Ox Gallstones

Ox Gallstones are a cattle byproduct which is in great demand as a Chinese herbal medicine. They are either sold as natural gallstones or combined with other ingredients as a proprietary Chinese medicine.

They have a three millennial history of use in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and were mainly employed as a tranquilizer and sedative. They were also used to treat a number of childhood diseases including hyperpyrexia-induced infantile convulsions.

Medicinal Uses

In the ancient world, bile was used in the treatment of multiple diseases. It was extracted from domestic and wild animals, mainly from oxen and bears. In addition to bile acids, phospholipids, and the principal lipopigment, bilirubin, animal biles contained other medicinal compounds.

The earliest recorded mention of animal biles was made in the Prescriptions for Fifty-two Types of Diseases (Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic) c. 475 BCE. Since then, a number of tomes on Chinese medicine and Chinese materia medica have documented the use of various animal biles in the treatment of a wide range of disorders.

Pig bile was the most common domestic animal bile used in China. It was a highly valued medicinal herb and was prescribed for jaundice, malnutrition, urinary tract infections, liver and gallbladder disease, and hepatitis. It was also prescribed as a dietary aid to relieve the symptoms of indigestion, flatulence, and abdominal fullness.

Ox bile was also used to treat hemorrhoids and scabs of skin due to wounds. The ox gallstone was a valuable natural antibiotic and it was believed to improve visual acuity when taken internally mixed with sophora fruit (Styphnolobium japonicum; Huai Zi).

Besides its therapeutic use, ox bile was also known to act as an antiseptic. It was often formulated into pills containing flavescent sophora root (Sophora flavescens; Ku Shen), rough gentian root (Gentiana scabra; Long Dan Cao), and honey. These pills were prescribed to patients who had contracted jaundice (Gu Dan), and were unable to digest foods properly.

Another important use for ox bile was in the treatment of hyperpyrexia-induced infantile convulsions. It was a powerful hepatobiliary decongestant, and it was also believed to increase libido by increasing sphingomyelin production in the brain.

In the present day, ox gallstones are still a significant part of Chinese herbal preparations. This is because they contain high concentrations of calcium bilirubinate in their pure form. These pigment stones have been employed for more than 2500 years in China to procure pure unconjugated bilirubin for multiple therapeutic purposes.

Extraction Method

MONDAY’s report that a meatworks employee had been charged over theft of gallstones (click here to view original story) has stirred a lot of discussion among beef producers. Some claim that these ‘natural’ stones can be worth up to $20,000 a kilogram, and that processors must be making a fortune from them at the expense of Australian cattle producers.

The truth is, as one of the largest dealers in this commodity has revealed, it’s very difficult to find gallstones – even in a large abattoir. Like oysters, they are incredibly rare and are only found when a significant number of oxen are slaughtered.

Ox gallstones, which are also known as “ox bezoars” in the literature, are an important component of Chinese herbal preparations. They have been used for thousands of years and are regarded as superior therapeutic drugs in traditional Chinese medicine.

They have a sedative effect, and are used to treat a variety of symptoms, including fever, nausea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. They are also prescribed for a variety of conditions involving the nervous system, such as anxiety and insomnia, and can help relieve stress.

Traditionally, there were four kinds of ox gallstones: the San Huang, Man Huang, Tuan Huang, and Zhong Huang. The San Huang consisted of granules shaped like green beans, and the Man Huang was soft and “like an egg yolk”.

Some Chinese medicinal texts were written during the Qin and Western Han Dynasties (206 BCE- 25 CE)[6,8,9]. These books recorded their use as a therapy for a wide range of conditions, including dysentery, hepatitis, jaundice, dizziness, and lumbago.

According to these ancient texts, the oxen raised in central China produced the most highly valued gallstones. They were considered to be the best of all drugs because of their astringent, antiseptic, and diuretic properties.

Although most gallstones were extracted from oxen, camels and other animal bile was also harvested for use in medicinal preparations. These animal bile stones were said to have similar medicinal properties to ox gallstones, but were less expensive.

There are a number of methods for extracting ox gallstones, ranging from filtering and grinding to vacuum drying under reduced pressure. The latter method is very popular because it allows the ox gallstones to be processed more effectively and at lower cost than other methods. However, it is important to note that this process may be detrimental to the health of the ox and can result in serious complications.

Preparation Method

Ox gallstones were one of the most precious drugs in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). They were extracted from oxen raised in central China and were known for their healing properties. They were prescribed for a variety of conditions, including hyperpyrexia-induced infantile convulsions, and hepatobiliary diseases associated with jaundice.

They were also used to treat children with polydipsia and diarrhea. They were also considered to be useful for nocturnal crying, which was characterized as “induced by fear” or “fear-like” in nature, and could be due to fever or cold.

To obtain these precious ox gallstones, a tael of meatworkers would take their knives and pick the stones out of the intestines of an animal at an abattoir. Then, the gallstones were washed to remove blood clots and impurities. They were then dried to remove any remaining moisture.

According to Chinese medical scholars, there are four kinds of ox gallstones: Sheng Huang (the most valuable), Zhong Huang (the least expensive), Xin Huang (the softest) and Gan Huang (the middle-class stone). The Sheng Huang was obtained in abattoirs during victualling an ox and was described as being soft “like the yolk of an egg.” They were usually found in the intrahepatic bile ducts, while the Zhong Huang and the Xin Huang were obtained at necropsy after a sick ox died.

The ox gallstones were sold in tael quantities, and were either processed as natural gallstones or combined with other ingredients to form a proprietary Chinese medicine. The price for a single tael of natural gallstones was reported to be as high as HK$19,000, or US$65 per gram.

Besides these primary medicinal uses, these precious gallstones were used for cosmetic purposes in China. They were often used in a cream, a glycerine lotion, or a cosmetic powder. The ox gallstones were also applied in massage to stimulate the acupuncture points and muscles in the abdomen.

In China, the demand for natural ox gallstones is extremely high and domestic supplies are very limited. As a result, artificial gallstones have emerged to meet the needs of the pharmaceutical industry and Chinese patients who require an abundant supply of this precious drug.

Storage Method

There are several ways to store ox gallstones. The best is to store them in a cool place at a low temperature and away from humidity. This will prevent the stones from becoming dry and flaking or disintegrating.

In China, ox gallstones have long been prized for their medicinal value and are considered to be one of the most valuable of Chinese herbal medicines. They have been used to treat a number of different ailments including high fever, cough, pyogenic tonsillitis and bronchitis.

Traditionally, ox gallstones were harvested from the bile ducts of oxen after they had been slaughtered in an abattoir. They were then washed with cold water to remove blood clots and other impurities. This was followed by drying the gallstones in a dark and well-ventilated environment at a temperature of around 20 degrees Celsius for two to three weeks.

A recent innovation in the storage and processing of ox gallstones is to create a micro-organism that can make calcium bilirubinate salts from bovine bile. The process is called bile culturing and is an extremely simple procedure that can be performed by a laboratory technician. The resulting artificial ox gallstone has all the qualities of naturally occurring ox gallstones and is an effective treatment for a variety of ailments. Moreover, this process is inexpensive and safe. Besides, this technology can be replicated to produce artificial ox gallstones on demand.

Ox Gallstones