Bos, Cow
Dioscorides Materia Medica, Mathias, 1563
Cow (right) Peraldus (Manuscript 13th C., British Library, Harley 3244)Zoological name:
Bos taurus
Related species are also used
Parts used:
Bile, Hoof, Horn, Heart, Lungs, Liver, Kidney, Pizzle, Testes, Blood, Bone, Fat
Temperature & Taste:
Cool, dry
Uses:
BILE: ‘The best of all Beasts’
1. Clears Heat, Alleviate Thirst:
-Convulsions from Liver heat (TCM).
-Cow bile is specific for Hysteria, Convulsions and other Spasmodic diseases (Ayurveda)
-has been used similarly for Epilepsy in Europe.
2. Clears Heat and Toxin (TCM, Ayurveda, West):
-Measles, Small Pox and other types of Fever;
-Whooping Cough.
3. Clears Heat, Moves the Bowels:
-Bulls Bile was applied to the navel or anus for constipation and to evacuate the bowels;
-‘And the Gall by itself applied either to the arse or navel, evacuates the belly more than a clyster’ (Magic of Kirani).
-Dysentery, Jaundice;
-a plaster of it applied to the belly was used for Worms.
4. Benefits Digestion:
-Bile mixed with Honey ‘perfectly cures a bad stomach’ (Magic of Kirani).
-purified Bile has been used for indigestion in modern times; it promotes the flow of bile; it has also been used as an intestinal antiseptic
and purgative. (West, TCM, Modern)
5. Benefits Kidneys
-Impotency, Diabetes and to improve Vision.
6. Abortifacient:
-It has been used for Abortion in India.
7. Externally:
i. Dropped into the ear for Deafness, Tinnitus, and Earache (mixed with Milk, Butter, or Oil and dropped in).
ii. topically for back pain. (mixed with alcohol and applied; Salmon, Schroder)
iii. Piles.
iv. Mixed with vinegar it ‘cures the Black Leprosy, and Dandruff in the head, Knits, and Moles and Freckles in women, which they are troubled with because they are with child’.
v. also used in pessaries to promote Menstruation the same day. (Magic of Kirani).
vi. Fistulas, applied with vinegar
vii. Ulcers, Abscesses
Dose: 300mg–1 gram
BLADDER:
Good for incontinence, and excessive urination. (Cardanus, others)
Dose: 1–3 grams of the Powder
BLOOD of a CALF or BULL:
1. internally for Dysentery and all Fluxes.
2. Externally:
i. softens Tumors
ii. take away Freckles (Schroder)
iii. Anointed on with oil is an old recipe to prevent the hair from turning grey (Magic of Kirani).
BLOOD: COWS:
-Used for all types of bleeding, including spitting blood. (Salmon)
BONE:
1. Salts of the Bones used for Gout. (Salmon)
2. Salts of the Skull were used for Falling Sickness. (Salmon)
BRAINS (of a Calf. Defatted dried and powdered grey matter; Marketed and sold earlier as ‘Cerebrum Exsiccatum‘ in western pharmacy)
1. A Tonic for the Brain:
-neurasthenia, melancholy, epilepsy, chorea, migraine, psychosis, insanity, hysteria and other mental illness. (Merc)
Dose: of the dried, defatted Powder: 500mg–1 gram
CARTILAGE:
1. It has been promoted as having the same effects as Shark Cartilage, and has been used as a substitute for it; Used as a immune stimulant.
2. Chondroitin (a mucopolysaccharide found in mammalian Cartilage) has been used for ischaemic Heart disease.
Dose: purified Cartilage: 250mg–2 grams
DUNG (Cool, dry):
See separate Monograph for Cow Dung
FAT:
1. Softens the nerves; also to soften and mollify in Gout and Schirrhus. (Schroder)
2. Heals ulcers including those of the Lips, Clefts. (Schroder)
FLESH: BEEF (Cool, Sweet, Oily):
1. Strengthens the Spleen, Benefits the Qi:
-digestive weakness with deficiency (TCM);
-‘Beef is an excellent Meat’. (Culpeper)
2. Nourishes the Yin and Blood, Strengthens the Bones and Joints:
-chronic illness and wasting diseases including Diabetes, emaciation, and for general weakness.
