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A video presentation by Dr. Da Zhen providing an overview of Chinese herbal medicine:
Cow bezoars are formed due to a disease in cows, leading to these animals becoming sickly and having a shorter lifespan. All creatures, including humans, can develop bezoars when they are ill.
Similarly, since the disease originates from the heart and liver gallbladder, and coagulates into a yellow substance, it can also be used to treat ailments of the heart and liver
According to the Song History, when Zong Ze was the prefect of Laizhou, an envoy came to collect bezoar. Zong Ze replied, ‘In early spring when epidemics are prevalent, cows drink the toxic substances and form bezoars. Now that the climate is harmonious and peaceful, there are no bezoars in cows.’ Based on this, it can be further confirmed that bezoars are indeed caused by diseases in cows.
Compendium of Materia Medica, Volume 50, Animals:
The aforementioned article clarifies that bezoar originates from diseased cows, and it can be found in various animals, including humans. Furthermore, it explores the factors influencing the formation of bezoar, such as underlying causes and environmental conditions.
According to the fourth edition of the Taiwanese Pharmacopoeia (https://reurl.cc/eOv9bM), bezoar is the dried gallstone of the cattle species Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin. During the slaughtering of cattle, if bezoar is found, the bile is filtered out, and the bezoar is extracted, with its outer membrane removed and then dried in the shade. This is commonly known as ‘natural bezoar.’ The bilirubin content of this product must be at least 25.0%. Natural bezoar is primarily produced in regions such as Hebei, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Qinghai, Tibet, Henan, Gansu, and Shaanxi in China. It is also found in various parts of the world, including India, Canada, Argentina, and Uruguay. In Taiwan, those commonly found on the market are mainly produced in South American countries. Because cattle are associated with the ‘Ugly’ hour in the 12-hour cycle, bezoar is also known as ‘Ugly Yellow’ or ‘Ugly Treasure.’ Additionally, due to its origin from the liver and gallbladder, it is also called ‘Gallbladder Yellow’ or ‘Liver Yellow.’ High-quality natural bezoar should have a complete shape, be brownish-yellow in color, have a loose and brittle texture, and a clear, fine layered pattern on the cross-section. Natural bezoar, derived from cattle gallstones, is generally not obtainable from healthy cattle. A Japanese survey conducted in the 1970s found that only two per thousand cattle produced bezoar. In China, the rate is only between 0.6% and 2%. This rarity has led to the development of ‘artificial bezoar’ and ‘cultivated bezoar.’ Artificial bezoar is produced by Japanese scholars based on the quantitative analysis of natural bezoar’s components, which primarily include bilirubin, cholesterol, bile salts, lecithin, fats, and inorganic salts containing calcium, magnesium, and iron. Cultivated bezoar involves implanting an artificial core into a cow’s gallbladder and manipulating the cow’s physiology to induce gallstone formation, after which the bezoar is surgically removed. As shown above, their origins and production methods differ. The Taiwanese Pharmacopoeia records bezoar as having a sweet and bitter taste, a cool nature, and being归心、肝经 (归心、肝经 refers to its affinity for the heart and liver meridians in traditional Chinese medicine). Its primary functions include clearing heat, promoting the production of phlegm, opening the orifices, reviving the consciousness, clearing heat from the liver, detoxifying, and calming convulsions. This demonstrates its unique medicinal properties.
Due to the difficulty in obtaining bezoar and its high value as a medicinal material, it has always been rare. The Tang Dynasty’s New Revision of the Materia Medica states, ‘Today, most people obtain it from the gallbladder. It is mostly produced in Liang and Yi regions. A single piece is as large as a chicken egg yolk and layers upon layer. There is nothing more precious in medicine. A piece worth a few thousand to ten thousand coins is considered good. Many people counterfeit it, and it is very similar. However, the true bezoar, when rubbed against fingernails, leaves a yellow stain that does not easily come off.’ This shows that even in the Tang Dynasty, it was very scarce and expensive, and counterfeits existed. The way to identify genuine bezoar was by its ability to stain fingernails yellow, a property known as ‘nail-staining.
In the market, one can also find camel bezoar from the Camelidae family, specifically the Bactrian camel. These are typically larger, rough in texture, and lack luster. When tasted, they are salty and do not have a cool sensation. Additionally, there are bear bezoars from the Ursidae family, such as the Asiatic black bear. The cross-section of bear bezoars lacks distinct layers and does not have the characteristic odor of cow bezoar. There are also dried gallstones from the gallbladder, bile duct, and liver duct of pigs. These are oval in shape, varying in size, and have a yellowish-white, grayish-yellow, or reddish-yellow surface. Some have a grass stalk in the center. They have a slightly fishy smell and a slightly bitter, cool taste. When moistened, they do not exhibit the ‘nail-staining’ phenomenon. Furthermore, there are counterfeit products made from Coptis chinensis, rhubarb, turmeric powder, egg yolk, and bile. These lack luster, are heavy, and have a brownish cross-section without layers. They have no fragrance, taste bitter, and stick to the teeth when chewed. When moistened and applied to nails, the color is easily wiped off, lacking the ‘nail-staining’ property. Lastly, there are processed potato products, often with a black surface, rough and cracked. The cross-section has artificially created concentric layers. They have a slightly fishy smell and do not exhibit the ‘nail-staining’ property. Microscopic examination reveals abundant starch granules. From the above, it can be concluded that the simplest way to identify genuine bezoar is by its texture: it is brittle and easily crumbled, and powder can be easily scraped off with a fingernail. Secondly, observe the layers. When cut open, genuine bezoar exhibits numerous fine, dense layers from the outside to the inside. Each layer is extremely thin, and the layers are tightly packed and clear. Between the layers, there are very fine yellow lines, and every few layers, there is a black line. Thirdly, check the ‘nail-staining’ property. Rub the bezoar on a wet fingernail, and a yellow mark will remain. After about 5 seconds, when the nail dries, the yellow mark cannot be wiped or washed off. This is a crucial identification point. Finally, other identifying factors include the presence of a ‘black gold coat’, the smell, and taste.
Bezoar is a precious medicinal material, so special care must be taken when purchasing it. In addition to setting limits on the heavy metals arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead in the pharmacopoeia, the relevant government authorities in Taiwan have also set limits on sulfur dioxide. Therefore, the public can use it with peace of mind.
Image provided by Professor Zhang Xian-zhe from ‘Authentic Medicinal Materials Atlas’ http://en.whatsintcm.com