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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>Lynn Walters</span> Sat, 01/28/2012 - 23:08
I would really like to know how comments under MY name got this far.They are true but NOT sent by me.
<span>Vmeek07</span> Thu, 01/20/2011 - 10:53
I have a Mad Stone The stone I have has been passed down 3 generations. Mother told me stories of it being used for a snake bite on my uncle and also for a rabies bite on a great great uncle. It's about the size of a nickel wrapped in very old newspaper in a small round container.
<span>Kathryn Phipps</span> Fri, 12/07/2018 - 12:52
Hello I get diabetic sores some get really bad the one that was on my lower right leg put me in the Hospital there were lots of pockets of pus on my lower leg. I was told that I was close to loosing my leg... I don't want to have that happen again . Maybe with one of the stones I would not need so many antibiotics!
<span>Cncamp</span> Mon, 05/17/2010 - 20:29
We have a madstone. It was passed to me from my parents. My grandmother used the stone several times. The stone was broken sometime in the 1940s and she quit using it.
<span>Woodswalker</span> Sun, 04/18/2010 - 11:01
i have a madstone in my possession that my youngest son found in the woods. although i don't have any idea what species it came from i would assume a whitetailed deer as those are plentiful in the area. i've had the stone about 15 years and have never had opportunity (thankfully) to use it. it's a very nice example, smooth and greyish-white, very round. it looks like a small golf ball.
<span>Corsario</span> Wed, 03/24/2010 - 09:45
My friends , my name is Henrique , I am from Europe and regarding your statement about “Mad Stone” if I had not have a “mad stone” in my hand and if I haven’t seen its “works” I also would not believe . I never new what was the stone until a read this internet statement , this stone was given to me from my father, and he also receive the stone through is father… I never read anything about the stone, but the way of working was passed by my fathers and its just like you described . The one I have, was used in times…to remove scorpion poison , in times were people worked in fields. Its aspect is rounded ,the colour is brown and glassy ,polished and in the center it as white lightning ,shaped spider. If you know more about this subject or any one that owns one, please mail me. ct1fsg@gmail.com Best regards,
<span>Sandshark327</span> Sat, 03/06/2010 - 19:14
We have a madstone in our family one of the stories from my grandfather is that a woman got bite by a spider behind the ear and back in those days the doctors had to come to the house she didn't want to use the madstone so my grandfather made a deal with her to put the madstone on while he went for the doctor and by the time the doctor got there, there was nothing wrong so she invited him for supper since he was already there.There's more stories than just this one. Joey Gilbert
<span>Lynn Walters</span> Mon, 01/04/2010 - 19:45
THERE IS MUCH AVAILABLE ON THE WWW... DO A GOOGLE ENTER MADSTONE AND MANY,MANY STORIES WILL APPEAR. I HAVE HEARD OF THIS FROM MY GRANDMOTHER (NOW PASSED) READ MUCH OF IT, AND BELIEVE IT TO BE ONE OF THOSE THINGS , IF YOU WISH TO BELIEVE IT , HAVE FAITH,THEN IT WILL BE SO...
<span>Ladonna Sanders</span> Tue, 12/29/2009 - 22:58
You never know,I have heard of a lot of things like this growing up in the hills of WV.I am going to have my brother look for one if he kills a deer this year.
<span>Angela Baxter</span> Thu, 12/03/2009 - 10:35
It may sound silly that an animal has a rock in it's stomach but I happen to know that the carp fish has rocks in it's head. I did have to carry them around for show and tell after it was proven to me. It was also told to me that the reason they were in the carp's head was for communication with other carp or fish.