-good for pain and deficiency of the lower back and knees, and Dizziness from Yin and Yang deficiency (TCM).
-in broths to restore in Consumption (Salmon)
-Buffalo Meat is said to increase ‘Sleep, Virility, Strength, and Milk, and makes Flesh firm’ (Ayurveda).
3. Calms Wind:
-used for Wind Fever and Irregular Fevers. (Ayurveda, Tibetan)
GALL BLADDER (Cold, bitter):
1. Used for gastroenteritis, Dyspepsia, chronic Constipation, Jaundice.
2. Tinnitus, Deafness and Tics. (TCM)
3. Also topically to sores and abscesses. (TCM)
Dose: 500mg–3 grams
GENITALS: PENIS and TESTES (dried, preferably fromı a Red Bull. Warm, dry):
1. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys (TCM, West):
-male aphrodisiac, and to strengthen the sexual function
-Kidney weakness with lower back pain or weakness, and urethral discharge.
–Salmon said the Powdered Penis of a Bull was good for Dysentery.
-promotes mental alertness and vitality; have a rejuvenating effect on the aging male system (Cell Therapists)
2. Used for Pleurisy:
-The ashes were given for Pleurisy. (Riverius)
3. Stops Bleeding:
-‘The spermatic vessels burnt with the Stones [testicles], stops bleeding. Note. This is the Jews remedy after Circumcision’. (Schroder)
Dose: 1–1.5 grams in powder; 3–9 grams in decoction (best to decoct in wine)
HOOF (from dark animals; Calf is best. Ashed; or as a gelatin):
1. Stops Leakage and Bleeding:
-Leukorrhea and uterine discharge. (TCM)
2. Settles Wind, Stops Spasms:
-Used for Convulsions (West): Various hooves were used for Epilepsy and Convulsions in the West.
3. Nourishes Yin:
-Coughs and consumption
-restorative after chronic diseases such as rheumatism
-‘And when there is a stabbing disease in the limbs or joints, or Stomach ache, boil the feet and eat sufficiently of them’ (Hildegard)
4. Promotes Milk:
-‘Hooves of the forefeet’ were used to increase Milk (often ashed, but they can be ‘taken any way’) (Salmon, Culpeper)
5. Resists Poison:
-‘Cows Hoof boiled and eaten with Vinegar resists all poison’ (Magic of Kirani); the Hoof was used similarly to the Horn in the West.
Dose: Powder: 1–3 grams; Ashes: 500mg–2 grams; Decocted: 20–40 grams
HORN: BUFFALO (Cold, dry. Ashed):
1. Clears Heat and Poison:
-Epidemic and toxic fevers
-severe sore throat.
-headaches from heat (TCM);
-worn in a Ring for cramps. (Salmon)
-Water Buffalo horn is used as a substitute for Rhinoceros horn in modern TCM
Dose: 500mg–3 grams of Powder; Decoction: 30–120 grams of the raspings are decocted. Concentrated extract is the preferred form
HORN: OX, COW or BULL (Cold, dry. In Powder; probably also the ashes):
1. Stops Bleeding. (Salmon)
-used to stop Bleeding in the West (ashes or powder)
-The Tip of a Cows horn was used to clear obstruction of the blood and blood stasis which causes pain; it was also used for vaginal discharge and uterine bleeding in females. (TCM)
2. Clears Heat, Stops Spasms:
-Powder was sometimes used for Epilepsy
3. Clears Heat, Resists Poison:
-Fever
-Ashed, it is taken with honey for coughs and consumption of the Lungs. (West)
4. Externally:
-used as a fumigation against Contagious or Pestilential air.
-fumes of burning Cow horn have been used in Ayurveda against all sorts of Insanity.
