Key Points:
- Amidst peak Covid-19 in India, there is a practice going on in the state of Gujarat that is allegedly being performed in order to help individuals recover from Coronavirus.
- Some believers in the state are covering their bodies once a week with COWDUNG and COW-URINE hoping that’ll boost their immunity against the virus.
- The dried mixture of Cowdung and Urine is then washed off with milk or buttermilk.
- Doctors have warned that there is no scientific research that has declared that the practice is useful and also said that it is completely the belief of the people that is making them do all this.
- The New Indian Express reported Dr. Mona Desai who is the chairperson of the women’s wing of IMA saying, “…Applying cow dung and urine can never boost immunity or protect you from coronavirus. People should consult doctors and stay away from such therapies.”
- “Instead of proving helpful, cow dung would give you other infections, including mucormycosis (black fungus infection),” Dr. Mona said.
India is almost world’s worst hit countries by the second wave of Coronavirus with 22.66 million cases and 246,116 deaths reported so far. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified the Indian Variant of the virus as being of a ‘Global Concern’
Amidst this, there is a practice going on in the state of Gujarat that is allegedly being performed in order to help them recover from Coronavirus.
What is the practice?
Some believers in the state are covering their bodies once a week with COWDUNG and COW-URINE hoping that’ll boost their immunity against the virus or recover completely.
A huge number of participants wait for the dung and urine mixture on their bodies to dry. Then, they hug or honour the cows at the shelter, and practice yoga to boost energy levels. The dried mixture is then washed off with milk or buttermilk.
Doctors have absolutely opposite views to this practice as they’ve always been right from the beginning of the pandemic to warn people of not practicing any alternative practices. They’ve said that there is no scientific research that has declared that the practice is useful. Doctors have also mentioned that it is completely the belief of the people that is making them do all this.
“There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine work to boost immunity against COVID-19, it is based entirely on belief,” said Dr J.A. Jayalal, national president at the Indian Medical Association, Reuters reported.
“There are also health risks involved in smearing or consuming these products — other diseases can spread from the animal to humans,” he added.
Dr Dileep Mavlankar, Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health from Gandhinagar said, “I don’t know if this therapy would really help people. I have never come across any research which suggested that application of cow dung on the body would increase immunity against coronavirus,” The New Indian Express reported.
The New Indian Express also reported Dr. Mona Desai who is a senior doctor in Ahmedabad city as well as the chairperson of the women’s wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) saying, “Cow dung is nothing but body waste. Applying cow dung and urine can never boost immunity or protect you from coronavirus. People should consult doctors and stay away from such therapies.”
“Instead of proving helpful, cow dung would give you other infections, including mucormycosis,” she said.
What is Mucormycosis?
Mucormycosis, also called black fungus infection, has been observed among some COVID-19 survivors and can be deadly.
Subsequently, the practice can turn completely upside down and can act as a super spreader of Covid-19 due to the large gatherings that take place during the process.
In India, Covid has infected 2.29 crore people with 3.29 lakh fresh cases in the last 24 hours.
