Ox Gallstones Paraguay

Gallstones harvested from cattle are a precious Chinese herbal medicine. These precious stones are in high demand for a variety of proprietary Chinese medicines. However, the domestic supply is scarce. This shortage has led to the emergence of artificial gallstones as an alternative for those that cannot obtain enough supplies.

Medicinal value

Ox Gallstones are an essential part of traditional Chinese medicine. They have been in use since the Han dynasty and were widely used for the treatment of multiple diseases. In particular, they were reputed to have sedative and anti-inflammatory effects. They were also effective in the treatment of hepatic disorders such as jaundice and fatty liver disease.

According to ancient literature, these biles were mainly obtained from oxen raised in central China. In fact, they were one of the most precious drugs in ancient China. They were divided into three kinds based on the size and texture of the stones. These were Sheng Huang, Man Huang and Tuan Huang (Figure 1).

In the records of famous physicians from the Sui and Tang dynasties, ox gallstones were prescribed as an ingredient in a variety of herbal preparations. They were believed to be an effective remedy for polydipsia, diarrhea, vomiting “caused by fright”, and nocturnal crying “induced by fear” (mostly febrile nightmares).

Furthermore, they were used in the treatment of high fever, pneumonia, pyogenic tonsillitis and bronchitis. They were also considered as an important component in the preparation of a number of proprietary Chinese medicines.

The medicinal value of these biles can be attributed to their high bilirubin content. The presence of bilirubin in these biles enables them to have an anti-inflammatory effect and to alleviate symptoms such as high fever, typhoid, flu, and hepatic problems.

In addition, these biles have a sedative effect and an antipyretic property. They can be used to treat hepatitis B and C and as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of abdominal pain and hemorrhoids.

However, the domestic supply of these biles is extremely short and the demand for them is constantly increasing in the Chinese pharmaceutical industry. This has led to the production of artificial gallstones in order to meet the increasing demand for these biles. These artificial gallstones are not deemed as valuable as natural ones and they are not regarded as an alternative to them.

Origins

Gallstones are formed when the bile in the gall bladder of cattle accumulates to form small crystals. These crystals are often a mixture of calcium and bilirubin. The stone may be round, egg shaped or in the form of tube from the bile ducts and can vary in size, shape and texture.

These stones can be found in a variety of cattle species, but are most commonly retrieved from cows and bulls at the abattoir. They are harvested after removing the intestines of the animal, washing the gallstones and drying them for a period of two to three weeks in a dark, well ventilated environment at a temperature of approx. 20 degrees Celsius to remove any blood clots or impurities.

They are then stored in hermetically sealed bags. They are traded in different specifications: whole, broken, and powders. The highest demand is for whole, smooth and lustrous golden-orange stones with low specific weight and large stones which have a high bili rubin content.

It’s been a booming business for Gerard Murtagh and his family-owned Sunshine Trading, who claim to be Australia’s’market leader’ in cattle gallstones. The company, which deals with 50 abattoirs across the country, rakes in an estimated $11.5 million USD per year from the white market for cattle gallstones.

Despite the fact that gallstones are 75 percent water, they’re still a valuable commodity. The right buyers will pay a hefty sum for a stone that’s undamaged and intact.

When a stone is chipped, damaged or damp, it’s worth considerably less. This is why a lot of gallstone traders encourage collectors to dry their stones, stash them in dark places and dehydrate them before shipping them to overseas buyers.

According to Gerard, these measures are all geared towards keeping the gallstones in good condition while they’re stored. They’re also a safety measure that minimises the risk of breaking.

The value of gallstones has been rising at an alarming rate over the past few years. As demand for bilirubin-based Chinese medicines rises, the price of gallstones is likely to continue to climb.

Production process

The recent ‘gallstone theft’ report circulating on social media has sparked a lot of interest in the gallstone industry. It’s been suggested that processors must be making a fortune from gallstones harvested from slaughter cattle, at the expense of beef producers.

Ox Gallstones, or “calculus bovis”, were first recorded in Shen Nong’s Herbal Classic (dating back to the Qin and Han Dynasties) as a superior therapeutic drug. They have been used in Chinese herbal medicine for over two thousand years, mainly as a tranquilizer and sedative.

They are a type of calcium bilirubinate salt. They are a precious drug and a vital ingredient in a number of proprietary Chinese medicines. In order to keep up with the demand for these precious natural ox gallstones, China has developed an artificial method for preparing gallstones ex vivo employing fresh ox gallbladder bile.

There is a huge market for these precious natural ox gallstones in Hong Kong, and even as far away as the United States, which imports them from Europe and other regions around the world at times. A tael of one kilogram costs as much as HK$19,000, while a small pellet weighing three grams can cost as little as US$195.

The process of preparing these precious ox gallstones involves extracting the ox bile near the liver and washing it thoroughly in cold water to remove blood, impurities etc. The stones are then dried in a dark, well ventilated room at 20degC for two to three weeks. They are moved regularly to avoid them sticking together.

This is a very expensive and time consuming process, but it yields the best results. A variety of processes are involved to produce these precious ox gallstones, including filtering, vacuum drying under reduced pressure, grinding and a number of other steps.

The resulting powder has a’sweet’ smell and is rich in calcium bilirubinate, an essential component in Chinese herbal medicine. It is used to treat high fever, pyogenic tonsillitis, pneumonia and bronchitis. It is also a potent sedative and tranquilizer, especially when taken in combination with coptisroot, rhino horn, animalic musk, or natural indigo.

Quality

MONDAY’s article about the theft of gallstones from an abattoir in southeast Queensland has raised interest among readers, who are seeking to buy or sell the precious commodity. While the reports suggest these stones are worth up to $20,000 a kilogram, that’s a huge misconception.

The truth is that there are simply not enough of these rare and valuable biles to satisfy the demand for them, as they are used in Chinese medicine. In fact, the Australian cattle industry produces only 200kg of them every year.

In order to supply the market, suppliers need to ensure that the stones are of good quality. This means that they must have a natural smell of cattle, and be free from mad cow disease (BSE).

There is a high demand for ox gallstones of light yellow or golden colour, with a natural cattle odor. Stones with a dark hue are also demanded, but at a much lower price.

After extracting the gallstones from the intestines of the cattle they have to be washed thoroughly with cold water in order to remove blood clots and other impurities. Then they are dried in a well-ventilated and dark room at a temperature of around 20 deg C for two to three weeks. This is a long process and the stones have to be moved regularly in order to dry them more effectively.

These cattle gallstones are a highly prized medicinal product and can be found in many propriety Chinese medicines. They are in high demand because of their sedative and anti-inflammatory properties and their ability to treat a number of different diseases. They are also used to treat hepatic problems and have been formulated as a formula called Angong Niuhuang Wan. They have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over two thousand years and are still in use today. They are considered a superior therapeutic drug and are often employed to treat a variety of childhood diseases such as febrile infantile convulsions. They are also used to treat hepatic dysfunctions, high fever, and pneumonia. They can also be prescribed as a sedative and to treat pain, headaches and rheumatic conditions.

Ox Gallstones Paraguay