Topaz

Chrysolite of Pliny is thought to be the modern ‘Topaz’
Huang Yu (‘Yellow Jade’, TCM)
Picture Ortus Sanitatis, Beck, 1517

Picture Topaz
(Photo by Rob Lavinsky iRocks.com)

Mineralogical Name:


Topaz
Chrysolite (yellow-green variety of Olivine), Prase, or Chrysoprase have all been suggested as the ‘Topaz‘ of Pliny.

Parts used:


Prepared Stone (levigated or burned)

Temperature & Taste:


Cool, dry. Sweet, Pungent, Salty

Constituents:


Aluminum fluoro-hydroxyl-silicate (Al2SiO4(OH,F)2) with admixtures of iron, chromium, magnesium, titanium

Uses:


1. Strengthens the Heart, Calms the Spirit, Benefits Mind:
-Insanity, Madness, Lunacy, Melancholy; ‘Lunatic Passions’
-Night Terrors, Nightmares, Insomnia
-emotional disorders; Grief, Fear
-said to Prompt passion, but reduce Lust
-promotes Intelligence
-Nervous disorders
-charm against Evil.
-said to have antipathy against ‘Spiritual Heats, such as are Covetousness, Lust, and all manner of Love excesses’.
-Chrysolite is used to protect from Nightmare and Melancholy, to repel Evil, Ghosts and Demons (Albertus, Ayurveda)
    
2. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Poison, Infectious disease, Plague
–Hildegard used it for Leprosy, and said it resisted Heat and Poison
-obstinate skin diseases including Leprosy, as well as various Poisons; used for the venomous bites of Serpents, the poison of Mad Dog bites and other types of Poison. (Ayurveda)
-Blood disorders.
-Chrysolite was similarly used to reduce the heat of Fevers and resist Poison.
    
3. Clears Heat, Stops Bleeding:
-Hemorrhages (Salmon, Ayurveda, Unani)
-both applied topically and taken internally.
-Traditionally strapped over the abdomen during menstruation to alleviate the discomfort and pain.
-pain of Hemorrhoids (Marbod von Rennes).

4. Benefits the Spleen, Tonifies Qi, Nourishes Essence:
-Tabes, Emaciation, Wasting (Mylius, Salmon)
-weakness and loss of strength in Ayurveda
-poor digestion, Nausea and Vomiting in Ayurveda and Unani. It increases Appetite and strengthens Digestion.
-Sexual Weakness
-this effect cn also help with Menopausal symptoms
-believed to increase Longevity in India (even when worn)
-modern Unani sources state Topaz stimulates Endocrine gland function

5. Clears Damp, Promotes Urine:
-Edema
-some recommended it for Jaundice, probably because of its yellow color.

6. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-regarded as a tonic for Kapha/Phlegm constitution In Ayurveda
-It was traditionally used as a charm for Asthma; Chrysolite was used for this purpose (Albertus).

7. Benefits Sight:
-strengthen the Eyesight


Dose:


60–125mg of the levigated stone or Bhasma

Substitute:


Yellow Sapphire, Yellow Garnet and Yellow Zircons were all said to supply Topaz

Main Combinations:


1. Against all poison, Topaz with Bezoar, Coral, Jacinth, Pearl (as in Goa Stone)
2. Tonify the Heart and Brain, balance Wind/Bile and Phlegm, and strengthen the whole body, triturated Topaz with Triturated Turquoise, Aquamarine and Coral, Bhasma of Gold, Silver, Zinc and Mica, with Bdellium (Guggulu), Tinospora and Shilajit, in a base of Ghee (as in Navratnakalpa Amrit of Ayurveda)

Major Formulas:


The Goa Stone
Safoof e Jawahar Mohra (Precious Defender Powder) (Unani)

Cautions:


Standard cautions for using Gem stones.

Main Preparations used:


Levigated Stone; Bhasma; Salt; Tincture etc.