’s also been used to help hearing problems, insomnia, headaches, and may help stabilize mental disorders.
Carnelian — A translucent, reddish orange variety of quartz that is typically heat-treated to achieve the beautiful reddish-brown color. Legend has it that this gem was used to protect a traveler after death and guard against evil. Carnelian is also thought to help purify the blood, relieve menstrual cramps and back pain, as well as a beneficial treatment for infertility.
Citrine — The yellow or golden yellow variety of quartz gets its name from the word citrus. This stone was though to help the heart, kidneys, digestion, liver and muscles. It is believed to boost creativity, enhance clarity and reduce self-destructive tendencies.
Coral — Created from the skeletal remains of marine animals, coral can be red, pink, white or blue. Red is the most valuable and has been used in jewelry for thousands of years. Coral is thought to bring calmness and balance, add wisdom, aid in the crossing of rivers, and to ward off hurricanes.
Hematite — Usually occurs as a massive, black opaque material, with a metallic luster and an iridescent surface. One of the most important properties of hematite is to reflect negativity back to where it came. A calming stone, it helps to reduce stress and to aid in peaceful, restorative sleep. Hematite is also thought to give clarity of thought, balance and calm reasoning.
Jade — A gemstone of unique symbolic energy, it has been known to man for some 7000 years. In prehistoric times, it was esteemed for its toughness, which made it an ideal material for weapons and tools. Yet as early as 3000 B.C. jade was know in China as a royal gem, a ‘yu’, roughly comparable with that of gold and diamonds in the West. Today, jade is regarded as a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the precious, and it is thought to bring good fortune and long life.
Jasper — Occurs in shades of brown, grayish blue, red, yellow, green and a mixture of these. Long favored by shamans, this stone was used for its healing, rejuvenating and protective powers. Worn since ancient times, it was thought to protect against snake and spider bites, ease the pain of childbirth, and promote the rejuvenation of body tissues.
Kyanite — Gem quality crystals are pale to deep blue or white, gray or green, with darker blue patches toward the interior. The ancients believed this gemstone aided self-expression, communications and enhanced supernatural abilities. It is also thought to be calming and may stimulate psychic powers and intuitive abilities.
Lapis lazuli — This is a deep blue gem with golden inclusions of pyrites which shimmer like little stars. Lapis lazuli is regarded by many people around the world as the stone of peace, friendship and truth. It is said to encourage harmony in relationships and help its wearers express their opinions openly. It also relieves depression and has long been thought to have curative, healing properties.
Obsidian — A natural glass formed from volcanic lava that cooled too quickly, it is usually black, but brown, gray and more rarely red and blue can be found. Some inclusions give obsidian a metallic sheen, while internal bubbles or crystals produce a “snowflake” effect or an iridescence seen as flashes of color. Obsidian has been used since prehistoric times for making tools, weapons masks, mirrors and jewelry. This stone is believed to create harmony and balance, is highly protective and nurturing, helping the wearer to accept life’s changes.
Onyx — Similar to agate, it may be brown and white or black and white. Onyx can be carved into small sculptures or it may be polished, tumbled or cut as beads. Onyx seals were very popular during Roman times. This gemstone is believed to aid regeneration, intuition and instincts, while helping to curb desire and change bad habits. It is particularly helpful during times of physical and emotional stress to help the wearer cope with fears and worries.
Opal — A hardened silica gel, usually containing 5-10% water. There are precious opals that show flashes of color (iridescence), depending upon the angle of view and there are “potch” opals, which are often opaque and display no iridescence. The opal is thought to enhance inner beauty, bring faithfulness, help your eyesight and improve your recall of past lives.
Pearl — Formed inside shellfish – especially oysters and mussels – as a natural defense against an irritant like a piece of grit. Layers are secreted around the irritant and gradually build up to form the solid pearl. Light reflecting from these overlapping layers produces a characteristic iridescent luster, also known as “orient of pearl.” Pearls vary in color from white, to brown or black depending upon the type of mollusk and the water. Pearls are believed to bring love, money, protection and luck, to grant wisdom through experience, to speed the laws of karma and to cement engagements and love relationships. Some believe this gem helps to keep children safe.
Pyrite — With its brassy yellow color, pyrite is often mistaken for gold (hence the other name, fool’s gold). Pyrite has been used in jewelry making for thousands of year. Native American medicine men used pyrite as amulets and pyrite was also believed to be the source of the Chinese symbol for the earth – a gold square. This gem is thought to promote mental stability while allowing for clever, creative thinking. In addition, pyrite is used to increase physical stamina and energy and to provide protection while doing dangerous work.
Sodalite — Found in all shades of blue, this stone is a major constituent of the rock lapis lazuli, making it easy to confuse the two. Sodalite, unlike lapis, has white streaks of calcite while lapis lazuli contains brassy yellow pyrite specks. From the earliest times, this gemstone has been known as the stone of artists, musicians, painters and sculptors because it is believed to promote inspiration and creativity.
Topaz — Occurs in a range of different colors; red, orange, peach, pink, gold, yellow, brown and clear. During the Middle Ages, this gemstone was very popular and was believed to heal both physical and mental disorders as well as to prevent death.
Tourmaline — A family of minerals that comes in many colors – pink, red, dark blue, brown, colorless, watermelon, black and yellow-green (the most common). Tourmaline is believed to improve the strength of both body and spirit, and is especially helpful to the nervous system, blood and lymph. It’s also thought to inspire creativity.
Turquoise — Has long been praised for its intense color, which varies from sky blue to green. In many ancient cultures, this gemstone has been esteemed as a holy stone, a bringer of good fortune. In ancient Persia, turquoise gemstones were worn around the neck or wrist as protection against unnatural death. If the gems changed color, the wearer was thought to have reason to fear the approach of doom. It is now known that turquoise certainly can change color, but the change is caused by sunlight or by a chemical reaction from cosmetics, dust and the acidity of the skin, not impending doom. Turquoise is considered sacred by some people and is thought to bring money, success and love to the wearer. It is also thought to have powers that include protection, healing, and courage.