Abstract
India witnessed the green revolution through the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and hybrid seeds of different cereals, pulses etc. in order to have suffi-cient food for our ever increasing population. We are number one in the world in milk production, which is achieved through importation of exotic animals, crossbreeding with indigenous cows and buffaloes. However, the crossbreeding programme seems to be not sus-tainable as there is increased susceptibility of animals for various kinds of infections. If we look for an overall picture of animal husbandry sector, we find that many indigenous things we lost to achieve white revolution. It could have been achieved even after the selection and upgradation of indigenous cattle. We have cow breeds for milk, draught and multipurpose and thereby- maintaining the resistance in animals vis-à-vis high milk yield. If we look back, we find huge number of cattle population in our country and at that time one was con-sidered rich because of its cattle wealth. Agricultural operations, transportation, wars, marriages, etc. were dependent on animal husbandry sector mainly on qual-ity bullocks which are produced by indigenous animals besides milk. Also, there was a scope of medicinal prop-erties of indigenous cow products like milk, ghee, dahi, urine and dung. These five things together were named as “Panchgavya” in Ayurveda which were found to cure many human ailments. However, this scientific knowl-edge does not get proper attention as it is in Sanskrit language which, we are generally not able to under-stand because the scientific education is imparted in English and after independence, we became inclined towards the western theories and living standards. But now everyone is looking for alternatives as the western policy on medical sciences including the advent of antibiotics are not sustainable in changing environmental scenario.
World Health Organization opined that most of the antibiotics discovered during 20th century are having resistance in bacteria and they will be no more wonder drugs in 21st century. It is estimated that by the year 2020 no antibiotic drug will be sufficient enough to cure or prevent the infections in man and animals. In such a situation alternative therapies are being given due attention like homeopathy, Ayurveda, Chinese herbal, Japanese herbal therapies etc. Most of the antibiotics are bacteriostatic in nature and as such they do not kill the bacteria, rather they suppress their growth and the bacteria have to be killed by the body’s defense mechanisms named as phagocytic system though macrophages. In the polluted environmental conditions, where we have pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins in each and every food items, the body’s defense mechanism is being down regulated day by day lead-ing to increased susceptibility, recurrent infections and increased incidence of cancer or im-mune mediated diseases. In such situation, Panchgavya therapy can be a ray of hope to control infections by maintaining the immune status of an individual. Recently, the cow urine has been given US patent for its bio-enhancer properties specially for early cure of tuberculosis and can-cer in human beings. Other studies also revealed the immunomodulatory properties of indig-enous cow urine. Interestingly, such properties could not be detected in urine of exotic, cross bred cows or other animals. Besides, cow urine is said to be a very good insecticide when mixed with certain herbs. There are numerous uses of cow urine for various human ailments like, to cure cancer, osteoarthritis, allergies, kidney failures, skin diseases, healing of wounds, etc. |
