Medical properties, utilities and uses of Navaratna Gemstones

Gemstones have medical properties and utilities. They have healing capacities. Both Ayurveda and Yunani branches of medicine in India have been using this quality of gemstones to prepare medicines. Mainly Navaratna (nine gemstones) i.e.ruby, pearl, coral, emerald, sapphires (yellow and blue), diamond, hessonite and cat's eye(known as precious stones in India) are used for this purpose. Semi precious gemstones also have medicinal properties.Indians since ancient times knew medicinal properties and utilities of gemstones.

There are some other methods of healing through gemstones such as crystal therapy but this is different form those. This method is time tested scientific methodology and has been used by medical practitioners in India for centuries.

In most of the cases Ayurveda branch of medicine uses gemstones as Bhasma (burnt to get oxide form of the gemstones) and Yunani uses these gemstones as Pisti (Reduced to powder form).

Both Ayurveda and Yunani branches of medicine in India use many gemstones for medical purposes.

Preparing Bhasma involves critical processes and can only be done in a supervision of trained Vaidya (Ayurvedic medical practitioner). Use of Bhasma as medicine also needs special care and supervision of a Vaidya.

Preparing Pisti is comparatively easier and a reasonably trained person can do that Mr. Rajroop Tank, a renowned Jeweler from Jaipur had been preparing Pisti for many years and the author acquired knowledge of preparing Pisti from him.

Method of preparation:

1. Shodhana (Purification): One has to wash the gemstones with various materials to eradicate foreign materials from those stones. One has to use different materials for different gemstones.

2. Making powder: One has to break gemstones by hammering those into small pieces and then these stones are to be reduced to form powder. One has to strain this powder on a thin piece of cotton cloth. Powder that passes through the cloth is to be taken to prepare Pisti. This is very fine. The residue is to be taken for regrinding.

3. Kharal (Grinding bowl): Person preparing Pisti then takes this gemstone powder into a Kharal (An apparatus used to make Pisti). Then he takes a Ghotni and grinds the powder mixed with some rose water or Keora water or some times with Bed musk water. It becomes like paste. grinding continues for months. Finally the paste is dried in shade and the Pisti is prepared.

Medicinal uses of different gemstones:

Ruby: Ruby is basically aluminum oxide and is used to treat anemia or shortage of blood. It is also useful in treatment of low blood pressure and mental diseases. It also strengthens nervous system and help fighting paralysis. It is also utilized for indigestion and gastric troubles.

Pearl: Pearl is a natural source of calcium. It helps fighting weakness and strengthens human body. Pearl is also used for cardiac and neuron diseases. Some times it helps the diabetics.

Coral: It is general tonic for human body. While using with different materials it cures different diseases. If one takes it with betel it helps curing cough and when with milk or cream it helps in cardiac diseases. It helps fighting fatigue and depression and used for measles, smallpox etc. It is a good tonic for lever too.

Emerald: Emerald is used for purification of blood and in urinary diseases. It also been used for some kinds of cardio-vascular diseases. Emerald is also useful in treatment of deaf and dumb.

Yellow Sapphire: It is very good for the treatment of some kinds of jaundice. It is also used to treat chronic constipation and gastritis. It is very useful in cough, cold and lungs related diseases such as asthma.

Diamond: Yunani does not prescribe diamond Pisti. It is only used in Ayurveda as Bhasma. It is extremely powerful medicine and can only be taken under supervision of an experienced Ayurvedic medical practitioner. As a precaution use of the same is not described here.

Blue sapphire: Blue sapphire is extremely good for neuron diseases. It is used for treatment of epilepsy, hysteria, Neuritis, brain diseases etc. It is also helpful in treating joint pains and chronic fever.

Hessonite: Hessonite is indicated for gastritis, indigestion, chronic constipation and piles. It is also helpful in fever with cough and rheumatism. Hessonite is extremely helpful in treating people with suicidal tendency.

Cat’s eye: It is good for cough and cold, asthma and foul breath. It is helpful in treatment of cholera, piles and skin diseases.

Medical utilities of Navaratna (nine gemstones) are briefly described here. Other semi precious stones also have some medical utilities. All of these medicines are to be taken orally.

Caution: My mentor, Mr. Rajroop Tankwarned against uses of these medicines to the young. He informed that these medicines are very strong and other medicines may seize to act after taking these medicines. It is better to use these medicines by persons over the age of fifty.

Disclaimer: The author is not an Ayurvedic or Yunani medical practitioner nor He has learnt under any medical supervisory. The author has written here that is taught to him by Mr. Rajroop Tank, his mentor, a renowned Jeweler from Jaipur. Knowledge of the author in this matter is limited to that. This is a general purpose article and not to be used for medical purposes.

One should intake these medicines under medical supervision only.