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Emerald, the May birthstone, gets its name from the Greek word -- "smaragdos", meaning 'green stone'. The Zodiac stone for the constellation of Taurus and Cancer. Emerald is the green version of the mineral Beryl. The most expensive of all gemstones, it occurs in a wide range of color intensity, and the most preferred is a brilliant grass green with overall clarity. Even in these, some visible inclusions are common, as flawless emeralds are extremely rare and usually occur only in very small stones. Emerald is ruled by Mercury. It was considered to be the talisman of the goddess Venus, and to represent faith, goodness and kindness. Ancient people felt emeralds had powers that often seem to overlap those of the March birthstone and the April birthstone. Emerald has been considered as a "medicinal" stone to soothe strained and tired eyes, just by gazing at a nice green one. Engraved with the image of a frog, it is supposed to help restore peace It is supposed by many to be good for preventing epileptic attacks, stopping bleeding and soothing fears and irritations. It was also believed that laying the emerald on the forehead would break a fever. In "gem elixirs" emerald is supposed to be good for all kinds of digestive problems. It is also said to be of value in immune system deficiencies, and to improve meditation and psychic abilities. Emerald is considered an expensive gemstone. A good Emerald is smooth and transparent and emits bright rays, and is without any dots or spots, this type of stone is considered most auspicious gemstone.
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