Right outside Delhi’s Krishi Bhavan, a stall vends flavoured goumutra, enriched with elaichi and tulsi. The ‘Herbal Gomutra’ is manufactured by IMC, and claims that the product is “sanjeevani” (immortality), albeit it doesn’t come without its flaws. Apparently, diarrhoea is a probable side-effect, which by the way, IMC claims is a “good symptom”.
According to IMC, the ‘Herbal Gomutra’ has “natural antiseptic, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-allergic” qualities. While there has been scientific research backing the medicinal qualities of cow urine, this product claims to be a solution for stress, haemorrhoids, depression, weight loss, sorcery empiricism, asthma, baldness, cancer, AIDS, and whatnot. Basically everything but diarrhoea, of course.
Kinda makes you wonder why so many people are dying of diseases when cow urine therapy is the panacea all of us needed.
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(Courtesy: Express Photo/Oinam Anand)
Medicinal Properties of Cow Urine
Now, for some science. Apparently, cow urine does exhibit good antimicrobial activity, even against some resistant strains of bacteria. It has also been known to have antifungal activity, even inhibiting the growth of the fungus responsible for dandruff by 90-95%. Additionally, cow urine reportedly has antioxidant, antiparasitic, and antiseptic properties; boosts some anti-microbial drugs, and also enhances the activity of a certain type of white blood cell to boost immunity.
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These antioxidative properties of cow urine also help in DNA repair and anti-cancer therapy. Another 2008 research conducted by the Department of Pharmacology, B.R. Nahata College of Pharmacy in Mandsaur on 63 cancer patients established a significant decline in the degree of symptoms upon receiving cow urine therapy.
(Courtesy: Express Photo/Ravi Kanojia)
So… Is Goumatra That Panacea?
As per Ayurvedic texts, cow urine has been used for the treatment of diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, psoriasis, blockage in arteries, AIDS, piles, arthritis, constipation, etc. However, there is hardly any substantial modern research affirming the same.
According to Oncologist Venkatraman Radhakrishnan, cow urine is “no different from human urine” and that it “does not prevent or cure cancers”. He stated, “I have seen numerous gullible patients with curable cancers fall into the trap of consuming cow urine and lose their precious lives.”
As per the American Cancer Society, there are “no well-controlled studies published in the available scientific literature support the claims that urotherapy can control or reverse the spread of cancer.”
So, perhaps it’s good that researchers got 50 research proposals to study benefits of cow urine under SVAROP programme. At least, we would be able to settle this for good. Until then, let’s keep drinking cow urine off the agenda? ‘Cause it’s kinda icky tbh.
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