Dose: as for Buffalo Horn, above
KIDNEY (Beef; Neutral, Sweet):
1. Strengthens and Nourishes the Kidneys (TCM, West):
-impotence, poor sex drive, premature ejaculation,
-painful lower back and knees, and poor hearing
-Cell Therapists used Kidney cells (along with Pancreas) for Diabetes related to Kidney deficiency.
Dose: one Kidney can be cleansed, pierced, and boiled with suitable herbs
LIVER (Calf or Beef are preferred) (TCM, West):
1. Tonifies the Liver and Blood, Benefits the Eyesight:
-‘Eating the (Cow’s) Liver strengthens you because of its good nature’ (Hildegard);
-Liver and Blood deficiency; used for blood deficient headaches, palpitations or dizziness from blood and Qi deficiency, or Yin and Yang deficiency.
-Bloody Fluxes (ashes or Salts).
-Liver broth or Liver juice has been used in blood weakness and anemia.
-Cell therapists used Liver cells to help improve the quality of the blood, and for toxemia.
-Calf Liver is best to Nourish, as was noted by Schroder (TCM, West)
2. Benefits Eyesight:
-poor vision, night-blindness, glaucoma, as well as Optic nerve atrophy (TCM);
-Ancient Egyptians roasted and powdered the Liver of an Ox and gave it against Night-blindness
3. Promotes Urine:
-Desiccated Liver is a mild diuretic.
Dose: 250–500 grams of Liver can be boiled and taken as a soup wioth suitable herbs.
MARROW; OX, BULL, or BUFFALO (Purified, or the Extract):
1. Strengthens the Kidneys and Bones:
-weakness of the Back (Marrow of the Back) (see a formula here)
-given for fractures;
-In the 1960’s, extracts were promoted for osteoarthritis and deforming osteoarthrosis.
-It is also a Kidney tonic and aphrodisiac. (TCM)
2. Nourish the Blood and Yin:
-extract has been given for pernicious anemia, chlorosis, scurvy, purpura, hemophilia, debility, rickets, splenic leucocythemia, hemoglobinuria, as well as general wasting or debility. (Cell Therapists)
3. Strengthens Lungs:
-Improves inspiration (by strengthening the Kidney) (TCM)
4. Externally:
-Applied (with wine) to trembling and palsy. (West)
MARROW; CALF:
‘Softens hard tumours, and schirrus, hardness in the muscles, tendons or Ligaments, and is the best next to that of a Deer’. (Salmon)
ORGANS (Heart, Liver and Lungs of a Calf):
1. Nourish the Blood and Yin:
-The Distilled Water or Decoction was given for emaciation, debility, consumption and paralysis of the extremities. The Compound Distilled Water was an official preparation of the 18th Century Dispensatories, and its compound form comprised herbs such as Rosemary, Lavender, Cinnamon, and Pepper.
OVARIES (Used by Cell Therapists):
1. Nourishes Yin and Blood:
-promotes strengthen, energy and fertility in women.
-rejuvenating on ageing females
Dose: Of the dried Ovary: 200mg–1 gram, up to 3 grams daily
SPLEEN:
1. Strengthens the Spleen:
-A Spleen tonic; for sluggish bowels from Spleen weakness (TCM)
-hardness and swelling of the Spleen. (West)
2. Nourishes Blood:
-Cell therapists used Spleen cells to help improve the quality of the blood;
-Toxic conditions and poisoning (with liver cells), to promote formation of antibodies in infections and to promote resistance to Infection -promote the healing of old wounds;
-desensitise allergic conditions such as chronic asthma, hay fever, urticaria, abdominal swellings, dermatitis, and gastric or duodenal ulcers.
-benefical in anemia.
-Promotes menstruation (It was taken in broth; other herbs may be added).
4. Externally:
-it is mixed with Honey and applied to running ulcers. (Salmon)
STONES:
-from a cows bladder are good against kidney or bladder stones.
TESTES (Defatted and dried):
1. Warms and Strengthens the Kidneys:
-Impotence, Prostatic hypertrophy, Sexual Neurosis (Merc, Squires, Cell Therapists)
-nervous tonic (Squires).
-boys with slow or deficient development, bedwetting or ‘effeminate development’ (Cell Therapists).
