Horse Bezoar
- Chinese
- 马宝
- Pinyin
- Ma Bao
- Latin
- Calculus Equi
Known in TCM as Ma Bao (马宝), this sweet and salty and slightly bitter, cool herb enters the Heart and Liver. Traditionally, it clears phlegm-heat and settles fright - Ma Bao is a rare historical animal concretion medicine used when heat and phlegm obstruct the orifices with agitation, seizures, or infantile convulsive patterns, most often applied for epilepsy, wheezing, and oral ulcers. Modern research has identified Mineral among its active constituents.
Part used: Bezoar/Calculus
Also Known As
Latin: Calculus Equi | Pinyin: Ma Bao | Chinese: 马宝
TCM Properties
- Taste
- sweet, salty, slightly bitter
- Temperature
- cool
- Channels
- Heart, Liver
Traditional Use
Primary Actions
- Clears phlegm-heat and settles fright - Ma Bao is a rare historical animal concretion medicine used when heat and phlegm obstruct the orifices with agitation, seizures, or infantile convulsive patterns.
- Calms the Liver and relieves spasmodic disorders - older usage overlaps with fright wind, epilepsy, and sudden convulsion presentations in which a cooling antispasmodic animal substance was considered appropriate.
- Resolves toxic swelling - external or adjunctive use is described for sores, oral lesions, or swollen toxic lumps, though this indication is far less documented than its fright-convulsion reputation.
Secondary Actions
- This is not a common modern dispensary herb. Identity, sourcing, and counterfeit risk are central issues, and many contemporary practitioners know Ma Bao only as a historical reference item.
- Ma Bao is distinct from better-known animal antispasmodic medicinals such as Niu Huang or Hou Zao, and the modern evidence base for horse bezoar itself is much thinner.
Classic Formulas
- No major canonical formula is widely indexed around Ma Bao as a routine ingredient, which fits its status as a rare specialty substance rather than a mainstream dispensary item.
- Traditional usage clusters around individually powdered or finely dosed administration for fright, convulsion, or phlegm-heat obstruction rather than around high-frequency household formulas.
- When mentioned clinically, it is usually discussed by function alongside other orifice-opening, phlegm-transforming, and antispasmodic medicinals.
Classical References
- Later materia medica descriptions portray Ma Bao as a cooling bezoar-like substance that clears phlegm-heat, calms fright, and helps treat convulsive disorders.
- Traditional indications are narrow and specialized, which is one reason it never achieved the routine status of more standard pediatric or seizure-related medicinals.
- Because authenticity has long been a concern, historical reputation does not automatically translate into reliable modern crude-drug use.
Modern Research
Active Compounds
- Mineral salts and organic matrix material - expected core components of bezoar-type concretions, though horse-specific standardization is poor
- Bile and proteinaceous residues - possible minor constituents depending on the origin and formation of the concretion
- Trace pigments and degraded biologic material - likely variable rather than pharmacologically standardized
- Adulterants or substituted animal concretions - a real quality-control concern in commercial circulation
Studied Effects
- Indexed modern research specific to Calculus Equi is extremely sparse, and the available literature is dominated by traditional description, authentication concerns, and trade lore rather than strong pharmacology or clinical trials.
- Because genuine Ma Bao is rare and counterfeiting has long been reported, composition cannot be assumed consistent across samples or commercial products.
- The modern evidence base is too thin to support strong disease-specific claims, especially for emergencies such as seizures or toxic swelling that require standard medical care.
Safety & Interactions
Contraindications
- Pregnancy without direct professional supervision
- Unverified or counterfeit animal-source material
- Self-treatment of seizures, severe agitation, or rapidly spreading infection
Cautions
- Ma Bao is a rare animal-derived substance with major authenticity and sourcing concerns.
- Counterfeit, substituted, or contaminated material is a realistic risk in this category.
- This should not be treated as a routine home remedy for epilepsy, pediatric convulsions, or toxic swelling.
Conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Horse Bezoar used for?
Horse Bezoar is traditionally used to Clears phlegm-heat and settles fright - Ma Bao is a rare historical animal concretion medicine used when heat and phlegm obstruct the orifices with agitation, seizures, or infantile convulsive patterns., Calms the Liver and relieves spasmodic disorders - older usage overlaps with fright wind, epilepsy, and sudden convulsion presentations in which a cooling antispasmodic animal substance was considered appropriate., Resolves toxic swelling - external or adjunctive use is described for sores, oral lesions, or swollen toxic lumps, though this indication is far less documented than its fright-convulsion reputation.. Research has investigated its effects on: Indexed modern research specific to Calculus Equi is extremely sparse, and the available literature is dominated by traditional description, authentication concerns, and trade lore rather than strong pharmacology or clinical trials.; Because genuine Ma Bao is rare and counterfeiting has long been reported, composition cannot be assumed consistent across samples or commercial products..
What are other names for Horse Bezoar?
Horse Bezoar is also known as Horse Enterolith, Ma Fen Shi. In TCM: 马宝 (Ma Bao); Calculus Equi.
Is Horse Bezoar safe during pregnancy?
The safety of Horse Bezoar during pregnancy has not been established. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before use.
What are the contraindications for Horse Bezoar?
Horse Bezoar should not be used in: Pregnancy without direct professional supervision; Unverified or counterfeit animal-source material; Self-treatment of seizures, severe agitation, or rapidly spreading infection. Consult a qualified practitioner before use.