Symbolism
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Shaligram
A shaligram, or shaligrama shila (Devanagari: शालिग्राम शिला Śāligrāma-śilā), is a particular variety of stone collected from riverbed or banks of the Kali Gandaki, a tributary of the Gandaki River in Nepal, used as a non-anthropomorphic representation of Vishnu by Hindus. They… Read more.
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Madstone
In the folklore of the early United States, a madstone was a special medicinal substance that, when pressed into an animal bite, was believed to prevent rabies by drawing the “poison” out. The Encyclopedia Americana described it as “a… Read more.
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Adder Stone AKA Hag Stone
An adder stone is a type of stone, usually glassy, with a naturally occurring hole through it. Such stones, which usually consist of flint, have been discovered by archaeologists in both Britain and Egypt. Commonly, they are found… Read more.
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Snake Stone AKA Viper Stone, Snake Pearl, Black Stone, Serpent Stone and Nagamani
A snake-stone, also known as a viper’s stone, snake’s pearl, black stone, serpent-stone, or nagamani is an animal bone or stone used as folk medicine for snake bite in Africa, South America, India and Asia. The early Celtic… Read more.
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Goa stone
A Goa stone or Lapis de Goa was a man-made bezoar that was considered to have medicinal and talismanic properties. Goa stones were made in Goa, India and exported to apothecaries in Europe from the mid-16th to 18th century. Goa stones were… Read more.
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Gorochana
Gorochana or gorocana (transliterated from Sanskrit: गोरोचन “cattle-light”; also Standard Tibetan: (?) gi-wang) refers to a stone or ‘bezoar‘ found in cattle (Sanskrit: गो go), such as the bull, cow, ox, and yak. Its presence in the animal is reputedly indicated by the… Read more.
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Bezoardicum (bezoar of) is a term used in alchemy and other practices
Bezoardicum (bezoar of) is a term applied to multiple substances used in alchemy and other practices. Bezoardicum joviale, or bezoar of Jupiter, is a regulus made by melting three ounces of regulus of antimony and two of block tin. This… Read more.
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Bezoar
A bezoar is a mass often found trapped in the gastrointestinal system, though it can occur in other locations. A pseudobezoar is an indigestible object introduced intentionally into the digestive system. There are several varieties of bezoar,… Read more.
