“Does coral have beneficial properties for health?”
“What are the properties of coral?”
For long time doctors, pharmacists and biologists have been studying to find an answer for these kind of questions. Due to its high concentration of calcium carbonate and other trace elements, coral has several beneficial properties for both pharmaceutical and medical use.
Let’s discover together the uses, properties and benefits of coral for our health!
The pharmaceutical properties of coral
An ancient illustration od medical ingredients from a medical book. It is possible to notice the precence of coral too.
Ground coral reduced to dust has been widely used in medicine since ancient times.
Coral powder, mixed with other substances, often liquid, was and still is used as a medicine to that can be drank or applied directly to the skin.
One of the first mentions of the many medical properties of coral comes from the famous “Tractatus de Herbis” (1440 AD) an illustrated medical book intended for doctors consultation in medieval times, presumably written by Northern Italian doctors.
The research treaty lists the main properties of medicinal herbs and, in the chapter “De Corallo”, focuses on the medical uses of coral.
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[…] Virtutem habet confortandi et constringendi et depurandi. Occultam etiam virtutem habet contra epilentiam. Dicunt etiam quidam quod rubeus preservat domus a fulmine. […] General enim est quod que contra vitium spiritualium dentur debet prius in tender hours, ut cum saliva transducantur ad spiritualia. […]. Eodem modo valet contra dissinteriam factam vitio superiorum. […] Contra corrosion oris et gingivarum cum aqua salmacina vel aluminosa abluantur gingive, et facto pulvere de duabus partibus coralli et tertia rosarum ponatur super gingivas […] Pulvis etiam coralli ulceribus impositus ea conglutinat. |
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“[The coral] has energizing, purifying and astringent properties. It also conceals properties for the treatment of epilepsy. They say that the red [coral], if hung on the door of the house, can protect it from lightings. […] Generally used for the treatment of respiratory diseases, it should be kept in the mouth to acquire its properties through saliva. […] At the same time, it is also effective against dysentery resulting from more serious conditions […]. Against the corrosion of the mouth and gums [the coral] should be used dissolved in brackish water or alumina, placing on the gums a mixture composed of two parts of coral powder and one part of powdered roses. […] In case of ulcers, they can be healed by applying coral powder on them. “ |
Pharmaceutical properties of coral will be studied during XVIII, the era of Illuminism and scientific progress, as mentioned in “Dictionary otherwise said Univeral treaty for simple drugs” (1721) written by Nicolás Lemery
“Red coral is prefered to white coral for Medicine,
because of its colour, which is said to have great virtue for purifing blood, for cheering and reinforcing the heart…
They are good, minced in fine dust, to stop the stomach spasms and bleeding;
to fix and cure sore throat and abdominal pain;
the right dose range to eight grains to half dram.”
The cosmetic properties of coral
Coral can also be used for making cosmetic products like facial cream.
Today coral is an ingredient used for cosmetics. In particular, Corallium rubrum, widespread in the Mediterranean and in the eastern Atlantic Sea, is rich in calcium (over 40%) and contains traces of 74 elements: Carla Scesa , professor of Cosmetology at the University of Siena, explains in her interview for the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” that the active ingredients of coral perform a mineralizing action on skin and hair, and is also useful for exfoliating the skin.
Coral dust is perfect to gently remove impurities, dead cells and make-up residues. Coral-based cosmetics and thermal water are produced in Ischia while in Favignana a small start-up has started very recently to produce a range of Mediterranean phyto-marine products for face and body skin care. The minerals present in fossil corals promote oxygen absorption and protein synthesis, guaranteeing the maintenance of a young, healthy and protected skin.
If you are curious to try the powers of the coral directly on your skin, among the ingredients of “Privilege”, a face cream produced by Herbelia, the main element is finely cut Mediterranean coral powder! The cream, due to the high concentration of collagen, calcium and magnesium, is said to be an amazing anti-wrinkle remedy! Don’t miss the chance to try it out!
The medical properties of coral
An American article from 90s about the use of coral in surgery.
If the coral proprieties so far listed were not able to surprise you, maybe you should know that coral is used even in surgery!
In fact, coral is composed by the agglomeration of bone residues from small polyps. It is used in surgery as a matrix for the reconstruction of new bone cells in facial and dental cosmetic surgery, in bone transplants, and for the treatment of areas damaged by external trauma. With a lower rate of infection compared to other transplantation techniques, the implanted coral acts as an incubator for the new bone cells, and then dissolves naturally.
Bibliography:
- Bartholomaeus Mini de Senis, « De Corallo » da « Tractatus de herbis »
- Duffin C.J., Gardner-Thorpe C., Moody T.J., “Corals in Petrus Hispanus ‘Treasury of the poor’” da “Geology and Medicine: Historical Connections”
- Gibson R. N., Atkinson R. J. A., Gordon D. M.,“Culture and Origin od Precious Coral Exploitation” da “Oceanography and Marine Biology: An Annual Review”, Volume 48
- Langella L. “Pesca, Credenze Popolari ed Usi Diversi Del Corallo Mediterraneo, Ovvero quattro chiacchiere sul Corallium rubrum”
- Vitelli G., “Il corallo, fiore di sangue principio di virtù”
- Newman P.B., “Growing up in the middle ages”, 2015
Websites:
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-438/coral
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/02/health/doctors-trying-coral-for-skeletal-repairs.html
