Gemstone Information

Here are some of the gemstones used in creating Medicine Beads™ jewelry, and the qualities of each:

Agate is an energizing and protective stone that has been used over ages for many purposes. It has been worn to attract love, make new friends, ensure truthfulness, guard against evil, lend energy to the depleted, and for healing purposes. It is also used in spells involving riches, happiness and long life. Moss Agate and Tree Agate, due to their curious markings, which suggest moss or trees, are special talismans for gardeners.

Amber is not a stone, but the fossilized resin of coniferous trees.  Often warm to the touch, Amber was considered sacred in classical times because it was believed to contain the very essence of life itself—the animating principle. Amber has long been regarded as highly sensual and romantic, and is worn to attract love and increase enjoyment of pleasurable activities. It is also worn as a general protector of health and to relieve or cure existing conditions. It is a calming substance that eases stress, improves decision making and strengthens memory.

Amethyst grants freedom from everyday concerns, brings faithfulness in love and bestows the gift of prescience. Few stones offer as much potential benefit to the mind as Amethyst. It soothes the nervous system, aids in the transmission of neural signals and helps us feel less scattered and more in control, allowing us to balance excessive emotional highs and lows. It is useful in dispelling rage, anger, fear and anxiety, and is a good stone for clarifying and remembering dreams. It also helps relieve physical and emotional pain.

Aquamarine is a stone of peace, joy and happiness, especially in relationships. It brings serenity of mind and is known for its ability to stabilize and harmonize unsettled surroundings. It reduces stress, increases creativity and sharpens intuition, enabling us to better interpret our emotions. It is often recommended to ease sore throats, and it clears blocked communication and aids the wearer in verbal expression.

Azurite-Malachite provides the benefits of both stones. Esoteric gem literature states that Azurite can restructure molecules, revitalize the brain, and rebuild gray matter. In addition, it cleanses the mind and makes one more capable of insight and pure thought. It helps one to recognize the resources within. Malachite is useful for relaxation and neurological disorders as well as tissue regeneration. It has an affinity with the earth and water, and is said to awaken healing qualities.

Bloodstone (also known as Heliotrope) is a vital, life-giving stone that stimulates courage and helps raise consciousness. It is beneficial to the circulatory system and internal organs. Bloodstone has been used in magic for at least three thousand years. In ancient Babylon, the stone was carried to overcome enemies, and it was used in ancient Egypt to open doors, break bonds and even cause stone walls to fall.

Carnelian is a stimulating stone that can improve motivation and help us achieve greater success in career or personal matters. It helps us feel secure enough to tackle greater challenges and allows the wearer to take control of his or her life and choose the direction that is most advantageous. Armenians in the 17^th century believed that if Carnelian was powdered and taken in a potion, it would ban all dark forebodings and excite joyous emotions.

Chrysocolla is a stone of peace, and soothes the emotions. At one time, it was held in the hand to drive off unreasonable fears and illusions. Chrysocolla is often used in treating arthritis and other diseases of the bone. It is also beneficial to the digestive organs, and relieves hypertension and stress caused by fear or guilt. When worn, it grants the power of discretion and bestows increased wisdom. It can make one feel more comfortable speaking the truth, and helps develop personal confidence.

Citrine is a highly energizing and beneficial stone. It is directly related to the sun, and can guide us in utilizing our creative energy, steering events in a positive direction, developing inner calm and security, and dispelling negative feelings. Its energy increases motivation and promotes physical activity, which in turn improves digestion and helps the cleansing organs. Citrine may also work as a detoxifier for the blood.

Coral is neither a stone nor a plant substance, but the skeletal remains of a sea creature. It has been used since ancient times for magical, religious and health purposes. It is often worn as a protective amulet to guard against illness, accidents (particularly accidents at sea) and acts of violence. It is also worn to effect inner changes—it can calm fears, ease depression and promote peaceful sleep by driving away disturbing dreams. It confers wisdom, prudence, courage and wisdom upon its wearer. Because of Coral’s structure and growth patterns, it is particularly sympathetic to both the skeletal structure and the circulatory system, making it a good stone for ailments of the bones and blood, such as arthritis and anemia.

