Bloodstone or heliotrope is a kind of chalcedony that is predominantly green in color, but contains flecks or blotches of red that look like drops of blood, hence its name. The red areas are often cut out and used as gemstones. Occasionally, the red is instead orange or yellow. Bloodstone is always found as masses and never in crystalline form.

Despite its appearance, bloodstone is a variety of quartz, and is mined mainly in North America, Brazil, India, and some parts of Europe.  Its hardness is around 7 on the Mohs scale, being essentially quartz. It has a long history of usage among humans, and the red flecks inside it may symbolize the shed blood of Christ to some.

Bloodstone is a good, calming stone that is very conducive in reducing stress and helps condition one to become more aware of one’s surroundings. Bloodstone also helps in centering the heart chakra and it helps one to practice love, passion, and unselfishness. When used in meditation, bloodstone is good for helping one to connect with Divine source, and it facilitates this connection via the intuitive state.

There is a certain quality in bloodstone that provides for strength and vitality to one’s expression and embodiment of love, and friendship. It helps one to attain one’s goals with harmony, strength, vitality, and presence of being. When faced with confusion, bloodstone can help dispel such states of mind and restore focus and grounding to one’s thoughts. Bloodstone improves one’s talents, abilities, and decision making.

Bloodstone has long been used in human history as a healing stone for treating physical problems. For blood related problems, bloodstone is a great gemstone to have around. Anemia and blood circulation problems can be helped or improved with bloodstone. It can also be used in elixirs to neutralize and eliminate toxins in the body, and assist the liver, bladder, and intestines in their functions. Bloodstone also provides for overall balancing of the physical body, the heart chakra, and the base chakra.