What is AmberAmber is the resin of ancient conifers, which has fossilized over millions of years. It is an organic gemstone primarily found in the Baltic regions, where it also goes by the name of succinite. Baltic Amber, which is usually considered to be the finest, was formed from the resins of coniferous trees some 30 to 60 million years ago. Amber is also found all around the world including the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Burma.
Over 40 million years old, it has a hardness of 2 - 2.5 and of unique beauty. Colours of amber include yellow, orange, red, white, brown, green, bluish, and "black" (dark shades of other colours). The degree of transparency varies in amber from clear to cloudy. Clear amber is transparent and usually ranges from pale yellow to dark reddish yellow. Cloudy amber can be semi-transparent to opaque, a variety of colours and separated into terms such as fatty, bone (or osseous) or foamy (or frothy).
Frequently it contains bits of plant material or fossil insects, some dating as far back as 120 million years ago, this is known as inclusions.
Amber has been fashioned into jewellery and ornaments for thousands of years. In Egypt, it was used at least 4,500 years ago, and Amber beads dating back to 2000 B.C. have been found in Crete. In Europe during the Middle Ages, rosary beads made from Amber were so popular that the available supplies were exhausted.
Amber is light, this is a key practical benefit, because it means that large amber jewellery, such as necklaces, pendants and earrings, can be easily made and comfortably worn.
This unique stone has been fascinating humankind for well over a dozen millennia and has been material for craft and art, as well as a stone thought to have magical and medicinal properties
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Amber MythologyIn the mythology of ancient Greece, Amber was created when Phaeton, son of the sun god Helios, was struck and killed by lightning. The grief of his sisters was so great that it turned them to poplar trees, and their tears were transformed to droplets of Amber. The ancient Greek term for Amber was elektron, a word referring to the sun. |
Amber Teething NecklacesNatural Baltic Amber has, since before the Roman times, been used for the relief from inflammation, fever and pain and has traditionally been used in European countries to relieve teething discomfort in infants.
Whilst there are various types of Amber available from different countries around the world, the form that contains the most chemical that relieves the problems associated with teething, is Baltic Amber. This Amber can only be found close to the Baltic Sea and is the only one that contains Succinic Acid (Latin succinum), historically known as ‘Spirit of Amber’.
Succinic Acid is the compound that relieves the pain and fever of teething. A natural analgesic, Baltic Amber will have a calming and soothing effect on a baby without resorting to allopathic drugs and other remedies during teething. When a baby is teething and the Amber teething necklace is worn next to the skin, the skin's warmth releases the Succinic Acid which is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream.
Unlike teething gels, powders or pain relief syrups, the traditional beaded Amber necklaces from the Baltic are a less intrusive remedy for teething pain and the side effects of teething, such as dribbling, fractiousness, lack of appetite, upset tummies, ear ache, fevers, colds and sleeplessness. Amber’s anti-inflammatory and therapeutic properties are also recognized by allopathic doctors.
We are pleased to offer a variety of different colours, styles and sizes of Baltic Amber in teething necklaces.
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