Pearl Powder Health Benefits: What You Need to Know

Most people know pearls only as elegant gemstones in the jewelry industry, but did you know they have been used as medicine in China for more than 2,000 years? 

Throughout Chinese history, pearls from three distinct origins have been recognized as medicinal materials by nine ethnic groups and included in over 250 traditional prescriptions.

For more than two millennia, pearls have held a special place in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Ancient medical texts describe pearls as substances that “nourish the spirit,” “brighten the skin,” and “calm the heart.” Historically, they were reserved for emperors, herbalists, and those seeking remedies for stress, skin conditions, and vitality.

Pearls contain over 10 trace elements, including Na, K, Mg, Mn, Si, Cu, Fe, Zn, Ba, Ge, Cr, Ni, Co, Ti, Sc, Se, Br, I, and Pb (Li, 2009; Xue and Xu, 2013), many of which are essential for the human body. Although these elements are present in very small amounts, they play key roles in the metabolism of enzymes, hormones, vitamins, and nucleic acids (Yang, 2008).

The trace elements in pearls affect the human body in several ways: selenium (Se) can boost immunity and exhibits anti-cancer properties; zinc (Zn) activates superoxide dismutase (SOD), helping to eliminate peroxidized lipids that contribute to aging; manganese (Mn) supports cardiovascular health, regulates the nervous system, and enhances calcium absorption; germanium (Ge) shows anti-tumor activity; and iron (Fe) can help alleviate symptoms of anemia (Dong et al., 2011; Li et al., 2015).

In this article, we’ll explore how pearl powder and pearl capsules are used, and how you may benefit from incorporating them into your health routine.

How Pearls Form 

Pearls are produced through biomineralization, where the shellfish secretes minerals to form a hard, structured tissue. The injury does not have to be large—it can be as simple as a tiny grain of sand. Natural pearl formation is rare, which is why most pearls are produced artificially, by deliberately inserting an irritant into the oyster or mussel.

Choosing Between Seawater and Lake Pearls

Most pearls come from rivers, particularly in China, which produces 80% of the world’s freshwater pearls. These freshwater pearls have traditionally been used in medicine. In contrast, seawater pearls—valued for their bright colors, round shapes, and decorative appeal—are more nutrient-rich because natural seawater contains more organic substances.

For this reason, seawater pearls are considered superior for medicinal purposes.

Key Health Benefits of Pearl Powder

• Calms the heart and soul

• Improves eyesight

• Maintains beauty and skin health

• Relieves acne

• Helps treat internal ulcers

• Reduces palpitations

• Improves skin pigmentation

• Supports bone healing and maintenance

• May help with seizures

• Reduces nausea

• Helps with diarrhea

Based on the analysis reported in research papers, the most frequently treated categories include general symptoms or abnormal clinical/laboratory findings (29.27%), digestive system disorders (14.15%), respiratory system disorders (11.85%), nervous system disorders (8.58%), skin and subcutaneous tissue conditions (7.07%), eye-related diseases (6.45%), circulatory system disorders (5.57%), genitourinary system diseases (3.98%), musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders (3.89%), and conditions specific to traditional Chinese or ethnic medicine (2.65%), among others. Due to their notable therapeutic effects, pearl-based preparations are particularly effective for treating certain ailments, such as skin (Xiao et al., 2015) and eye conditions (Niu and Xu, 2005).

Effects on the Nervous System

The depression rate is on the rise, and I see many people with a dysregulated nervous system who are constantly in a sympathetic state. This can affect nutrient absorption and prolong the time needed for healing and regeneration. You can greatly support your nervous system with pearl powder. Pearl powder contains conchiolin protein, which has strong sedative effects. For nervous system regulation and stress support, I also like using ashwagandha.

Pearl Powder and Its Remarkable Anti-Epileptic Effects

Seizures are linked to brain chemicals called 5-HT and GABA. In studies, seizures increased 5-HT3 and lowered GABAB. Pearl powder and its proteins helped restore these levels, with the protein extracts working best (Zhang et al., 2016). This shows that pearl proteins may help prevent seizures.

Nourishing Your Eyes from the Inside and Out

Oxidative stress plays a major role in the development of cataracts. Pearl powder contains trace elements such as Zn, Se, and Mg, as well as proteins, which help reduce oxidative stress in the lens. Studies in animal models and in vitro experiments suggest that pearl protein extracts can slow or reduce lens opacity, helping maintain clearer lenses. If you have eye problems or cataracts specifically, you can mix pearl powder with coconut oil and apply it to the eyelids and the area around the eyes, as well as take pearl powder internally.

Pearl Powder as an Effective Remedy for Women’s Health Issues

Pearl powder has also been shown to be effective in treating cervical erosions, lateral perineal incision infections, and perianal infections.

In one clinical study, 94 women with cervical erosions were divided into a treatment group and a control group. Those treated with pearl powder achieved a 97% effectiveness rate, while the control group, treated with chlorhexidine, showed only a 70% effectiveness rate. This suggests that pearl powder is significantly more effective for cervical erosion care (Tang et al., 1992).

Another study looked at 47 postpartum patients with lateral perineal incision infections. One group was treated with pearl powder, and the other with 0.1% rivanol gauze. The pearl powder group experienced faster pain relief and had an 80% recovery rate—much higher than the group treated with rivanol (Zhao & Yu, 2014).

Dosing

Clinical studies have shown that taking 3 g of pearl powder daily for eight weeks can improve antioxidant status in humans. I’ve been using pearl powder for about two months now, and so far I’ve noticed longer, thicker hair, stronger nails, and glowing skin. These are just the visible benefits.

 I recommend starting with 1.5 grams per day and adjusting as needed.

In the end, pearls are not just beautiful to look at—they can be deeply nourishing for your body as well.