Legend holds that this stone trapped the blood of Christ as it fell (also St. Stephen's blood, as it is sometimes called St. Stephen's Stone). It's healing qualities are often associated with nosebleeds and hemorrhages. It is thought to heal blood diseases, and to prevent miscarraiges and hemorrhaging during childbirth.
Redder varieties were thought to be lucky for soldiers, while the greener varieties were often associated with wealth and money.
Bloodstone, green jasper dotted with bright red spots of iron oxide, was treasured in ancient times and served for a long time as the birthstone for March. This attractive chalcedony quartz is also known as heliotrope because in ancient times polished stones were described as reflecting the sun: perhaps the appearance of the gem reminded the ancients of the red setting sun, mirrored in the ocean.
