Gomutra

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Gomutra (Sanskrit: Gōmūtra; lit. cow urine) refers to the usage of cow urine for therapautic purposes in traditional Indian medicine, Ayurveda.[1] It also used in Vaastu Shastra for purification purposes.[2]

Gomutra is also an important component of the mixture called Panchagavya also used in Ayurveda.[1] Urine of a pregnant cow is considered special and it is claimed that it contains special hormones and minerals.[2]

Claimed benefits and usage

In religious rituals

In Hinduism, cow urine has a special significance as a drink.[3][4] Sprinkling of cow urine is said to have a spiritual cleansing effect as well.[5][6]

For pharmaceutical purposes

In Ayurveda, Gomutra is claimed to be helpful in the treatment of leprosy and cancer. A mixture of gomutra, Triphala, and cow milk is used for the treatment of Anaemia. It is also used in the treatment of fever by mixing it with black pepper, yoghurt, and ghee (ghrita). A mixture of gomutra, neem bark, vasaka bark, kurilo bark, kaner leaves. A mixture of gomutra and dharuharidra is used for epilepsy.[1] In study from Mandsaur has claimed that it may also benefit cancer patients.[7]

Cow urine is also used in Myanmar and Nigeria as a folk medicine.[8][9] In Nigeria, a concoction of leaves of tobacco, garlic and lemon basil juice, rock salt and cow urine is used to treat convulsions in children.[9] This has resulted in the death of several children from respiratory depression.[10]

According to the head of the Ayurvedic institute Dhanwanthari Vaidyasala of Thodupuzha, Satish Namboodiri, it is also used for peptic ulcer, certain type of cancer, liver ailments, and asthma.[11]

In 2002, a US patent was issued to a group of Indian scientists from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It was an antibiotic and cow urine distillate mixture. The cow urine was claimed to be serving as a bioenhancer, enhancing anti-microbial activity of antibiotic and antifungal agents.[12][13][14]

In 2010, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-funded Go-vigyan Anusandhan Kendra in Deolapar and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) acquired an US patent on a gomutra-based drug. They claimed that the patent validates that gomutra has anti-cancer properties. The patent was for a gomutra-based mixture that claimed to prevent oxidative damage to DNA.[15][16]

There is a recent movement that advocates the regular drinking of gomutra for its alleged health benefits.[17]

Gomutra is also marketed as a health drink. In 2009, Kanpur Gaushala Society (KGS) in Kanpur released a product called Goloka Pay, a cold drink containing 5% distilled cow urine. It was released in two flavours, orange and lemon. It also contained herbs like tulsi, shankhpushpi and brahmi.[18] Also in 2009, the Cow Protection Department of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Haridwar announced their plans to release a similar product as an alternative to cola.[19][20]

Comsetic products like soaps and shampoos are also made from gomutra.[21][22]

As a floor cleaner

A floor-cleaning fluid called Gaunyle is marketed by an organisation called Holy Cow Foundation.[23] Maneka Gandhi, Women and Child Development Minister, has proposed that Gaunyle be used instead of Phenyl in government offices.[24] In May 2015, Rajendra Singh Rathore, Medical and Health Minister of Rajasthan, inaugurated a ₹4,00,00,000 (US$630,000) cow-urine refinery in Jalore.[25][26] The refinery was set up by Parthvimeda Gau Pharma Pvt. Ltd. which produces a floor cleaner called Gocleaner.[26]

In organic farming

File:Jeewamrut urine storage cans (4950882796).jpg
Jeevamrutha storage cans

Gomutra is used as a manure for production of rice.[27] Jeevamrutha is a fertilizer made from a mixture of cow urine, cow dung, jaggery, pulse flour and rhizosphere soil.[28] A mixture of gomutra, custard apple leaves and neem leaves after boiling is said to serve as a biopesticide.[27]

In 2012, College of Veterinary & Animal Sciences in Wayanad district began selling packaged gomutra and Panchagavya. The products were primarily directed towards organic farming with claims that it would reduce usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Gomutra is supposed to increase plant resistance and Panchagavya is supposed to increase growth of soil bacteria and improve fertility. The head of the institute, Joseph Mathew, said that quality was assured by collecting by the first urine of the day from the cows. He added that it cannot be used of medicinal purposes.[11]

Scientific studies

A 1975 study on mice found that cow urine causes death in high doses.[29] A similar 1976 study on dogs showed that repeated administration of cow urine concoction as used in Nigerian folk medicine, resulted in hypotension and tachypnea, and also death.[30] A 2001 study found prions in detectable amount in the urine of cows suffering from bovine spongiform encephalopathy.[31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ US 6410059  "Pharmaceutical composition containing cow urine distillate and an antibiotic"
  13. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ US 7718360  "Composition (RUCD) for protecting and/or repairing DNA from oxidative damages and a method thereof"
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

  • Holy Cow Foundation, an organisation involved in cow protection and promoting various bovine products
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