Cite this article:
Itankar (2016). Challenges for Standardization and Validation of Panchagavya Product's Ethnopharmacological Claims. Journal of Ravishankar University (Part-B: Science), 29(1), pp.42.
GL-E04
Challenges
for Standardization and Validation of Panchagavya Product's Ethnopharmacological
Claims
Prakash R Itankar
Department of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur Corresponding
author email:
prakashitankar@ hotmail.com
(Received
11 January 2016]
Abstract: Panchgavya
is a term used to describe five major substances, obtained from cow, which
include urine (Gaumutra dung (Gaumaya), milk (Gaudugdh), butter oil (Ghee) and
curd (Gaudahi). All the five products possess medicinal properties against many
disorders and are used for the medicinal purpose singly or in combination with
some other herbs. This kind of treatment is called as Panchgavya therapy or
cowpathy. It is a system of medicine just like Homeopathy, Allopathy or
Naturopathy. Cow urine has been described in "Sushrita Samhita".
"Charaka Samhita' and 'Ashtanga Sangraha' as a most effective substance
/secretion of animal origin with innumerable therapeutic values. The Panchgavya
products also show many other applications, viz in agricultural operations in
the form of excellent biofertilizers, vermicompost and biopesticides Panchgavya
improves soil fertility and provides food grains free from the hazards of using
chemical fertilizers/pesticides. No other fertilizer in the world is as cheap
and harmless as dung fertilizer. Dung and urine also provide valuable alternate
source of energy in the form of biogas, fuel and electricity. Most of the urine
related medicines are prepared by distilling urine and/or collecting vapors.
The distillate of urine known as 'Ark' used in treating many diseases including
cancer, AIDS, diabetes mellitus and skin problems. Pharmacologically cow urine
is known to have antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antineoplastic,
anticonvulsive and antispasmodic properties. When cow urine therapy has given
to those suffering from flu. sinusitis, allergies, colds, rheumatoid arthritis,
aging, enteritis, constipation, edema, hepatitis, leprosy, obesity, gastric
ulcer. depression, heart disease, hypertension, burns, asthma, tetanus,
parkinson's disease, morning sickness, fever, eczema, fatigue. etc., some
improvement in the condition has been reported. The urine of cow is bitter,
pungent, piquant, spicy, warm and full of all the five types of elixirs. There
is evidence that the urine of the cow works as best appetizer and it has been
experimentally proved that the Indian cow urine is most effective when compared
to the urine of exotic cows, Thus it is considered as a universal medicine for
mankind and cures various sorts of disorders.
Keywords: Panchgavya,
AIDS, Cowpathy