Did you know that pearls are more than just timeless fashion accessories? Beyond having a special place in jewellery boxes and hearts of millions of women, pearls also have a vast medical history that few are aware of?
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Pearls Used in Traditional Healing Therapy
The earliest records of pearls as medicine go back as far back as the 13th century. A German monk named Albertus Magnus stated that pearls could heal “mental diseases”, love-sickness, haemorrhage and dysentery.
The Far East and Asian cultures had a lot of faith in the healing properties of pearls. Ancient Chinese healers were known to have used medicines made with pearls to treat several ailments – from simple eye problems to serious heart disorders, fever, and indigestion, in addition to skin and muscular problems. Pearls were also used as aphrodisiacs as well as to enhance fertility and reduce labour pains during childbirth. They were pounded to granular form and mixed with other herbal powders and potions to form medicines.
Pearls in Modern-Day Medicines
Interestingly, the modern pharmaceutical industry continues to use pearls in medicines. Inferior quality pearls are separated and ground into a fine powder and used to prepare high-quality pharmaceutical calcium powder.
“Pearl powder” is very common in Chinese medicine. Ground pearls are used in skin treatment to cure acne, reduce ageing and improve complexion. It is also known to have several health benefits when used internally. These include the improved immune system, tissue regeneration, improved vision, prevention of convulsions, and calming the mind.
Pearls in the Treatment of Cancer
Recent research has concluded that pearls rich in minerals can help in the treatment of cancer. Pearls produced in a controlled environment in aseptic conditions contain traces of metal and minerals such as zinc, copper, magnesium, iron, calcium, sodium, and potassium. These micro-nutrients aid in metabolism, growth and immunity. Of them, zinc has played a major role in preventing fatal diseases like cancer.
A study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, has also established zinc’s anti-tumour role that prevents the growth of cancer cells.