What is Amber?

What is Amber?

The Origin of Amber

The Baltic Region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, also called Baltic amber or Succinite. Baltic amber is a fossilised resin which is a by product of coniferous trees hardened over the millennia. Most amber dates between 30 - 90 million years ago.

Succinic Acid

Succincic Acid also known as Amber Acid, has been used in Europe as a natural analgesic and healing agent as well as natural antibiotic and general curative for centuries. Natural Baltic Amber is high in Succinic Acid a natural constituent of plant and animal tissues and contains as much as 8% by weight. Amber gems are believed to be a very powerful anti-oxidant that may help fight toxic free radicals and disruptions of the cardiac rhythm. Succinic acid had been shown to stimulate the neural system recovery and strengthens the immune system, and can also help compensate for energy drain in the body and brain, boosting awareness, concentration and reflexes, and reduce stress.

Even before scientists today discovered antibiotics, the people of Europe recognised that Baltic amber has curative powers. they used amber beads for their medicinal benefits when we today would use an antibiotic. They used amber in many forms, including, amber bracelets, amber teething necklaces, powder, chips, oils and smoke.

Now that modern science has discovered what succinic acid can do, they have confirmed what the people of Europe have known for centuries. The ancients wore natural Baltic amber teething necklaces, adults amber necklaces and amber bracelets, made from Baltic amber stones and chips that washed up on the shores of the Baltic Sea, the ancients believed that the Amber had magical curative powers. They surely had no idea that they were high in succinic acid, but they knew they worked magic on their ills. 

In the middle ages when the devastating plagues overtook Europe, amber was used for fumigation. Burning amber is both aromatic and irritating at the same time. And that is due to the high content of succinic acid in the smoke. Even in today’s age aroma therapists use Amber smoke to try and help cure people. The people of Europe used the curative properties of amber in many ways. Recognizing its properties as an effective antibiotic, they have used, and continue to use it, for amber baby teethers, Baltic amber baby teething necklaces, spoons and pipe mouthpieces. Aristocrats of the 17th Century would brew tea in special amber containers knowing that the amber vessel it is brewed in would release something into the tea that would cure them of their ills. 

European scientists and military doctors lead the way in following up on the ancient knowledge. They found that it would help improve the body’s immune system after exposure to radiation from industrial accidents. 

Different colours, shapes and sizes

Baltic Amber is a natural product and every piece is completely individual in colour, shape and size. Yellow and browns are the most common colours of amber with the darker the colour usually meaning a larger amount of plant material remaining in the amber. Green, reds and blues are more rarer colours with red and blue being extremely rare and often attract a much higher price.

There are a variety of shapes available in Amber. These include:

Baroque - irregular rounded, non-spherical shaped. The most common amber shape

Nugget - flat, rounded shapes. 

Bean - oval shaped with a flatter appearance

Chips - flat, irregular pieces of amber

Raw vs Polished Amber

All Amber is raw authentic natural Baltic amber. However, when we refer to raw amber on our website, we are referring to an unpolished finish. It is in a more natural state. A polished finish amber has a shinier appearance. Both raw and polished amber has the same healing properties so you can simply pick whichever you prefer!

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