Russians sell human gallstones, passing them off as animal ones
Loose change in your pocket is usually worth exactly what’s printed on the coins. But sometimes people manage to sell things that seemingly no sane person would pay for. Listings have appeared on Russian marketplaces for gallstones, with the most expensive specimen priced at 100,000 rubles. It shines and even glows. And no, this is not a joke.
What Are Gallstones and Where Do They Come From
Gallstones, or gallbladder concrements, form in the gallbladder due to imbalances in bile composition. When there is too much cholesterol, bilirubin, or calcium salts, these substances begin to crystallize and clump together. Over time, microscopic crystals grow into stones ranging from the size of a grain of sand to a walnut.
By composition, they are divided into three main types: cholesterol stones (the most common, yellowish-green), pigment stones (dark brown or black, made of bilirubin), and mixed stones. It is the pigment and mixed stones that often look the most striking: they can shine, shimmer, and even exhibit slight fluorescence under ultraviolet light. This is explained by the presence of bilirubin and its derivatives, which can absorb and re-emit light.
According to medical statistics, gallstone disease in Russia is diagnosed in about 5–6 people per 1,000 population. In other words, there are quite a few potential “suppliers” of this unusual commodity, to put it mildly. The stones are removed during cholecystectomy — a gallbladder removal surgery that is performed hundreds of thousands of times per year in Russia alone.
Cholesterol gallstones. Image source: wikipedia.org
Who Buys Gallstones and Why
Dozens of listings have appeared on Russian marketplaces and in private ads. Small stones go for a few thousand rubles, while large and attractive specimens cost significantly more. That particular stone priced at 100,000 rubles attracts attention precisely because of its unusual glow.
But who needs someone else’s gallstones? It turns out that the main demand comes from China. In traditional Chinese medicine, so-called “ox gallstones” have been used for over two thousand years. They are added to formulas that practitioners believe help with fever, inflammation, and even seizures. For comparison: on the Chinese market, gallstones can cost more than gold — up to $500 per gram. This is precisely why gallstone purchasing has turned into a real shadow business.
Listings include offers for both human stones and those extracted from animals (primarily cattle). Human concrements, however, require special preparation: sellers recommend thoroughly drying them and coating them with epoxy resin, otherwise they simply crumble. This is not a natural ornament but rather a quite fragile thing.
Listings for cattle gallstones. Image source: avito.ru
Why Gallstones Are Valued in Chinese Medicine
The thing is, natural gallstones are one of the most scarce ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine. They are obtained from the gallbladders of cattle, but they are rare: stones form in only a small percentage of animals, and their appearance is impossible to predict.
Gallstones are part of several dozen classical formulations, including the famous “An Gong Niu Huang” pills, which in China are considered almost a panacea for strokes and high fever. Scientific evidence of effectiveness in the framework of evidence-based medicine, however, is extremely scarce. But that doesn’t stop demand from growing year after year.
As for human gallstones, the situation is even more interesting. Formally, classical Chinese medicine uses specifically bovine stones, but on the black market, the boundaries become blurred. Some resellers illegally import stones from Russia and other countries, passing off human concrements as animal ones or selling them “as is” for unverified purposes. Essentially, this is a gray zone at the intersection of medicine, superstition, and smuggling.
“An Gong Niu Huang” pills. Image source: yaodian.ru
Why Selling Gallstones Is Dangerous
At first glance, selling your own stones after surgery seems harmless. It’s an unwanted item, and someone is willing to pay for it. But there are caveats, and more than one.
First, gallstones are biological material. They can contain pathogenic microorganisms, and shipping them without proper treatment is potentially unsafe. Second, illegal export of biomaterials abroad may fall under customs restrictions. And third, the very idea of using unverified “medicinal” substances from other people’s organs raises legitimate concerns among doctors.
Gastroenterologist Sergey Vyalov has previously warned that fasting and extreme diets can trigger gallstone formation. The irony is that for some people, the disease becomes not a problem but a source of income. But doctors are unanimous: stones are better prevented than sold.
If you have already had gallbladder problems, it’s worth getting regular ultrasounds and avoiding radical diets without consulting a doctor. A balanced diet with moderate fat content is the best prevention.
Selling gallstones is perhaps one of the strangest trends of recent months. But behind the quirky listings lies a serious shadow market worth millions of dollars. However, no matter the price, the best gallstone is one that never formed at all.
