More than six thousand species of coral live in the world's oceans, and for centuries people have used them not only as jewellery or building material, but also as a remedy. One of the best-known modern examples is Sango coral (from Japanese サンゴ, sango — coral), harvested mainly around the Okinawa Islands in Japan.
The powder obtained from Sango corals is sold as a dietary supplement, and the "coral water" made from it is used as a source of minerals and a health enhancer. How much of these promises is based on science, and how much on ancient cultural heritage?
The Historical Use of Coral for Health: From Antiquity to Modern Times
The use of coral in medicine is nothing new. As early as ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, red corals (genus Corallium) were ground into powder and used against various ailments — from digestive problems to wound healing. In medieval Europe, coral was considered a symbol of protection against evil, and it was often hung above children's cradles.
In Asia, too, corals had an ancient significance. In China and Japan, red coral was valued both as an expensive jewel and as an ingredient in traditional medicine. But Sango coral — a stony coral of the order Scleractinia, forming hard, calcareous skeletons — gained a special place specifically in Japan, where it began to be harvested industrially in the 20th century.
It is important to understand the difference between living coral and fossilized coral. Most commercial Sango products are obtained from fossilized coral deposits found underground or in coastal waters around Okinawa. These deposits contain calcium carbonate (mainly in the form of aragonite) with trace minerals — magnesium, sodium, potassium and, importantly, a calcium to magnesium ratio of about 2:1, similar to the ratio in human bones.
Okinawa: The "Island of Immortality" and Its Secret
To understand why Okinawan coral in particular became a health symbol, one must look at the context of the island itself. Okinawa is known as one of the "Blue Zones" — regions of the world where people live significantly longer and healthier than average. Okinawans have historically stood out for a high proportion of centenarians and a low incidence of heart disease, cancer and dementia.
Scientific studies (for example, the works of Makoto Suzuki, a Japanese geriatrician, and Craig Willcox, a Canadian herontologist in the late 20th and early 21st centuries) point to several factors:
Japanese Cultural Traditions and Coral
In Japanese culture, coral is closely linked to Shinto traditions and nature worship. Red corals were considered sacred and used in amulets and jewellery. In Okinawa, coral was also a commodity — for centuries it was harvested from the Ryukyu Sea and sold both in Japan and China.
Important in Okinawan history is also the so-called Ryukyu Kingdom period (1429–1879), which created a unique culture with its own diet, medicine and use of natural resources. In Ryukyu medicine, marine products — seaweed, fish and also corals — held a significant place. Thus, the modern "coral water" story is to some extent based on this historical heritage, although its modern form is much younger than the traditions themselves.
What Does Science Say About Coral Water?
Sango coral powder does indeed contain calcium carbonate and minerals, so it can be a source of calcium, similar to other calcium supplements. When dissolved in water, it can slightly raise the pH of the water (make it more alkaline), as calcium carbonate dissolves.
The Ecological Aspect
Corals are irreplaceable foundations of marine ecosystems, and globally they are threatened by climate change, ocean acidification and pollution. Most commercial Sango products are obtained from fossilized deposits rather than from living corals, and their harvesting is carried out with regard to ecological aspects and the protection of coral reefs in general.
Sango Coral and the Balance of the Okinawan Way of Life
Historically, people did indeed use corals in medicine — from Europe to Asia — and in Okinawan and Japanese culture it has had both spiritual and practical significance. Looking at the scientific evidence, one must conclude: coral water can be a source of calcium and minerals, and it can be part of a healthy lifestyle — but it becomes a miracle remedy only together with a way of life.
The longevity of Okinawans stems from the combination of diet, movement, moderation and social ties and connection with nature. Sango coral is a bright example of how ancient cultural traditions, regional health fame (Okinawa as a "blue zone") and the nowadays popularized importance of hydration for maintaining a healthy lifestyle unite in one product — Sango Coral Water.
The powder obtained from Sango corals is sold as a dietary supplement, and the "coral water" made from it is used as a source of minerals and a health enhancer. How much of these promises is based on science, and how much on ancient cultural heritage?
The Historical Use of Coral for Health: From Antiquity to Modern Times
The use of coral in medicine is nothing new. As early as ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, red corals (genus Corallium) were ground into powder and used against various ailments — from digestive problems to wound healing. In medieval Europe, coral was considered a symbol of protection against evil, and it was often hung above children's cradles.
In Asia, too, corals had an ancient significance. In China and Japan, red coral was valued both as an expensive jewel and as an ingredient in traditional medicine. But Sango coral — a stony coral of the order Scleractinia, forming hard, calcareous skeletons — gained a special place specifically in Japan, where it began to be harvested industrially in the 20th century.
It is important to understand the difference between living coral and fossilized coral. Most commercial Sango products are obtained from fossilized coral deposits found underground or in coastal waters around Okinawa. These deposits contain calcium carbonate (mainly in the form of aragonite) with trace minerals — magnesium, sodium, potassium and, importantly, a calcium to magnesium ratio of about 2:1, similar to the ratio in human bones.
Okinawa: The "Island of Immortality" and Its Secret
To understand why Okinawan coral in particular became a health symbol, one must look at the context of the island itself. Okinawa is known as one of the "Blue Zones" — regions of the world where people live significantly longer and healthier than average. Okinawans have historically stood out for a high proportion of centenarians and a low incidence of heart disease, cancer and dementia.
Scientific studies (for example, the works of Makoto Suzuki, a Japanese geriatrician, and Craig Willcox, a Canadian herontologist in the late 20th and early 21st centuries) point to several factors:
- Diet — plant-based food, plenty of vegetables, tofu, seaweed and fish, little meat and refined sugars.
- Calorie restriction — the traditional practice of eating only until 80% full.
- Physical activity — gardening, daily movement, dancing and traditional martial arts.
- Social connection — supporting communities.
Japanese Cultural Traditions and Coral
In Japanese culture, coral is closely linked to Shinto traditions and nature worship. Red corals were considered sacred and used in amulets and jewellery. In Okinawa, coral was also a commodity — for centuries it was harvested from the Ryukyu Sea and sold both in Japan and China.
Important in Okinawan history is also the so-called Ryukyu Kingdom period (1429–1879), which created a unique culture with its own diet, medicine and use of natural resources. In Ryukyu medicine, marine products — seaweed, fish and also corals — held a significant place. Thus, the modern "coral water" story is to some extent based on this historical heritage, although its modern form is much younger than the traditions themselves.
What Does Science Say About Coral Water?
Sango coral powder does indeed contain calcium carbonate and minerals, so it can be a source of calcium, similar to other calcium supplements. When dissolved in water, it can slightly raise the pH of the water (make it more alkaline), as calcium carbonate dissolves.
The Ecological Aspect
Corals are irreplaceable foundations of marine ecosystems, and globally they are threatened by climate change, ocean acidification and pollution. Most commercial Sango products are obtained from fossilized deposits rather than from living corals, and their harvesting is carried out with regard to ecological aspects and the protection of coral reefs in general.
Sango Coral and the Balance of the Okinawan Way of Life
Historically, people did indeed use corals in medicine — from Europe to Asia — and in Okinawan and Japanese culture it has had both spiritual and practical significance. Looking at the scientific evidence, one must conclude: coral water can be a source of calcium and minerals, and it can be part of a healthy lifestyle — but it becomes a miracle remedy only together with a way of life.
The longevity of Okinawans stems from the combination of diet, movement, moderation and social ties and connection with nature. Sango coral is a bright example of how ancient cultural traditions, regional health fame (Okinawa as a "blue zone") and the nowadays popularized importance of hydration for maintaining a healthy lifestyle unite in one product — Sango Coral Water.