Pearl has been credited with medicinal and beautification properties in many cultures over the centuries.

As early as 1240 AD, a physician of Kashmir wrote a treatise to point out that pearl can cure diseases of the eyes, consumption, is an antidote to poisons, and can increase our body strength and general health.

Whitelow Ainslie who wrote Materia Indica in 1826 also confirmed that Arabian physicians believed the powder of pearl to be good for weak eyes, and credited it in soothing palpitations, nervous tremors, melancholia and hemorrhage.

The Chinese, it appears, are especially big fans of using pearl to cure ailments and to maintain their youth and beauty. 

The famous Chinese Herbalist Li Shi Chin who completed the Natural History of Herbs in 1596 noted that pearl tastes saltish, sweetish, and cold.  It is good for the liver, clears the eyes, and cures deafness.  Traditional Chinese medicine is known to prescribe pearl powder to treat inflammatory illnesses including epilepsy, convulsions, hyperactivity, hypertension insomnia and palpitations.

Apart from its healing properties, pearl is also sort after for anti-aging and bone building.  Many women from affluent families in Chinese communities ingest pearl powder as a youth tonic.  Pearl powder can also be applied externally to improve skin health in the form of facial pack and acne cream.  Pearl is found to speed the skin’s natural metabolism.  It improves skin tone, rejuvenates the complexion, clears blemishes, minimizes large pores.  However for those of you contemplating to crush your pearl jewelry for ingestion, be reminded that only ‘virgin’ pearl possesses therapeutic effects.  Pearl pierced or bored for stringing does not have the same magic.  Today, a large quantity of seed pearls are exported from Japan to China for medicinal and beauty purposes.

Studies in China and Japan of elderly patients given pearl powder indicated continuing bone formation, improved memory and nervous system functions, as well as better appetite and sexuality.

Legend has it that the Empress Dowager of the Ching Dynasty was entombed with a large iridescent pearl in her mouth.  When her body was later excavated by tomb raiders for the treasures that usually accompanied royal burials, her complexion was found to be no different than a life person.