Panchagavya Explained

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, cow urine, and milk; the two derived products are curd and ghee. These are mixed and then allowed to ferment. The Sanskrit word panchagavya means "five cow-derivatives". When used in Ayurvedic medicine, it is also called cowpathy.[1]

Dangers

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 urine can also be a source of harmful bacteria and infectious diseases, including leptospirosis.[5]

Non-medicinal applications

Panchgavya is 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]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Ramachandran . R. . 2 September 2016 . Of 'cowpathy' & its miracles . subscription . . 5 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191224180214/https://frontline.thehindu.com/cover-story/of-cowpathy-amp-its-miracles/article8994408.ece . 24 December 2019 . live.
  2. News: Nelson . Dean . 11 February 2009 . India makes cola from cow urine . . 30 April 2010.
  3. News: Buncombe . Andrew . 21 July 2010 . A cure for cancer – or just a very political animal? . . 21 March 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100722144954/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-cure-for-cancer-ndash-or-just-a-very-political-animal-2031253.html . 22 July 2010 . live.
  4. Oyebola . D. D. . Elegbe . R. A. . June 1975 . Cow's urine poisoning in Nigeria. Experimental observations in mice . 27 . 2 . Tropical and Geographical Medicine . 194–202 . 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. Sharma . S. . Vijayachari . P. . Sugunan . A. P. . Sehgal . S. C. . October 2003 . Leptospiral carrier state and seroprevalence among animal population – a cross-sectional sample survey in Andaman and Nicobar Islands . . 131 . 2 . 985–989 . 10.1017/S095026880300880X . free . 2870044 . 14596541.
  6. Dhama . K. . Rathore . Rajesh . Chauhan . R. S. . Tomar . Simmi . 2005 . Panchgavya (Cowpathy): An overview . International Journal of Cow Science . 1 . 1 . 1–15 . 0973-2241 . 5 November 2024.
  7. Book: Yadav . Birendra Kumar . Lourduraj . A. Christopher . Kumar . Arvind . 2005 . Use of Panchagavya as a Growth Stimulant and Biopesticide in Agriculture . https://books.google.com/books?id=E7pjZDNbmT4C&pg=PA65 . Environment & Agriculture . New Delhi . APH Publishing . 65-70 . 81-7648-921-2 . 25 March 2011.
  8. News: 5 June 2003 . Modified Panchakavya to boost plant and animal productivity . . 5 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140326104259/http://www.hindu.com/seta/2003/06/05/stories/2003060500180300.htm . 26 March 2014 . dead.
  9. News: Prabu . M. J. . 4 June 2009 . Panchagavya: low cost organic input for both crops and animals . . 5 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130301030935/http://www.hindu.com/seta/2009/06/04/stories/2009060450161300.htm . 1 March 2013 . dead.
  10. Ganesh Kumar . K. . Kumaravelu . N. . Sivakumar . T. . Gajendran . K. . June 2006 . Study on Panchakavya - An indigenous formulation and its effect on the growth promotion of crossbred pigs . Indian Journal of Animal Research . 40 . 2 . 158–160 . 0367-6722 . 5 November 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240805135519/https://arccarticles.s3.amazonaws.com/webArticle/articles/ijar1402015.pdf . 5 August 2024 . live.
  11. News: Pandey . Pradeep . Malviya . Sagar . 16 September 2011 . Kishore Biyani to launch Panchagavya cosmetics and health remedy products in Big Bazaar . . 5 November 2024.

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