Home / News / World News / Article /
24k gallstones in the air!
Updated On: 15 March, 2026 09:52 AM IST | Los Angeles | Agencies
Increasing demand for cow gallstones from mainland China and Hong Kong have made it one of the world’s most valuable commodities

The chances of gallstone formation in cows increases with age but slaughterhouses often kill cattle at a young age for efficient agriculture. PIC/ISTOCK
Chinese traditional medicines have been using cow gallstones for thousands of years to treat all sorts of serious illnesses, including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Now that China has a rate of strokes three times higher than that of the United States of America, the demand for gallstones is higher than ever, increasing their prices.
The price of cow gallstones went up to $5800 per ounce in 2025, making it twice as expensive as gold. But if you think the issue lies in the cost of some not-so-cute infinity stones, hold your thought. The problem was always with their scarcity.