Emerald is reputed to protect the wearer against infidelity and deceit, insure loyalty and improve memory. An inspirational and relaxing stone, emerald brings wisdom and motivates one to give love and wisdom to others. It improves psychic abilities, raises consciousness and enhances the immune system.

Garnet is reputed to enhance self-esteem, and can help us tune into the energy of the heart and express emotions with greater ease. Garnets sharpen self-perception and extend openness to others. They also have been known to promote imagination, calm anger and guard against nightmares.

Hematite is said to be powerful in drawing illnesses from the body. It is a grounding and stabilizing stone, and helps to focus attention on the physical plane.

Iolite (also known as Water Sapphire, because it was used by ancient Nordics as a navigational guide at sea) is a gentle, deeply moving stone that radiates with the blue ray of love and wisdom, and can be very uplifting. It calms the mind and helps to create a clear path for spiritual guidance and understanding. Iolite can help one perceive connections between thoughts, emotions and the actions of others. Its melding of heart and mind energies enhances the qualities of compassion and wisdom in speech. When worn near the heart, Iolite enables the wearer to perceive the true emotions of others, allowing for more effective interactions. It performs well when used for the elimination of debts, to enhance precision in one’s life and to facilitate acceptance of responsibility. It also shows you how to relax into the flow without stress or strain in your body.

Jade is a peaceful stone, very soothing to the nervous system. It has the ability to mellow one’s existence by dissipating negative thoughts and energy. It strengthens kidney function and assists in the removal of toxins. Jade is very protective and is said to keep its wearer out of harm’s way. An ancient love-attracting stone, it has been called "the concentrated essence of love." Jade occurs in several colors, and Green Jade is representative of life and growth. It helps to channel energies constructively.

Jasper is strongly connected with the energies of the earth, and helps its wearer find stability and balance. It boosts the immune system and assists in extracting pollutants and toxins from the body. Jasper works slowly and is most effective when used over a long period of time. With patience, anyone using Jasper will feel a continuity of spirit and body that can vastly improve both work and play.

Lapis Lazuli is a healing and soothing stone. Simply touching the body with this stone improves your mental, physical, spiritual, psychic and emotional condition. It is an uplifting, spiritual stone whose deep blue color reflects its peaceful vibrations. It is useful for relieving depression, promoting spirituality and stimulating gentleness in its wearer. It has also been used in rituals to attract spiritual love and assure fidelity by strengthening the bonds that have grown between lovers. Perhaps its most common use today is to enhance psychic awareness. Lapis breaks the hold of the conscious mind on the subconscious mind and allows intuitive impulses to become known.

Marble is reputed to bring success to its wearer. It is a protective and cleansing stone that is beneficial for the blood, skin and cleansing systems.

Moonstone helps to cool, soothe and calm our emotions, and is associated with intuition, sensitivity and the feminine aspect of our nature. It is believed to enhance psychic abilities. A gently protective stone, it is worn as a charm when traveling on or over the water. It can attract love, heal rifts between lovers and ensure restful sleep. As a healing stone, moonstone helps all parts of the lower torso, including digestive, cleansing and reproductive organs. If worn while gardening, It can help your plants and flowers to grow strong and healthy.

Mother of Pearl is a soothing, nurturing substance that can lessen stress and its resulting maladies (hypertension, headaches and exhaustion). Like pearl, it is strongly aligned with the feminine, and symbolizes modesty and purity.

New Jade Serpentine was carried in ancient Assyria so that the gods and goddesses would send double blessings. It has also been used to guard against poisonous insects and reptiles. Serpentine is a general detoxifier for the body and beneficial to the blood. Wearing it can help you feel more in control of your life. It is often used to heighten psychic abilities and gain a greater understanding of the spiritual aspect of existence.

