This product is the gallstone of the bovine animal, either the domestic cattle (Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin.) or the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis Linnaeus). It is mainly produced in the northwest and northeast regions of mainland China, and also in Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, and other areas. When slaughtering cattle, if Cow-Bezoar is found in the gallbladder, bile duct, or hepatic duct, the gall fel should be immediately filtered out, and the Cow-Bezoar should be extracted, the outer thin membrane removed, and then dried in the shade for future use.

In addition to domestic cattle and water buffalo, the gallstones of the bovine animals yak (Bos grunniens L.) and gaur (Bos gaurus H.Smith.) can also be used medicinally. There is also artificial Cow-Bezoar, which is made from the gall fel of cattle or pigs through artificial extraction. Its medicinal properties and efficacy are similar to those of natural Cow-Bezoar, and it is now widely used.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Bitter, cool. act on liver and heart channels.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Calm wind and stop convulsions, resolve phlegm for resuscitation, clear heat and remove toxins.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for warm febrile disease and infantile convulsion with high fever unconsciousness, convulsion, etc. Cow-Bezoar clears the heart, cools the liver, and has the effects of calming wind to stop convulsions, and calming the mind to relieve fright. It is often combined with Cinnabar, scorpion, Uncaria, and other medicinal combinations, such as Cow-Bezoar Powder.
2. Used for warm febrile disease with heat invading the pericardium, apoplexy, infantile convulsion, epilepsy, and other conditions caused by phlegm-heat clouding the heart orifice, resulting in symptoms such as unconsciousness, lockjaw, and phlegm sounds. This product can both clear heart heat and resolve phlegm, as well as resuscitate and awaken the mind. When used alone, it is ground into powder and taken with diluted Bamboo Juice for immediate effect. It can also be combined with Waitai Miyao to treat infant lockjaw; or combined with musk, Gardenia, Coptis Rhizome, and other medicinal combinations to achieve the effects of clearing heat and resolving phlegm, and resuscitating the mind, such as Peaceful Palace Bovine Bezoar Pill.
3. Used for sore throat, ulceration, and Yongju sores caused by heat toxin stagnation and accumulation. This product has strong heat-clearing and toxin-removing properties. For treating sore throat and mouth ulcers, it is often combined with Skullcap Root, Realgar, Rhubarb Rhizoma, and other ingredients, such as Bovine Bezoar Pill for Detoxification; for sore throat and ulceration, it can be combined with pearl and blown into the throat as a powder, such as Pearl and Bezoar Powder; for treating Yongju, boils and sores, breast carcinoma, and scrofula, it is combined with musk, frankincense, myrrh, and other ingredients to clear heat and remove toxins, and invigorate blood to dissipate bind, such as Rhinoceros Bezoar Pill.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Main fright epilepsy, cold and heat, excessive heat causing mania and convulsions."
2. Bielu: "Various pediatric diseases, all types of epilepsy and heat, inability to open the mouth, adult mania and madness. Also early abortion."
3. 《Huì Yào Yī Jìng》: "Treats pediatric acute convulsions, phlegm-heat congestion, measles residual toxins, erysipelas, ulcerative gingivitis, throat swelling, all severe excess pattern."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Take 0.2-0.5g in pill or powder form each time. For external use, apply an appropriate amount of finely ground powder to the affected area.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Use with caution during pregnancy.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

Cow-Bezoar contains cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, cholesterol, bilirubin, ergosterol, vitamin D, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, phosphorus, and also contains carotenoids and various amino acids such as alanine and glycine. Cow-Bezoar has sedative and antispasmodic effects, excites the isolated guinea pig heart, and causes vasodilation and anti-adrenaline effects, leading to a decrease in blood pressure. Most of the bile acids it contains, especially deoxycholic acid, can relax the sphincter of the bile duct, promote the secretion of bile, and have a cholagogic effect. Sodium N-dithiocarbamate has a significant protective effect on acute and chronic liver damage in rats caused by carbon tetrachloride. Oral administration of Cow-Bezoar in rabbits can significantly increase the number of red blood cells in peripheral blood. It can also form stable compounds with various organic substances, thereby exerting a detoxifying effect.