Cow urine explained

Cow urine, gomutra or gōmēz is a liquid by-product of metabolism in cows. It has a sacred role in some forms of Hinduism.

Cow urine is used as medicine in some places of India, Myanmar, and Nigeria. While cow urine and cow dung have benefits as fertilizers, the proponents' claims about its curing diseases and cancer have no scientific backing.[1] [2] [3] [4]

Usage

Folk medicine

Some Hindus claim that cow urine has a special significance as a medicinal drink.[5] [6] The purported medicinal benefits of cow urine lack scientific substantiation and rigorous empirical evidence. Claims suggesting that cow urine can cure various ailments or possess unique therapeutic properties are not supported by robust clinical trials or research.

Cow urine is also used in Myanmar and Nigeria as a folk medicine.[7] [8] In Nigeria, a concoction of leaves of tobacco, garlic and lemon basil juice, rock salt and cow urine is used in an attempt to treat convulsions in children.[8] This has resulted in the death of several children from respiratory depression.[9]

As a floor cleaner

A floor-cleaning fluid called Gaunyle is marketed by an organisation called Holy Cow Foundation.[10] Maneka Gandhi, Women and Child Development Minister, has proposed that Gaunyle be used instead of Phenyl in government offices.[11] In May 2015, Rajendra Singh Rathore, Medical and Health Minister of Rajasthan, inaugurated a cow-urine refinery in Jalore.[12] [13] The refinery was set up by Parthvimeda Gau Pharma Pvt. Ltd. which produces a floor cleaner called Gocleaner.[13]

In organic farming

Gomutra is used as a manure for production of rice.[14] Jeevamrutha is a fertilizer made from a mixture of cow urine, cow dung, jaggery, pulse flour and rhizosphere soil.[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: A cure for cancer – or just a very political animal? . Andrew Buncombe . The Independent . 21 July 2010 . 21 March 2011 .
  2. News: From cure in cow urine to 'superior child', pseudoscience inviting research . Ankur. Paliwal. 3 March 2018. Business Standard. Business Standard India. 8 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008202044/https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/from-cure-in-cow-urine-to-superior-child-pseudoscience-inviting-research-118030200581_1.html . 8 October 2019. live.
  3. Web site: Of 'cowpathy' & its miracles. R. . RAMACHANDRAN . Frontline. 17 August 2016 .
  4. News: Mr. Modi, Don't Patent Cow Urine. The New York Times. 2016-06-16. Prabhala. Achal. Krishnaswamy. Sudhir. 9 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191008202044/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/opinion/mr-modi-dont-patent-cow-urine.html. 8 October 2019. live.
  5. News: Pictured: A very few Indian Hindu worshippers drink COW URINE to help prevent cancer . . Ben Burrows . 13 January 2014 . 27 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160106081241/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/hindu-worshippers-drink-cow-urine-3017661 . 6 January 2016 . live .
  6. News: India makes cola from cow urine . . Dean Nelson . 11 February 2009 . 27 December 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100409084013/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4592608/India-makes-cola-from-cow-urine.html . 9 April 2010 . live .
  7. News: An amazing cow's urine therapy practice in Myanmar. University of Toyama. 10110/1993.
  8. Effects of cow urine concoction and nicotine on the nerve-muscle preparation in common African toad Bufo regularis. Biomedical Research. 2005. 16. 3. 205–211.
  9. News: Don't use cow urine to treat infant epilepsy, Kwara warns mothers. 29 March 2015. Premium Times. 2 February 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140903/http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nnorth-east/118417-dont-use-cow-urine-to-treat-infant-epilepsy-kwara-warns-mothers.html. 2 April 2015. live.
  10. News: Use cow urine to clean offices, says Maneka Gandhi. The Times of India. 25 March 2015. 6 April 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150330110157/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Use-cow-urine-to-clean-offices-says-Maneka-Gandhi/articleshow/46682574.cms. 30 March 2015. live.
  11. News: Cow urine cleaner to replace phenyl in government offices. 9 May 2015. India Today. 9 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150518094217/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cow-urine-cleaner-to-replace-phenyl-in-government-offices/1/412383.html. 18 May 2015. live.
  12. News: Cow-urine refinery inaugurated at Jalore . 9 May 2015. Deccan Herald. 3 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150508022931/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/475779/cow-urine-refinery-inaugurated-jalore.html. 8 May 2015. live.
  13. News: Cow urine to be used to clean Rajasthan government hospitals . 9 May 2015. India Today. 5 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150508015355/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cow-urine-rajasthan-government-hospitals-maneka-gandhi/1/433666.html. 8 May 2015. live.
  14. News: Farmer cultivates paddy with cow urine, dung . 6 January 2015 . The Hindu. 13 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121227052550/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-in-school/farmer-cultivates-paddy-with-cow-urine-dung/article4193671.ece. 27 December 2012. live.
  15. Book: T. Satyanarayana. Bhavdish Narain Johri. Anil Prakash. Microorganisms in Sustainable Agriculture and Biotechnology. 6 January 2015. 2 January 2012. Springer Science & Business Media. 978-94-007-2214-9. 63.

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