Bloodstone, a March birthstone, is a powerful healing stone that has been valued for thousands of years for its healing energy. It purifies and detoxifies the body, grounding negative energy and cleansing your body’s energy. Bloodstone promotes a constant flow of energy throughout the body. It is a very beneficial stone for athletes and people whose jobs include a lot of physical activity. Generally found embedded in rocks or in riverbeds as pebbles, primary sources for this stone are India, Brazil, and Australia. In the ancient world, Bloodstone (Heliotrope) was considered to be the most beautiful of the Jaspers, a deep, earthy green gem emboldened with spots of bright red. Called the Sun Stone, and later Christ’s Stone, its energy carries the purity of blood and inherently speaks of life and birth, vitality and strength, passion and courage. As a talisman it is both mystical and magical, and its virtues are protective and nurturing. It is sometimes called the martyr's stone as legend tells that it was created when drops of Christ's blood stained some jasper at the foot of the cross. Bloodstone is regarded as a gem of noble sacrifice and can offer courage and solace to all who are called to give of themselves for the good of others. It elicits the highest, most altruistic character of those who wear or carry it.

The Bloodstone, however, was treasured long before the time of Christ, known in antiquity as Heliotrope, the Sun Stone. From the Greek helios, meaning “sun,” and trepein, “to attract,” Heliotrope signified “sun-turning,” and legends were attributed to this stone for the belief that when placed in the rays of the setting sun, or immersed in water, it turned the reflection of the sun to blood-red. Its use for healing, and its connection to blood and detoxification of the organs, dates back five thousand years to Mesopotamia. In many cultures, Heliotrope was dipped in cold water and placed on the body to aid circulation and transfer the power of the sun to prevent injury or disease, stop the flow of blood, or cure any wound. Its coagulant effect was renowned, and for this reason, ancient warriors often carried Heliotrope as an amulet of protection and courage, as well as its practical applications.