Science is the essence of evidence, based on studies in the laboratory, field and in the real day life. This has formed the basis of progress of mankind from the time of life in the caves to the present day. Likewise, healthcare systems also developed with changing times. Ancient philosophers and physicians researched into nature to find remedies based on the notion that when disease has occurred because of causes prevalent in the nature, remedies would also be there in it. This led to the development of different systems of treating patients in various parts of the world viz Ayurveda & Siddha in India, Yunani in Greece, Acupuncture & Acupressure in China etc. All these system developed in the medieval period.

Modern scientific system of medicine enhanced the knowledge gained therein to develop the health care system further on the basis of new scientific innovations. Anatomy and Physiology made us understand the basic structure and functioning of life systems. Our body has an elaborate system to utilize whatever is needed and to excrete those materials which are either not required or are harmful. It is common knowledge that part of the food which we consume is digested and the rest excreted through the gastrointestinal track. After the food has been metabolized in the body, other waste products are excreted in urine. It is, therefore, important to compare the chemical composition of urine of cow and human beings and to prove on evidence the usefulness and superiority of cow urine for human health.

Urine is a liquid produced by the kidneys to remove waste products from the bloodstream. The bBasic composition of cow or human urine are water, urea, sodium, chloride, sulfate, potassium, phosphate, creatinine, ammonia, uric acid, calcium, magnesium. These chemicals are, however, available from other sources as well.

Since the composition of human and cow urine is similar, it is difficult to believe that with similar composition only the cow urine is useful for human body.

In this connection to get to know more scientific information of the utility of the cow urine and cow dung for the human body, information under RTI was obtained from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India. They replied that “the information is not maintained by this CPIO of cattle Division”. Simultaneously the same information was sought from the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU), Ludhiana. The information received from 22 departments of the GADVASU denied any such information with them. It is worth mentioning here that GADVASU Ludhiana has been ranked first among 14 state veterinary universities in the country, as per the ranking of agricultural universities and research institutes conducted by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), New Delhi, for 2016-17.

Thus there is no scientific information available about the usefulness of cow urine for human health at the highest level of academics in the veterinary field. On the contrary, some studies have reported the toxic effects of cow urine concoction. Moreover, cow urine consumed in crude form could be infectious and may lead to serious health problems.

According to veteran historian D N Jha, the cow and its products (milk, curd, clarified butter, dung and urine) or their mixture called Panchagavya assumed a purificatory role during the medieval period. But here too several Dharmasastras forbid its use by women and the lower castes because if a Sudra drinks cow urine he goes to hell.

Therefore, one has to be to be skeptical about the role of cow urine for human health. The evidence does not hold true on that. It is more of a belief system than science. But the propaganda about the benefits of the cow urine in the recent days seems to be connected to the Hindutva agenda of the RSS and its outfits. It is high time that the Ministry of Pharmaceuticals as well as the Ministry of Health intervened to stop this propaganda. The issue here is related to our health. (IPA Service)