Indian doctors are warning people against the practice of applying cow dung in the belief that it will protect against COVID-19. They say that there is no scientific evidence for this and it can risk spreading other diseases. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to devastation in India with 22.66 million cases and 246,116 deaths so far. Experts have stated that the actual numbers might be 5 to 10 times higher as citizens in the country are struggling to find hospital beds, oxygen, or medicines, thus leaving many people to die due to lack of treatment. 

In Gujarat, some believers are going to cow shelters once a week for covering their bodies in cow dung and urine hoping that it will boost their immunity against, or help to recover from the coronavirus infection. In Hinduism, the cow is considered as a sacred symbol of life and the earth, and for centuries Hindus have been using cow dung to clean their homes and also for prayer rituals, trusting that it has therapeutic and antiseptic properties.

Gautam Manilal Borisa, who is an associate manager in a pharmaceuticals company said that the practice has helped him to recover from COVID-19 last year. He has seen even doctors go there. Their belief is that the therapy improves their immunity and they can tend to patients without fear. He has been a regular at the Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Pratishthanam, which is a school run by Hindu monks just across the road from the Indian headquarters of Zydus Cadila, who is developing its own COVID-19 vaccine.

As the participants wait for the dung and urine mixture to dryon their bodies, they hug or honour the cows at the shelter, and also practice yoga for boosting energy levels. The dried packs are later washed off with milk or buttermilk.

Usha Thakur, Culture Minister of Madhya Pradesh has stated the necessity for adopting Vedic lifestyle for protection against coronavirus. She also claimed that ‘havan’ (ritual burning) of a cow dung cake can keep a house sanitised for almost 12 hours. She further said that her advice might appear strange to people, however this tip for keeping houses sanitised is not imaginary but science.

Madhya Pradesh minister, Imarti Devi too believes that she is immune to the coronavirus infection asa fact that she is born in gobar (cow dung) and mitti (mud). Imarti Devi, who is the Minister of Women and Force Development of the state, said this angrily as she spoke to the media amidst rumours that she was tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month. 

BJP MLA from Uttar Pradesh however has a different cure for the infection that is cow urine. Surendra Singh, the MLA from Bairia in Ballia district, called on people to drink ‘gaumutra’ (cow urine) to defeat coronavirus infection. He put up a video about himself drinking cow urine. In the video which went viral, Singh has demonstrated how the cow urine should be taken.

Doctors and scientists in India and throughout the world have repeatedly warned against practising alternative treatments for coronavirus infection-19, asit can lead to a false sense of security and further complicate health problems.

Dr JA Jayalal, National President of Indian Medical Association said that there is no concrete scientific evidence showing that cow dung or urine boost immunity against COVID-19. It is entirely based on belief. There are health risks involved in covering or consuming these products as other diseases can spread from the animal to humans.

Also. There are concerns that this practice might contribute to the spread of the coronavirus as it involves people gathering in groups. Madhucharan Das, who is in charge of another cow shelter in Ahmedabad, said that they are limiting the number of participants.

Source: News18