Learn Something Fun: Did you know that people have been swallowing precious Pearls whole and in a powdered form for ages as a medicine for sicknesses? This mostly done in Asia, the interesting fact about this is, that Pearls are mostly made of calcium carbonate, which is a antacid, so about the only thing they are curing is a upset stomach. This is one expensive antacid, they should try "Tums" they are cheaper.