Jade, Yu 玉

Lapis Nephriticus: Nephrite: Kidney Stone
Yu (TCM)
Sangeyasab (Ayurveda, Sanskrit)
Yasaba, Hajarul Yasaba (Arabic)
Yashab (Unani)
Yang tri (Tibetan)

Jadeite
(Photo: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com) (Wikimedia)

Minerological name:
Two different minerals are called Jade:

Nephrite–Amphibole group (most common)
Jadeite–Pyroxene group

Parts used:

Prepared Green mineral

Temperature & Taste:

Cool, dry. Sweet, Salty

Properties:
Hardness: Nephrite 5-6; Jadeite: 6.5-7.
Refractive index: 1.66-1.68
Density: 2.98 – 3.33 g/cc
Luster: Greasy to pearly
Jadeite shows a grey-blue luminescence.

Constituents:

JADEITE: Sodium Aluminium Silicate (Na2O 15.34%, Al2O3 25.22%, SiO2 59.44%). Chromium is responsible for its color.
NEPHRITE: Primarily Calcium Magnesium Silicate (CaO 12.59%, MgO 11.31%; FeO 20.15%; SiO2 53.93%; H2O 2.02%). Iron gives this its duller green color.

Classification:

Uses:

1. Strengthen Kidneys, Promotes Urine, Clears Stones:
-primarily used for Bladder and Kidney stones
-Kidney pain
-Edema
-‘Great force in breaking and bringing away stone and gravel’ (Culpeper)

2. Nourishes Yin:
-regarded as nourishing Yin, reduces Thirst
-‘Moistens the Viscera and Bowels’ (Su Gong)
-a Longevity and Fertility tonic in ancient China

3. Nourishes Heart Yin, Calms Mind and Spirit:
-Palpitations, Arrhythmia associated with Heart weakness
-Epilepsy, Illusions (internally and worn externally)
-regarded as strengthening the Heart and Brain in Unani
-‘Moistens the Heart and Lungs’. (Da Ming Ri Hua Ben Cao)
-‘relieves restlessness and irritability’. (Li Xun)
-‘long-term consumption will make the person feel happy and prolong life’ (Ming Yi Bie Lu)

4. Strengthens the Stomach, Clears Stomach Heat:
-Indigestion, Digestive weakness
-Dysentery, Ulcers
-Heartburn; ‘Helps pains in the stomach’ (Culpeper)
-Thirst
-promotes growth of muscles and flesh and increases Qi. (Divine Farmers Materia Medica)

5. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Bleeding from Heat, Internal Wounds
-Asthma; good for the Throat and Voice
-various Bile and Heat diseases
-Venomous Bites (Ayurveda)

6. Externally:
-long worn as an amulet to prevent Kidney and Bladder disorders
-‘Tied to the thigh, it facilitates birth’ (Salmon)
-The Chinese have worn it as a charm, often around the wrist, to promote physical strength and protect from all ills.
-Scars rubbed often with a piece of Jade removes it. (Sheng Ji Zong Lu)

Dose:

Levigated Powder: 125–500mg, up to 1 gram
Bhasma: 125–250mg

Substitute:

1. Nephrite is minerologically identical to Tremolite and similar to Actinolite
2. Green Jasper has apparently been used for Jade

Comment:

1. In China, Jade was regarded as the most pure and most divine of all natural substances. Jade represented the 5 Cardinal virtues: charity, modesty, courage, justice, and wisdom. The 9 qualities of Jade represent the best possible attainments for humanity. The smoothness suggests benevolence; the polish, knowledge; the firmness, righteousness; the harmlessness, virtuous action; the spotlessness, purity; the imperishable character, endurance; the visibility of any flaw, ingeniousness; the ability of passing from hand to hand without being sullied, morality, and the ability to sound a note on being struck, music. (from the Seventh Century philosopher Khivan Ghung)
2. Daoists believe taking Jade conferred immortality, and the ability to fly when taken over a prolonged period. Bowls and cups made of Jade were believed to promote longevity when food or drink was taken from them.
3. A number of cultures have regarded Jade as beneficial for the Kidneys. It has been noted in China, old Western texts, as well as by Mayans and others. In general, the wearing of Jade is believed to be prosperous, to bring love and health, and give protection.

