When you look into the history books, whenever early man discovered a new plant or mineral it was typically used for medicinal purposes. The discovery and use of the pearl was no different. When pearls were first discovered over 4000 years ago, they were not only for decorative purposes but could be ground into powder and used to cure illnesses.

Several ancient cultures believed that pearls had amazing curative properties. These properties could be channeled by simply wearing pearls or by using the powder of a ground up pearl. The powder was an ingredient in potions, balms, and salves that were used to treat a wide range of ailments. Ancient China is the country with the most documented use of pearls medicinally. Typically, pearl powder was taken internally or applied topically. Pearl powder is still used today in medicines by pharmaceutical companies.