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The Healing Powers of The Bezoar Stone: What is a Mad Stone?

bezoar stone, a mad stone
Image Credit:
Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Arme
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Have you ever heard of a bezoar stone or a mad stone? This home remedy was used for centuries to heal, although it’s not a common practice today.

A mad stone (aka a bezoar stone) is used to draw poison out of bites and wounds. It works by absorbing the poison bit by bit, curing the bites by detoxifying them completely.

  • Mad stones can be found in the stomach or intestines of cud-chewing animals.
  • Depending on the animal, the stone may be more potent and valuable; for example, the stone of a brown deer is said to be inferior to that of a white deer.
  • Mad stones are not to be bought or sold; such interaction may negate their healing powers.

Naturally, the effectiveness of mad stones has long been in dispute. Can cosmic healing powers really reside in the intestine of a cow? There is only one way to know for sure …

a mad stone also known as a bezoar stone
Courtesy of the National Museum of Health and Medicine

Please Pass the Bezoar Stone

Want to try a mad stone? The challenge is getting a hold of one—since they can’t be purchased for money. We advise traveling to the home of a stone’s owner.

If you have experience with mad stones, please share your story or your stone in the box below.

Natural Remedies

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the digital home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She leads digital editorial strategy and publishing across a wide range of Almanac sub...

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Ron Taylor</span> Sat, 08/20/2016 - 20:14
The Mad Stone Franklin Callaway Taylor was bad to pet stray dogs. One hot summer day in Laurens County, SC he ran up Highway 49 and tried to pet a stray. The dog bit him on his arm and he ran back to the house. The dog was rabid and chased the other children into the house. Their father, Robert Whitner Taylor, saw the bite and tried to kill the dog but it escaped. The year was around 1910. Robert Whitner hitched up the wagon and he and Uncle Charlie rode to Maddens Station where Mose Madden lived. Robert asked Mose for his mad stone. A mad stone is a black stone taken from a deer’s intestine. Robert Whitner took the mad stone home and rubbed it on Frank’s dog bite several times. They watched Frank for several days and because he showed no signs of rabids, Robert Whitner returned the mad stone to Mose Madden. Uncle Frank lived to be 73 years old and lived a healthy life.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 08/24/2016 - 12:45

Great story, Ron! Thanks so much for sharing it. A story about madstones appeared in thr 2010 edition of The Old Farmer's Almanac. We here had never heard of it before then, but stories like yours further endorse its credibility among old-time country cures. Thanks again for taking the time to write!

 <span>Doris Wilkinson</span> Thu, 02/04/2016 - 22:49
Jack Kutz included in his 1994 book, Mysteries & Miracles of Texas, a chapter called Madstone Magic, which cites several uses of the stone in the 1880s to save several lives. In each incident, the description of how the stone was used is given.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 02/09/2016 - 08:53

Madstones. Thanks for sharing this, Doris. It is gratifying and exciting to see these endorsements of the madstone—its powers but also its presence in American legend and lore. We had a sliver of skepticism when we first heard about it as a story pitch for the contributor who wrote about it for the 2010 Almanac; no more of that! She and you folks make a strong case for the authenticity of and faith in it. Thanks for taking the time to write!

 <span>Mrsjohnwick</span> Tue, 05/26/2015 - 18:35
Mad stones should be preferably, something that you receive in trade. Mad stones given is the other. If mad stones are ever stolen - the theif who pocesses the stones, by bad karma, will never have good fortune or good health again.
<span>Delia</span> Wed, 01/07/2015 - 14:56
How can you tell if it's a madstone if you find one, and how does it look like? Mainly how can I get one from a deer? Please let me know
<span>Gary Carden</span> Fri, 10/17/2014 - 09:00
My name is Gary Carden and I live in Sylva, North Carolina. Over the years, I have developed an interest in madstones and remember seeing them as a child when children sometimes carried them in their pockets at school. Now, they are extremely rare. I am currently writing a folklore book and I want to include a chapter on madstones. If some owner is willing to send me one, I will take it to the Mountain Heritage Center at Cullowee and ask that it be included in an exhibit there. I think we need to record and preserve this fascinating bit of the past.
<span>Laurel Parker</span> Fri, 01/19/2018 - 23:33
Hi Gary, I am your neighbor, over in Waynesville, and I m interested in Mad stones too. Would love to hear your stories. I only have one,which I will post here, though I do recall a child bringing one to show and tell when I was a child in Georgia.
<span>Granny Cee</span> Tue, 12/17/2013 - 17:14
I have one which has been in my dads family for about four generations. He gave it to me to give to my granson when he gets older. I have never tried it. I am going to ask my dad more questions about whether he has seen or heard of this particular stone being used, and write it all down for my grandson. Will try it on a sting or bite next time one happens.
<span>Kenny Cook64</span> Sun, 10/27/2013 - 13:58
My Grandmother, the late Hazel Cook, talks briefly about Mad Stones in a journal she kept. She talks about them being used to "cure several illnesses, including mad dog bites." This was during the 1920s in Missouri. She didn't mention ever using it though.