Bovine Bezoar (Calculus Bovis)
Overview
Bovine bezoar is a gallstone that forms naturally in domestic cattle, gathered as a byproduct rather than an intentionally harvested part — a distinction worth stating plainly, since it means no animal is raised or killed specifically for it. The Donguibogam records it as a powerful mind-settling substance for states of fright, mania, and unconsciousness.
In the Donguibogam
寶鑑
Traditional uses recorded in the Donguibogam
- Calms the spirit, settles fright
- Clears heat, resolves toxicity
- Opens the sensory orifices
- Traditionally used for pediatric convulsions
Traditional applications recorded in the classical text
- Severe anxiety with fright and palpitations
- Traditionally recorded for convulsions and unconsciousness
- High fever with delirium (classical use)
- Pediatric acute illness (classical use, specialist care required)
Traditional preparation
Traditionally used in minute doses (0.15–0.35g) as powder, never as a household decoction ingredient; formulated only by qualified practitioners.
Cautions
Frequently asked questions
Is using bovine bezoar an animal welfare or conservation concern?
No — it is a gallstone that forms naturally in some domestic cattle (Bos taurus, not an endangered species) and is recovered as a byproduct of normal cattle processing, not something an animal is specifically raised or harmed to produce.
Can I buy this and use it at home?
This is not a household herb. Genuine bezoar is rare, expensive, and frequently counterfeited; it is formulated in minute doses by qualified practitioners for specific acute conditions, not decocted at home like a typical herb.
Sources
- 『동의보감』 탕액편, 허준, 1613 (원문) — 한문 원문
- 한의학고전DB (mediclassics.kr) — 원문 및 국역 자료 참조