Demand for cow urine medicine on the rise in India

Demand for 'Gomutra Arka', a medicine distilled out of cow urine, is on the rise in India. An arka manufacturer on the outskirts of Mangalore in Karnataka, south-western India, who supplies around 10 liters a day, claims that even the educated are using the ayurvedic preparation regularly to prevent diseases.

Govanithashraya Trust manufactures gomutra arka at its goshala (cow shelter) in Beejaguri at Pajeer, 26 km from the city. Goshala in-charge Santhosh Kumar said that they have plans to expand the manufacture unit as the demand for gomutra arka is increasing.

"We take care of more than 300 cows of various breeds. "Gomutra arka is effective in checking 109 types of diseases if consumed regularly as per the prescribed dosage. It increases resistance power, life span and purifies the blood, reduces cholesterol and checks obesity. It is also effective in skin diseases, acidity, kidney ailments and other diseases," he claimed, adding that even doctors use it routinely to prevent diseases.

Cow urine collected from local breeds like malenadu gidda, hallikaru and kankrej are used to make arka. There are other manufacturers, who also market arka," he added. Santhosh underwent training in making organic products from panchagavyas (cow urine, cow dung, milk, ghee and curd) at a goshala in Devarapur in Nagpur.