Preparation:

1. To purify Jade:
In Ayurveda, pieces are heated to red hot and quenched in Rose or Onosma distilled water. This is repeated up to 21 times.
2. Levigated Jade:
It is usually levigated with either Rose or Plantain water; according to some it was best prepared with Water of Pellitory of the Wall for Stones.
3. Bhasma
It can also be turned to Bhasma or ash for internal administration.
4. Vinegar Prepared Jade:
In Daoist texts, Jade was broken to rice grain sized pieces, then soaked in vinegar. This was said to soften them and in some cases, to completely dissolve them. (Ben Cao Gang Mu)
5. ‘Potable Jade’:
Take 1 part each of Jade fragments, Burnet and glutinous Rice. Cover with 2 parts of Dew in a copper container and heat until the rice is cooked. Press the juice from the Rice. The Jade is said to have liquified and is in the water and is called ‘Jade Liquid’. It is taken with sweet wine. (Ho, Peng Yoke, Explorations in Daoism)
6. Jade Grains:
‘Jade grains the size if Sesame seed or beans can be taken to moisten the viscera and bowels. The dregs will be defecated out in their original shape’. (Su Gong)

Main Combinations:

1. Heart tonic in Heart weakness and Palpitations:
i. Jade, Silkworm Cocoon, Borage, Balm, Basil seed, Amber, Coral
ii. Jade, Silkworm Cocoon, Sandalwood, Mastic, Cinnamon, Saffron, Amber, Coral
iii. Jade, Pearl, Amber, Serpentine, Tabasheer, Sandalwood
2. Health Tonic, decoct Jade, Gold, Silver and Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong, and drink the tea. (Li Xun)
3. Infant convulsions with crying, mix Jade (5 parts) with Calcite (1 part), form a paste and apply over the stomach. (Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang)
4. Abdominal mass with epigastric pain, powder equal parts of White Jade and Red Jade and form pills the size of parasol seeds. Take 30 pills as a dose with decoction of fresh Ginger. (Tai Ping Sheng Hui Fang)

Major Formulas:

Khameera Abresham Sada
Khameera Abresham Hakim Arshad Wala
Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder)
Precious Wish Fulfilling Jewel (Rin chen ratna bsam ‘phel) (Tibetan)

Cautions:

General precautions for gems.
1. According to Su Gong, if the powder is taken it may cause strangury and dysuria. That’s why the grains were recommended (See above, under Preparation). This is possibly due to not being prepared properly.

Drug Interactions:

Jade ‘fears’ Coltsfoot, and is averse to Deer Horn (Lu Rong). (Divine Farmers Materia Medica)

Main Preparations used:

Levigated Powder, Tincture of Jade

Tincture of Jade
Pour rectified Spirit of Salt (Hydrochloric acid) on the fine powder of Jade. Keep it warm for some time until a green tincture is extracted.
This was given in doses of 10–20 drops or more well diluted in a suitable vehicle. (Salmon, Seplasium, 1693)

Treatment for Stones

‘A certain noble man, very well known to me, by only bearing this stone tied to his arm, voided such a deal of gravel, that he feared the quantity would do him hurt, by voiding so much of it, wherefore he laid it from him, and then he voided no more gravel; but afterwards being again troubled with the stone, he wore it as before, and presently the pain eased, and he voided gravel as before, and was never troubled with the pain of the stone so long as he wore it’. (Culpeper said this was one story of many and that the source, Monardus, was a physician of great note.)

‘The usual way of using the Stone is to wear it as a Jewel, being tied to the Wrist or Arm, or Hung about the Neck or Hip. I once new a Lady which experimented the truth of this; as long as the Stone was tied to the brawn of her arm she had ease, and voided much gravel continually upon making water; but as soon as the Stone was removed, the Gravel stopped, and the pains returned; and that she might be sure this was the effect of the Stone, she oftentimes laid it by for experiment sake, and the stoppings and pains in some few hours Would return upon the taking it off, and again upon the putting it on, she would have as sensible ease and freedom of passage as before’. (Salmon)

Jade, Yu