MANILA, Philippines – With the unimaginable devastation of the coronavirus pandemic in India, several believers including doctors in Gujarat in western India have turned to cow dung therapy, a practice of applying cow dung and urine on the body, to allegedly boost their immunity and help them recover from COVID-19.
For centuries, Hindus, who view cows as a sacred symbol of life and the earth, have used cow dung for prayer rituals and to clean their homes. They believe that cow dung possesses therapeutic and antiseptic properties.
During the process, believers hug or honor the cows as well as practice yoga to boost energy while waiting for the dung and urine mixture on their bodies to dry. Afterwards, they will wash their bodies with cow’s milk or buttermilk.
According to Gautam Manilal Borisa, an associate manager at a pharmaceuticals company, the therapy has helped him recover from the COVID-19 last year. Since then, he had regularly visited the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam, a school run by Hindus.
“We see … even doctors come here. Their belief is that this therapy improves their immunity and they can go and tend to patients with no fear,” Borisa revealed.
Meanwhile, doctors in India have warned against the practice of applying of cow dung and urine on the body as protection against COVID-19.
Indian Medical Association national president Dr. JA Jayalal explained that the practice of this alternative treatment has no scientific basis and may even pose health risks as other diseases can spread from the animal to humans.
"There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine work to boost immunity against COVID-19, it is based entirely on belief,” Dr. Dr. JA Jayalal said.
Furthermore, the practice is also believed to contribute to the spread of the coronavirus as believers gather in groups during therapy.
As of writing, India has reported 22.66 million coronavirus cases and 246,116 deaths. Actual numbers could be five to 10 times higher according to experts.
— Mini, The Summit Express
For centuries, Hindus, who view cows as a sacred symbol of life and the earth, have used cow dung for prayer rituals and to clean their homes. They believe that cow dung possesses therapeutic and antiseptic properties.
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| PHOTO CREDIT: Amit Dave, Reuters |
During the process, believers hug or honor the cows as well as practice yoga to boost energy while waiting for the dung and urine mixture on their bodies to dry. Afterwards, they will wash their bodies with cow’s milk or buttermilk.
According to Gautam Manilal Borisa, an associate manager at a pharmaceuticals company, the therapy has helped him recover from the COVID-19 last year. Since then, he had regularly visited the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam, a school run by Hindus.
“We see … even doctors come here. Their belief is that this therapy improves their immunity and they can go and tend to patients with no fear,” Borisa revealed.
Posted by Reuters Pictures on Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Meanwhile, doctors in India have warned against the practice of applying of cow dung and urine on the body as protection against COVID-19.
Indian Medical Association national president Dr. JA Jayalal explained that the practice of this alternative treatment has no scientific basis and may even pose health risks as other diseases can spread from the animal to humans.
"There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine work to boost immunity against COVID-19, it is based entirely on belief,” Dr. Dr. JA Jayalal said.
Furthermore, the practice is also believed to contribute to the spread of the coronavirus as believers gather in groups during therapy.
As of writing, India has reported 22.66 million coronavirus cases and 246,116 deaths. Actual numbers could be five to 10 times higher according to experts.
— Mini, The Summit Express
