Cow Urine : An Overview

Cow’s urine or go-mutra has been known to be used by various sectors of people in India from the Vedic periods for medicinal purpose The use of gomutra (cow urine) in India can be traced back to the Vedic times and probably it was used in the prevedic period also. In Vedaic literature, it has been well documented as a substance used for environmental purification and as an ingredient of the Panchayagavya (Milk, Urine, Dung, Ghee and Curd of Cow. In India, gomutra is used by the majority of rural population as traditional therapy in almost all the states.

Cow urine is bitter-salty in taste; warm, earthy in flavour and light to digest. With regards to the ayurvedic concept of tridosha, Gomutra is reported to alleviate vata and pitta disorders. It has bhedak and lekhan (has penetrating and scraping) property. It cures krimi (parasitic infection), shopha (oedema), udara (abdominal disease including ascites), anaha (flatulence) and shoola (colic pain). Hence it is used to treat gulma (tumour), aruchi (anorexia), visha (poisoning), shwitra (leucoderma) and kushtha (obstinate skin diseases including leprosy).

Cow Urine Treatment and Research Centre, Indore has conducted a lot of research over the past few years and reached the conclusion that it is capable of curing diabetes, blood pressure, asthma, psoriasis, eczema, heart attack, blockage in arteries, fits, cancer, AIDS, piles, prostrate, arthritis, migraine, thyroid, ulcer, acidity, constipation, gynaecological problems, ear and nose problems and several other diseases.

''Panch Gavya Ghrita''

Traditional ayurvedic system provides group of herbal products named as “Medhya Rasayanas’’ to treat mental illness and to improve cognition. Various herbal dosage forms such as Swaras [Expressed juice], Kalka [Herbal paste], Choorna [Powders], Taila, Ghrita [Medicated oils] and Asav-arista [Medicated fermented drugs] have been prescribed. Amongst them medicated ghee is the foremost form of medicine administered in routine clinical practice. This dosage form is having its own importance as the selective extraction of active principles in lipid base is carried out. These lipophilic medicines might cross blood brain barrier showing desired effects on CNS. Therefore helps to regularize functions of brain and in management of manifestations of mental disorders.

Pancha Gavya Ghrita [PGG] a medicated ghee formulation stated in Ayurvedic manuscripts with slight variation in their ingredients as well as therapeutic indications. Ayurvedic classics quoted preparation method of PGG by using five cow products [Cow ghee, Cow milk, Cow urine, Cow dung juice and Cow curd]. It is indicated in treatment of mental illness. Ayurvedic and modern science literature revealed the properties of each cow products in very elaborative manner.  Preparation of PGG is well narrated by taking equal quantity of five cow products. Standard method of preparation of PGG and preparation of cow dung juice is nicely elucidated in recently published government books AFI. Testing parameters for analysis of PGG has made clear in Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India. Earlier research works interpreted standardization of PGG and reported of various pharmacological activities different experiments.