-inferiority complexes, shyness
-The gonads were used in Cell therapy for Diabetes caused by overactivity of the pituitary and supra-renal glands or underactivity of the gonads.
2. Nourishes Blood:
-Cell therapists gave Testes for poor circulation, arteriosclerosis, angina pectoris, heart disorders; also chronic pulsating headaches, dizziness, congestion, insomnia, some skin diseases, and the male climacteric with such symptoms as poor libido, prostate disorders etc.
3. Used for Cancer:
-According to Niehans, they [testes] have been proved to be a prophylaxis for Cancer-endangered patients and to retard its development’.
4. Benefits the Mind, Strengthens the Brain:
-mental weakness
-Neurasthenia, melancholy and senility (used for these conditions related to kidney deficiency).
Dose: 500mg–2 grams of the dried powder. Commonaly added to alcohol.
URINE:
See separate Monograph for Cow Urine, Gomutra
Main Combinations:
1. Kidney weakness with Urinary retention:
i. decoct Kidney with Juniper berry
2. Back Pain from Kidney weakness, Ox Kidney with Nutmeg
i. decoct the Marrow of the Back in wine with Dates, Calendula, Plantain, Parsley root, Fennel root
3. Consumption:
i. Calf Heart, Calf Blood, Cinnamon, Mace, Deer horn gelatin, Wine and Rose water; distil.
ii. Heart, Lungs and Liver of a Calf, Coltsfoot, Licorice, Cinnamon, Borage; distil
iii. decoct beef Marrow Bone with Deer horn
iv, decoct Cow hoof with Deer horn shavings and Ginger
4. Cough, boil Calves feet with Barley and Poppy
5. Anemia, decoct Liver with Dang Gui and Chinese Red Dates
6. Stones, Calf Bile with Saxifrage
7. Jaundice, mix Bull Bile with Aloe an form pills
8. Constipation, Bull Bile is mixed with Aloe and applied to the umbilicus
9. Worms in children, mix Bile with Wormwood and apply to the navel.
10. Ulcers and abscesses, apply Bile mixed with Myrrh and Alum
Cautions:
MEAT:
1. ‘Beef is an excellent Meat, if the beast be Young, and is not Cow-flesh; for Old Beef and Cow-flesh do engender Melancholy and Gross Humours’. (Culpeper)
2. Ayurveda believes Beef flesh to dull the mind and reduce compassion (in excess), and to aggravate toxic blood.
LIVER:
1. Due to the large amount of preformed Vitamin A in calf Liver, daily dosage should be limited to about 40-50 grams, or around 200 grams weekly.
2. Pregnant women should not eat Calf (or other animal) Liver to prevent high Vitamin A levels.
BILE:
1. Bile salts must be used carefully, as Bile salts which are reabsorbed by the intestines may inhibit formation of bile by the Liver. This is partly why Tibetan formulas often combine a saline purgative when Bile salts are added to formulas.
Main Preparations used:
1. Pectoral Broth:
i. Calf Lungs chopped (4 oz.), Sheep Heart chopped (half), Snails (6), Water (2 pounds). Boil down to three-quarters and add in the last 15 minutes Iceland Moss (4 drams), strain. (Nouveau Formulaire Medicale et Pharmaceutique, 1820)
ii. Calf Lungs (8 oz.), Snails (8), Elecampane (1 dram), Endive (½ handful), Male Speedwell, Ground Ivy (of each a pinch), boil in sufficient water. (Formulaire de Montpellier, 1822)
2. Calves Feet Jelly:
i. Calf feet (2), Water (4 pounds); boil to half, remove the fat when cold and add: Malaga wine (6 oz), Sugar (4 oz.), juice of 2 Lemons; shake the whole with egg white, boil for a few minutes, and strain. (Pharmacopoeia extemporanea, Augustin, 1822)
3. Demulcent Jelly:
i. Calf feet (1), Milk (2 pounds), boil slowly for 4–5 hours, strain and add White Sugar (1 pound). Mix. (Nouveau Formulaire Medicale et Pharmaceutique, 1820)