From The July 2000 Issue of Nutrition Science News

Pearls of Health and Beauty

by Letha Hadady, D.Ac.

Freshwater pearls have been collected for some 3,000 years by the Chinese, and not just for jewelry. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) employs the medicinal qualities of ingested powdered pearl to treat inflammatory illnesses including epilepsy, convulsions, hyperactivity, hypertension, insomnia and palpitations. Traditional Chinese medical doctors also suggest pearl to quiet nerves and improve vision.

Doctors who practice TCM believe the calcium and other valuable minerals and amino acids from pearl powder can also be absorbed through the skin. They have found pearl powder, applied externally, speeds the skin's natural metabolism to tone and rejuvenate complexion, heal blemishes, minimize large pores and reduce redness. A pearl facial pack is said to rejuvenate dry, dull skin. CiXi, the last Dowager Empress of China during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), preferred expensive powdered pearl face masks to maintain her complexion.

To make a mask, customers can mix one teaspoon pearl powder with enough olive oil to form a thin paste. Apply to clean, dry skin; then, after 10 minutes rinse off with warm water. Another option is a mix of pearl powder and milk, believed to have anti-aging effects. In TCM terminology, pearl powder has cooling, disinfectant and balancing properties.

Margarite Acne Pills, a Chinese patent formula, contains 24 percent pearl powder plus antiseptic herbs such as dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) flowers. These are taken internally to brighten complexion.

Romancing the Stone
Pearl has other interesting applications. In China, pearl powder is used to heal wounds because it is believed to have antiseptic properties. In the United States, surgeons frequently sprinkle a lower-grade pearl powder, called surgical pearl, into their latex gloves before operating. The soothing, antiseptic pearl powder absorbs excess moisture and may help prevent the spread of infection. Similarly, pearl powder sprinkled into shoes helps absorb odor and excess moisture. I prefer to brush my teeth with pearl powder—the only tooth whitener safe enough to swallow.

International research may pique interest in pearls as an anti-aging and bone-strengthening supplement.

Powdered sea pearl (Pteria martensii), mother of pearl and freshwater pearl demonstrated systemic anti-aging and tonic actions in studies from the Institute of Endocrinology at Zhejing Medical University, China. Researchers studied 146 university staffers whose average age was 57. Subjects were divided into three groups and given either 3 or 1.5 g pearl powder or placebo daily for two months. Subjective symptoms as well as serum thyroid hormones—including cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, follicular stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone—were studied. After two months, subjects reported improvements in subjective symptoms including poor memory, insomnia, fatigue and others. Overall symptom reduction was 94 percent, 34 percent and 4 percent among the three groups, respectively. The researchers concluded that pearl powder promotes memory and autonomic nervous system functions in addition to stimulating appetite and sexuality.¹

Pearls are made of aragonite (CaCO3) and a small amount of conchiolin, an organic albuminoid substance. Oyster pearl powder and shell are both chemically the same and are good sources of calcium carbonate. A Japanese randomized, controlled clinical trial indicates the oyster's shell and seaweed (AAA Ca) may increase bone density in elderly women. Fifty-eight hospitalized elderly women, average age 80, were divided into three groups. Each group took either 900 mg oyster shell and seaweed calcium, calcium carbonate or placebo. Lumbar spine and radial bone mineral density were measured at three-month intervals. After 24 months, researchers concluded that AAA Ca effectively increased bone density in these elderly patients.²

French researchers conducted a two-prong experiment to test pearl's bone-building abilities. The in vivo experiment involved filling prepared lumbar cavities of sheep with nacre powder. In the laboratory portion of the study, nacre was injected into petri dishes of rat bone marrow. After 12 weeks, both experiments resulted in stimulated osteogenic bone marrow cells, indicating continuing bone formation. The researchers reported that nacre contains one or more signal molecules capable of activating osteogenic bone marrow cells.³

Pearl powder is a diverse mineral supplement with potential as an anti-inflammatory healer, skin care product, tooth whitener, bone builder and more. Another gift pearl gives is preciousness. Three years is a long time to develop a tiny supplement that has so many medicinal qualities.

Letha Hadady, D.Ac., is the author of Asian Health Secrets (Three Rivers Press, 1996) and Personal Renewal (Harmony, 1999). She stars in Asian Health Secrets, a video by Wellspring Media.

References

1. Tong ZH, et al. The anti-aging effect of pearl oyster shell powder (POSP). J Tradit Chin Med 1988 Dec;8(4):247-50.

2. Fujita T, et al. Heated oyster shell seaweed calcium (AAA Ca) on osteoporosis. Calcif Tissue Int 1996 Apr;58(4)226-30.

3. Lamghari M, et al. Stimulation of bone marrow cells and bone formation by nacre: in vivo and in vitro studies. Bone 1999 Aug:25(2Suppl):91S-4S.