Article Info
Author: Joseph Smith
Title: The Green Stones
Page Created: Fri Feb 22, 2008 2:43 pm
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The Green Stones
Emerald
Emeralds were used in treating poisoned wounds as well as a general antidote for poisons. “If worn on the neck it was said to cure the “semitertian” fever and epilepsy” (Kunz, 379-380). Emeralds were thought to cure epilepsy, especially in children and was considered by Hindus to be a good laxative, a cure for dysentery and an appetite stimulator. Emeralds were believed to allow its wearer to see the future. Emeralds were used to improve one's memory and assist the wearer in becoming a good speaker. It was believed to allow a lover to test the veracity of their partner’s oaths.
Perhaps the most common and widely known use for emeralds was for use in aiding eyesight. As Kunz states: “So general in the early centuries of our era was the persuasion that the pure green hue of emeralds aided the eyesight, that gem engravers are said to have kept some of them on their work-tables, so as to be able to look at the stones from time to time and thus relieve the eye-strain cause by close application to their delicate task” (Kunz, 380-381). The idea that emeralds were excellent for helping eyesight eventually got to the point where that it was believed that if a blind person even touched an emerald, he would regain his eyesight.
Jade
Jade was important to all facets of Chinese culture, but it was especially important in ancient Chinese medicine. It was said that “when reduced to a powder of the size of rice grains it strengthened the lung, heart, and vocal organs, and prolonged life, more especially if gold and silver were added to the jade powder”. (Kunz, 385). Another potion involved putting jade, rice, and dew water in a copper pot, boiled, then filtered and then drank it was said to strengthen the muscles, harden the bones, calm the mind, enrich the flesh, and purify the blood.
In Chinese lore, jade is considered the essence of true love, and it is carved into various forms (most famously a butterfly) to symbolize love. If carved into the form of a padlock and given to a child it is said to bind the child to life and protect it from all infantile diseases.
Malachite
Worn as an amulet, it averted attacks of faintness, prevented hernia, and saved the wearer from danger in falling. (This same attribute was also attributed to greener varieties of turquoise).
Many medicinal values were given to malachite. "If malachite were reduced to a powder, dissolved in milk and taken as a potion, it cured cardiac pains and colic; mixed with honey, and applied with a linen cloth to a wound, it stanched the flow of blood, and cramps were relieved if this solution were applied to the affected part; lastly, if mixed with wine, it was a cure for virulent ulcers" (JJKent Inc).
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