Onyx is a strengthening stone that can help one approach a lesson or task with greater self-confidence. It is in tune with the energies of the earth, and therefore creates balance and helps us to feel more comfortable in our surroundings.

Pearl changes bad fortune into good and discord into harmony. It also brings support from influential people. Pearls, due to the nature of their creation, are strongly connected with the feminine, and as such, are very nurturing. They help to ease stress and prevent stress-related illnesses. In India, women wore pearls as magical insurance for a happy marriage.

Peridot bolsters optimism, lends inner strength and stabilizes emotions. It is known to be a visionary stone, helping us to connect with our destinies and to find spiritual truth and an understanding of the purpose of existence. Peridot is used to attract love as well as to calm raging anger. It helps neutralize toxins and benefits the digestive tract.

Pink Tourmaline (also known as Rubelite) is a cleansing stone that tends to focus on specific problem areas, diffusing and dissipating the effects of negative energy and bringing clarity and calmness. It promotes the sharing of emotions and helps one open to new experiences.

Pyrite (also known as "Fool’s Gold") is a healing stone, beneficial to the respiratory and circulatory systems. Because of its iron content, it is very connected to the transfer of oxygen from the lungs to the bloodstream. The physical structure of Pyrite (which combines natural randomness with geometric precision) makes it a stone that helps one to balance creative and intuitive impulses with scientific and practical ones. Pyrite also improves communication skills by easing anxiety and frustration.

Quartz Crystal is a highly beneficial stone, amplifying the qualities of other stones it is worn with and attuning them even more to your particular energy. Clear Quartz acts as a purifier, creating harmony and helping to balance all stimuli, positive and negative. The Crystal point pendant aids in focusing one’s energy, and can enhance psychic abilities.

Rhodonite is often used to alleviate trauma and to cast off confusion and doubt. It is a calming stone that promotes balance and helps bolster confidence.

Rose Quartz is a highly beneficial stone that is deeply in tune with our emotional states. It opens the heart, helps us find self-acceptance, and stimulates love and tender appreciation of all things. If you are troubled by something, Rose Quartz can help you find a space within yourself to accept the situation, find respite and restore your faith. It helps to develop a nurturing and compassionate spirit, and is advantageous for the heart and circulatory systems, the cleansing organs and the reproductive organs.

Ruby is an energizing stone that stimulates motivation and visualization. Rubies have long been believed to induce wealth, and, when worn, to protect against injury. They are said to strengthen confidence and will power, banish negative thought patterns and dispel fear.

Smoky Quartz can neutralize negative influences and has a natural affinity with the earth’s energy that can strengthen one’s connection to nature and the environment. It is healing for the lower torso, as well as the heart and nervous system.

Swarovski Austrian Crystal is full lead crystal, considered to be among the finest in the world. It is made by combining quartz, sand, soda, potash and lead oxide, and heating it to 1500 degrees Celsius. It carries many of the same qualities as Quartz Crystal, amplifying the qualities of other stones it is worn with, and attuning them even more to your particular energy. Quartz acts as a purifier, creating harmony and helping to balance all stimuli, positive and negative.

Tiger’s Eye is ruled by the Sun and possesses a golden flash of light. It is worn to strengthen convictions and create courage and confidence. It helps us to recognize the resources within ourselves and use those resources to attain our dreams. Tiger’s Eye draws helpful people and material things to the wearer. It has been said to center energy, aid mental focus, and promote energy flow throughout the body.

Turquoise is a highly beneficial stone, attracting love, protecting its wearer from harm and enhancing one’s ability to see into the future. It is unique in that it truly reflects the individual wearing it by tuning into that person’s energies and transmitting them back into the world. It is a great aid to communication. Because turquoise contains elements of both the earth, where it was formed, and the sky, whose color it resembles, it assists us in achieving our goals and realizing our full potential. As a healing stone, turquoise is especially beneficial for the respiratory and immune systems.

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