bezoar ok

Bezoars are extraordinary, and border on the bizarre. A bezoar is a concretion of indigestible plant and/or animal material that remains in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. Over time, they associate with mucous and form masses. They are usually found in the stomach but can be found anywhere between the esophagus to the rectum.

The term bezoar is thought to be derived from the Arabic, Persian, or Turkish words referring to antidote or counter-poison.

As early as 1000 BCE bezoars from animals were highly prized and kept as medical charms, used as antedotes to various poisons, used as treatment in ailments, and held to ward off the supernatural. European nobles had bezoars set into chains or interior as part of "poison-cups" that were believed to render poisons harmless. These beliefs held for centuries. They were also commonly set into jewelry as "bezoar stones". A bezoar with a gold frame was known to be in the Crown Jewels of Queen Elizabeth I in 1962.

The market for bezoars thrives to this day. Unfortunately, they are in high demand by practitioners of asian medicine. The demand has created and sustained a thriving market for poachers and indiscriminant killers of various animals.

Bezoars may be composed of a variety of items including plant material (phytobezoars) , hair (trichobezoars), milk & milk products (lactobezoars), medication, or animal products