What is Bezoar?
Mar 19, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Xiuhong
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Niuhuang (Bezoar Bovis) is a gallstone found in the gallbladder of bovines (Bovidae animals), although in rare cases it may originate from the bile duct or hepatic duct. It is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal material. Niuhuang has functions including clearing heat and detoxifying, calming the liver to relieve convulsions, transforming phlegm, and opening the orifices. Clinically, it can be used to treat disorders such as coma due to febrile diseases, stroke with phlegm obstruction, convulsions due to epilepsy, mania, sore throat, oral ulcers, carbuncles, and furuncles.
Generally, bezoar is a precious traditional Chinese medicinal material derived from gallstones found in the gallbladder of bovine animals, though in rare cases it may originate from stones in the bile duct or hepatic duct. Detailed analysis is as follows:
Bezoar is a valuable traditional Chinese medicine primarily obtained from stones found in the gallbladder, bile duct, or hepatic duct of bovine animals. The formation of bezoar is usually associated with bovine biliary inflammation, which causes obstruction of bile excretion. Components in the bile, such as cholesterol, calcium salts, and bile pigments, precipitate and coagulate, eventually forming stones.
The main components of bezoar include bilirubin, bile acids, cholesterol, inorganic salts, and trace elements. It has effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, calming wind to stop convulsions, and resolving phlegm to open the orifices. Clinically, it can be used to treat disorders such as coma caused by febrile diseases, phlegm obstruction due to apoplexy, convulsions due to epilepsy, manic episodes of epilepsy, sore throat, oral ulcers, carbuncles, and furuncles.
Natural bezoar is rare and extremely valuable, with a high market price. Therefore, in addition to natural bezoar, there are also artificial bezoar and in vitro cultured bezoar. It is recommended to choose reliable sources when purchasing bezoar.
