Cow urine

Cow urine, gomutra or gōmēz is a liquid by-product of metabolism in cows. It has a sacred role in Zoroastrianism and some forms of Hinduism.

Cow urine is used as medicine in some places of India, Myanmar, and Nigeria. While cow urine and cow dung have benefits as fertilizers, the proponents' claims about its curing diseases and cancer have no scientific backing.

Folk medicine


Some Hindus claim that cow urine has a special significance as a medicinal drink. The sprinkling of cow urine is said to have a spiritual cleansing effect as well.

Cow urine is used for attempted therapeutic purposes in ancient Ayurvedic medicine. Urine of a pregnant cow is considered special; it is claimed to contain special hormones and minerals. According to ayurvedas, Gomutra (cow urine) can cure leprosy, fevers, peptic ulcers, liver ailments, kidney disorders, asthma, certain allergies, psoriasis, anaemia and even cancer. One of India's largest Ayurvedic companies, Patanjali Ayurved, sells urine-based products. Sadhvi Pragya, a member the Indian Lok Sabha, claimed that cow urine and other products cured her cancer. The government of India holds a dozen patents or more related to cow urine and has filed patent applications in nearly 150 countries.

The purported medicinal benefits of cow urine lack scientific substantiation and rigorous empirical evidence. Claims suggesting that cow urine can cure various ailments or possess unique therapeutic properties are not supported by robust clinical trials or research.

Cow urine is also used in Myanmar and Nigeria as a folk medicine. In Nigeria, a concoction of leaves of tobacco, garlic and lemon basil juice, rock salt and cow urine is used in an attempt to treat convulsions in children. This has resulted in the death of several children from respiratory depression.

As a floor cleaner
A floor-cleaning fluid called Gaunyle is marketed by an organisation called Holy Cow Foundation. Maneka Gandhi, Women and Child Development Minister, has proposed that Gaunyle be used instead of Phenyl in government offices. In May 2015, Rajendra Singh Rathore, Medical and Health Minister of Rajasthan, inaugurated a inr 40000000 cow-urine refinery in Jalore. The refinery was set up by Parthvimeda Gau Pharma Pvt. Ltd. which produces a floor cleaner called Gocleaner.

In organic farming
Gomutra is used as a manure for production of rice. Jeevamrutha is a fertilizer made from a mixture of cow urine, cow dung, jaggery, pulse flour and rhizosphere soil.