Panchagavya

Panchagavya or panchakavyam is a mixture used in traditional Hindu rituals that is prepared by mixing five ingredients. The three direct constituents are cow dung, urine, and milk; the two derived products are curd and ghee. These are mixed in proper ratio and then allowed to ferment. The Sanskrit word panchagavya means "five cow-derivatives". When used in Ayurvedic medicine, it is also called cowpathy.[1]

Scientific studies

Proponents claim that cow urine therapy is capable of curing several diseases, including certain types of cancer, although these claims have no scientific backing.[2][3] In fact, studies concerning ingesting individual components of panchagavya, such as cow urine, have shown no positive benefit, and significant side effects, including convulsion, depressed respiration, and death.[4] Cow's urine can also be a source of harmful bacteria and infectious diseases, including leptospirosis.[5]

Panchgavya is also used as a fertilizer and pesticide in agricultural operations.[6][7] Proponents claim that it is a growth promoter in the poultry diet, that it is capable of increasing the growth of plankton for fish feed,[8] and that it increases the production of milk in cows, increases the weight of pigs, and increases the egg laying capacity of poultry.[9][10] It is sometimes used as a base in cosmetic products.[11]

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See also

References
  1. "Of 'cowpathy' & its miracles".
  2. Nelson, Dean (11 February 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. Retrieved 30 April 2010.
  3. Andrew Buncombe (21 July 2010). "A cure for cancer – or just a very political animal?". The Independent. Retrieved 21 March 2011.
  4. Oyebola, DD; Elegbe, RA (1975). "Cow's urine poisoning in Nigeria. Experimental observations in mice". Trop Geogr Med. 27 (2): 194–202. PMID 1179485. Results of the experiments show that both "cow's urine" and nicotine cause excitement in low doses and cause convulsion and/or death in higher doses. Both also depress respiration.
  5. "Leptospiral carrier state and seroprevalence among animal population – a cross-sectional sample survey in Andaman and Nicobar Islands".
  6. Dhama K. et al., Panchgavya (Cowpathy): An Overview, International Journal of Cow Science, 2005:vol 1:issue 1
  7. Arvind Kumar (1 January 2005). Environment & agriculture. APH Publishing. pp. 65–. ISBN 978-81-7648-921-8. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  8. "Modified Panchakavya to boost plant and animal productivity". The Hindu. India. 5 June 2003.
  9. "Panchagavya: low cost organic input for both crops and animals". The Hindu. India. 4 June 2009.
  10. "STUDY ON PANCHAKAVYA - AN INDIGENOUS FORMULATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE GROWTH PROMOTION OF CROSSBRED PIGS" (PDF). INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH. Agricultural Research Communication Centre. 2006. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  11. "Kishore Biyani to launch Panchagavya cosmetics and health remedy products in Big Bazaar". Economic times. Mumbai, India. 16 September 2011.
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