Cowpathy is the concept of application of cow products for healing purpose. This has emerged as a novel offshoot of the traditional Ayurveda. Cowpathy largely makes use of the major five products derived from cows for treatment of the ailments. The five components of cow origin employed in cowpathy healing system include milk, urine, dung, ghee, and curd. Panchagavya Therapy and Cow Urine Therapy are the two variants of Cowpathy employed today.  Panchagavya is a product the above five components of the cow and is prepared as a liquid and a semisolid Panchagavya Ghritha formulations. The mode of delivery is either oral intake or topical application.  The ancient Ayurveda literature like “Sushrita Samhita” and ”Ashtanga Sangraha“, have the reference of the preparation and medicinal applications of cow products. Several individuals and organizations in India have attempted the revival of this domain of healing during the recent years.  It has succeeded in bringing positive impact on health care during the last few decades. Of course, the society is still divided regarding the efficacy of these products. The technicality and efficacy evaluation report of the Panchagavya Ghrita from the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), an autonomous Ayurvedic research organization of the Government of India however, endorsed the product for its efficacy and safety.  The formulation has been legally approved for use based on on the Ayurvedic classical texts and Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I as well.

It is making a new trend today with lakhs of followers in India and abroad, with its users spread all over the world. The products have been found effective against a wide range of human ailments from the common cold to cancer. Ayurveda recommends Cowpathy products for improvement of the general health and intellect, in addition to its specific application in treating disorders of digestive system, skin, blood-related problems, diabetes, and many others. It has expanded the scope of cow urine and/or Panchagavya Therapy to a much wider range of clinical conditions. The antibiotic and antiviral properties of  products have been confirmed with scientific and technical data derived from research carried out by many Universities and Research Institutes of repute.

Some of the centres of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), India,  Gujarat Agricultural University, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Izatnagar, and G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar are few to name who have made commendable  research on Cowpathy  and its efficacy. Apart from these, many NGOs and private organizations like the Go-Vigyan Anusandhan Kendra in Nagpur, the Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar, and the Panchagavya Academy in Rajkot from India also focus on research, development and extension activities on Cowpathy.

A US Patent entitled “Use cow urine distillate (Go-Mutra) as bioenhancer of anti-infective and anti-cancer agents’’, awarded to CSIR, India on the bio-enhancing capacity of the active ingredients from cow urine on antibiotics and anti-cancer agents has upheld the efficacy of cow urine therapy. Still another novel therapeutic application of cow urine as an agent for protection of DNA damage from oxidative enzymes has bagged a Chinese patent (No. 100475221) entitled “Pharmaceutical composition containing cow urine distillate as an antioxidant” issued to CSIR and NEERI, Nagpur, India.

Practical proof for the healing activities of Cowpathy products are available as isolated case studies like that of the story of a 37-year-old Amit Vaidya from Los Angeles, as narrated by him in his autobiography “Holy Caner and How A Cow Saved My Life”, as well as testimonials and compiled data available in URLs of different organizations committed for the promotion of Cowpathy and conservation of cows. In-depth and research-based evidence on the therapeutic action of Cowpathy on several other diseases is available in the AYUSH portal and many other URLs dedicated for Cowpathy.

Now it is quite evident that Cowpathy has gained tremendous popularity as a healing system among the healers and the patients. The practical cure attained on  HIV, cancer, and several other challenging diseases and the technical support generated on the efficacy and safety of the products of Cowpathy have confirmed its scope towards entry into the guild of complementary and alternative medicines. This opportunity needs to be reaped effectively to bring a positive and lasting impact on the healthcare system and on the lives of patients!