Photos of Mineral Materia Medica

Cultured Pearls at the Chengdu herb market. Pearls are used in all Traditional Medicine systems, usually in the form of powder.

Emerald at the Tibet Medicine Institute. Emerald is used in all Traditional Medicine systems except TCM. Used either as a Bhasma (ash) or fine powder.

Agate as used in Tibetan Medicine either as a Bhasma (ash) or fine powder.

Several grades of Cinnabar at the Chengdu herb market. Cinnabar is used only after preparation.

Raw Shilajit at the Chengdu Herb market. This is regarded as a very important medicine in Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine but is not used in TCM.

Red Coral at the Library of Tibet Works and Archives, Dharamsala. Red Coral is commonly used in all Traditional Medicine systems except TCM. Most used in powder form.

Sapphire at the Tibet Medicine Institute. Sapphire is used in all Traditional Medicine systems except TCM. Used as a Bhasma (ash) or powder.

Cinnabar as used in Tibetan Medicine. It has been important in all systems.

The Biotite form of Mica, used in Ayurveda and Tibetan Medicine. It is only used after formation of Bhasma (ash) in which form it is regarded as a potent medicine.