Bloodstone

Bloodstone Gemstone Beads from Rings & Things: Bloodstone is one of the traditional birthstones for March, and is the birthstone for the Aries zodiac sign (March 21 - April 20). This dark-green variety of chalcedony (quartz) is dotted with nodules of bright-red jasper. Polished sections therefore show red spots on a dark-green background, resembling drops of blood and inspiring its name. In ancient times, bloodstone was attributed with the power to stop hemorrhages at the merest touch. It was greatly prized in the Middle Ages, as the spots were thought to be the blood of Jesus Christ. For this reason, bloodstone was commonly used in sculptures representing martyrdom. Mystics today hold that bloodstone relieves stomach and bowel pain, strengthens blood-purifying organs and improves blood circulation.