Cornelian

Carnelian, Carbunculus
Sard (Pliny)
Aqiq Yamani (Unani)
Ma Nao (TCM, used for Cornelian and Agate)
Ma no ho (Tibetan)
Picture Hortus sanitatis, 1491

Picture Photo: Сергей 6662

Minerological name:


Chalcedony

Parts used:


Blood-red Chalcedony
Several types were recognised in the Lexicon of Alchemy:
  1. bright red
  2. pinkish, approaching the color of skin
  3. one has small white spots
  4. one has white lines (Agate)
It should be noted that Agate (banded Chalcedony) and Cornelian (Chalcedony) can be found in the same vicinity and are medicinally very similar. The only difference being the banding of Agate. However, small pieces can be agate but appear as Cornelian. The Unani name Aqiq is given by various sources as Agate or Cornelian.

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Sweet, slightly Pungent

Properties:


Hardness: 6-7
Specific Gravity: 2.59-2.61
Chalcedony is a cryptocrystalline form of Quartz, and is of the Trigonal crystal system
Luminescence: Yellow, yellow-green, or white
Readily soluble in alkaline solutions, especially KOH.

Uses:


1. Clears Heat, Calms the Mind and Spirit:
-cheers the Heart and Spirit, causes Joy; Exhilarant (West, Unani)
-prevents ‘Fascinations’, and ‘assuages Passions’
-‘keeps away Evil dreams, quickens the Wit, bridles in the Blood and Choler’ (Culpeper)
-traditionally to promote Confidence, and expel Fear (West, Ayurveda)
-also regarded as Aphrodisiac (Unani)

2. Clears Heat, Benefits the Heart
-strengthens the Heart; Heart weakness with Heat
-Heart Fire, Insomnia
-Palpitations, Tachycardia (Unani, Ayurveda)

3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Bleeding from Heat; excess Menstruation, Hemoptysis (Salmon, Unani)
-Wounds and Trauma, especially of the Chest
-also to prevent Miscarriage

4. Strengthens the Eyes:
-poor or failing Eyesight; regarded as an eye tonic (Unani)

5. Externally:
-for Night Fevers; the stone is massaged on the foot from the heel to the toe to draw the heat out
-topically for Wounds made of Iron
-applied to Tumors (heat-type swellings)
-a cleansing dentrifice. (Lexicon of Alchemy)


Dose:


LEVIGATED POWDER: 125–250mg, up to 500 or 1000mg, sometimes up to 2 or 3 grams;
BHASMA: 125–250mg, up to 500mg.

In DECOCTION or INFUSION: ½–1 oz. of the crushed mineral may be decocted in water for 60 minutes before adding any herbal medicines; similar amount may be infused overnight in distilled water. Only the clear water should be taken, not the sediment left at the bottom;

Substitute:


1. Red Coral is an accepted substitute.
2. Red Agate can be used synonymously

Correctives:


1. Tragacanth
2. White Sugar
 

Main Combinations:


1. Heart tonic, Cornelian, Red Coral, Aloeswood, Saffron
2. Heart Fire, Cornelian with Borage, Sandalwood, Rose, Tabasheer, Red Coral, Pearl (as in Powder to Cool the Heart)
3. Heart Cold, Cornelian with Zedoary, Cinnamon, Galangal, Cardamon, Amber, Aloeswood (as in Warming Powder of Gems)

Major Formulas:


Electuary of Gems (Mesue)
Warming Powder of Gems (Mesue)
Powder to Cool the Heart

Precious Wish Fulfilling Jewel (Rin chen ratna bsam ‘phel) (Tibetan)
Red Coral 25 (Rin chen byur dmar nyer lnga)

Cautions:


Standard cautions for using Gem stones.

Main Preparations used: