Panchgavya

Panchgavya or more commonly Panchagavya or cowpathy is a treatment based on products obtained from cows used in Ayurvedic medicine and of religious significance for Hindus. It is made up of five cow products; milk, curd, ghee, urine and dung. Panchgavya is also used as fertilizers and pesticides in agricultural operations. ^[1][2]

Cow urine

The medicinal usage of Panchgavya particularly cow urine is practiced in Ayurveda. Although most Indian doctors view the medicines as eccentric, proponents claim that cow urine therapy is capable of curing several diseases, including certain types of cancer.^[3][4]

The Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh developed a beverage called Gauloka Peya which translates as "drink from the land of cow" that incorporates distilled and sterile cow urine mixed with water and traditional Indian herbs and medicinal plants such as Brahmi and basil in a 1-to-7 ratio, claimed by the manufacturers to have medicinal properties.^[5] The group announced plans to market the beverage as a 'healthy' alternative to soft drinks such as Pepsi and Coca Cola.^[3] Doctors have dismissed these claims.^[6]

See also

• Urine Therapy in other religions

Notes

1. ^ Dhama K. et al., Panchgavya (Cowpathy): An Overview, International Journal of Cow Science, 2005:vol 1:issue 1
2. ^ Arvind Kumar (1 January 2005). Environment & agriculture. APH Publishing. pp. 65–. ISBN 9788176489218. http://books.google.com/books?id=E7pjZDNbmT4C&pg=PA65. Retrieved 25 March 2011. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Nelson, Dean (February 11, 2009). "India makes cola from cow urine To millions of devout Hindus, it's the real thing: a cola made from the urine of India's sacred cows.". The Daily Telegraph (London). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4592608/India-makes-cola-from-cow-urine.html. Retrieved April 30, 2010. 
4. ^ Andrew Buncombe (21 July 2010). "A cure for cancer – or just a very political animal?". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-cure-for-cancer-ndash-or-just-a-very-political-animal-2031253.html. Retrieved 21 March 2011. 
5. ^ "Indian Health Drink's Special Ingredient: Cow Urine". Christian Science Monitor. September 29th, 2010. http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2010/0929/Indian-health-drink-s-special-ingredient-cow-urine. 
6. ^ Rahman, Shaikh Azizur (Jul 7, 2010). "Doctors scoff at Hindu 'health drink' containing cow urine". The National (Abu Dhabi). http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/doctors-scoff-at-hindu-health-drink-containing-cow-urine?pageCount=0. Retrieved March 30, 2011.