Monkey Bezoar (Oval in shape, slightly resembling a small date, with a bronze or greenish-black smooth and lustrous surface, and a grayish-yellow layered cross-section)
[Name]
[Source]
New Compilation of Materia Medica Preparata
[Frequency of Use]
F
[Origin]
Gallstones of the rhesus macaque, Macaca mulatta Zimmerrna, or other monkeys of the family Cercopithecidae.
[Characteristics]
Oval in shape, slightly resembling a small date, hence the name “Monkey Bezoar“. The size varies greatly, with larger ones resembling chicken eggs and smaller ones resembling soybeans. Generally, they are the size of lotus seeds. The surface is bronze, greenish-black, grayish-black, dark yellow, or light blue, smooth and lustrous. The texture is hard and brittle, easily broken when struck. The cross-section is grayish-yellow with layers, showing overlapping ring patterns of stones. The center contains a core. Those cores containing twigs, fruit stalks, or pebbles are not used medicinally. It has a slightly fragrant odor, a slightly bitter and astringent taste, and a sandy texture when chewed. Burning it produces a charred, fishy odor and yellow smoke.
[Identification]
Large, loose in texture, rattling when shaken, natural in color, and with a jewel-like luster are desirable. When broken open, the inside has a bean-shell core and a loose, brittle texture with cloud-like layers on the inner cross-section is considered best. Large size, deep color, and brittle texture are preferred.
[Category]
Vertebrates