Ox Gallstones Turkey

Gallstones are hardened deposits of bile that form in your gallbladder. They can range in size from a grain of sand to a golf ball.

For centuries, ox gallstones have been used in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for fever and illness. They also have a variety of other medicinal properties.

Origin

Gallstones develop inside a number of bovines, mainly depending on their age and diet. They are retrieved at the abattoir during the bile extraction process on the eviscera table and are most commonly found in older slaughter animals – cows and bulls.

The term gallstones refers to dried up bile ducts concreted like stones and are one of the main causes of cholelithiasis, a disease of the gallbladder. Gallstones can be shaped in different forms, including round, egg shaped, square or pyramid shaped.

Several factors determine the value of an individual stone, including dryness, colour, texture and size. Whole, smooth, lustrous golden stones are most valuable and attract the highest prices. Dark and pitted stones are often of lower value.

There is a significant demand for ox gallstones in Turkey. They are in high demand as a precious Chinese herbal medicine and are sold at the retail level either as a natural gallstone or as a proprietary Chinese medicine mixed with other ingredients.

Ox gallstones are produced in Turkey by extracting them from the cattle’s intestines and then drying them in a controlled environment. They are washed with cold water to remove blood clots, impurities etc and then dried for two to three weeks in a dark environment at a temperature of 20 degrees Celsius.

These stones are then packed in hermetically sealed bags. They are available in the following grades: 80% whole stones, 20% broken stones and 100% broken stones.

A small pellet weighing about three grams costs US$195.

The price of ox gallstones varies widely, according to the quality of each piece. Most of them are priced between US$11,000 and $19,000 a tael (i.e., one kilogram) but a few are worth up to $20,000 a tael.

Some have suggested that processing companies must be making a fortune from these expensive rocks, at the expense of beef producers. However, this could not be further from the truth. The Australian cattle industry produces about 200kg of these rocks each year, says a major dealer in the commodity.

Purity

Since the onset of mad cow disease, gallstones extracted from healthy cattle have become increasingly scarce. To make up for the shortfall, many companies have turned to artificial/synthetic alternatives.

The quality of these artificial stones is questionable. It is common for them to contain toxins that resemble those found in a glass of water. This leads to some rather unpleasant side effects such as vomiting, tachycardia and other untoward reactions. Fortunately, there is a solution: Ox gallstones are extracted from gallbladders that have been removed for veterinary reasons or surgically.

After extraction, they are washed with cold water to remove any blood clots and other impurities. The resulting crystal clear gallstones are then dried in a dark room at 20 degrees Celsius for two to three weeks. To avoid their sticking together, they are flipped to one side regularly. Lastly, they are vacuum packed and sealed. For more information on this subject, visit our ox gallstone page. The most important thing to remember is that the only way to ensure a safe, secure and timely delivery is to engage with an experienced supplier. Our team is always on hand to assist you. The most efficient way to do this is to contact us via email or our website.

Appearance

Traditionally, ox gallstones (also known as “calculus bovis” in Chinese medicine) were considered the top-grade therapeutic drug of the Qin (221-206 BCE) and Western Han Dynasties (206 BCE-25 CE). They are used mainly as a tranquilizer and sedative. They also have been used to treat childhood diseases including night blindness, rickets, infertility and hemorraghic diathesis, among others.

Besides its medicinal value, ox gallstones are a valuable cattle byproduct. They are a precious commodity that can be sold at high prices, depending on their size, colour and texture. In addition, they can be used as a source of income for organizations with bovine-related activities such as meat processing plants.

In Turkey, the gallstones are obtained by removing them from the intestine of beef cows, oxen bulls and buffalos. They are then washed and dried before being packed in hermetically sealed bags.

Individual gallstones are valued based on their dryness, colour, texture, size and whole or broken pieces. Generally, the highest prices are paid for golden or yellow stones that are smooth and lustrous in appearance. Dark and pitted gallstones are of lower value.

They are also sold as a raw material for the production of artificial gallstones. A pinhead-sized natural ox gallstone is implanted in the fundus of the gallbladder and develops into a pigment gallstone within 1-3 years. The pigment gallstone can then be injected into patients to help reverse diseases such as pyogenic tonsillitis and high fever.

Ox gallstones have been used in pharmacology as a component of bile salts since ancient times. They are often found in a variety of medical formulas because they have a soothing, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect. They have also been shown to stimulate NADPH oxidase activity and increase antioxidant defense systems in the body.

Traditional Chinese medicine has long been based on the belief that ox gallstones have therapeutic qualities, including the ability to relieve pain and swelling, regulate menstrual cycles, stimulate the immune system and reduce fever. They are especially useful for promoting the well-being of the elderly.

Although ox gallstones are no longer produced by animals, they still have a strong place in Chinese medicine and are highly sought after in the Chinese community as a precious medicinal drug. They can be used as a component of a proprietary Chinese medicine or alone to treat various disorders.

Uses

Cattle gallstones have long been prized by traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners for their purported healing powers. These bilirubin-rich stones are said to promote the body’s immune system, prevent cancer and fight against ageing and inflammation.

These days, harvested cattle gallstones are mostly dried, crushed down and pressed into pills. In many cases, they are infused with other ingredients such as buffalo horn and deer musk to make them more potent.

However, it is still worth remembering that pristine specimens can rival gold bullion prices and fetch up to EUR35,000/kg in the Far East. And while some beef processors may be making a fortune from the burgeoning trade in bovine gallstones, it’s important to bear in mind that they are extremely rare.

For example, the owner of a beef processing plant in southeast Queensland recently told Beef Central that her cattle produce only about 200kg of gallstones each year. Despite this, she says, the demand for them is growing by the day.

In addition to their medicinal value, they are also highly sought after as ornaments for jewelry. The stones, which are typically yellow or golden in colour, can be found in a range of shapes.

Some are flat and pyramid-shaped while others are round. The most valuable are those with a deep yellow or golden colour.

The bilirubin in gallstones is believed to have anti-inflammatory properties, reducing the symptoms of chronic arthritis, asthma and digestive issues such as indigestion and constipation. It is also believed that it can help treat liver diseases, such as hepatitis and improve heart health.

It is also a natural antidote to cholestrol, which is the most common form of cholesterol. It can also help reduce inflammation, strengthen the arteries and prevent strokes.

According to a report published in China Daily, the Chinese pharmaceutical industry requires about 100 metric tons of gallstones for a variety of propriety Chinese medicines each year. But domestic production is reportedly barely one MT per year.

The demand for natural gallstones is increasing rapidly, and there are a number of companies in China looking to source this ingredient from abroad. The cost of the raw material is relatively high, but the resulting products are often sold at a lower price.

Ox Gallstones Turkey