Gomutra (Cow Urine) Benefits, Uses, Dosage and Side Effects

Gomutra (Cow Urine) benefits include its use in skin and abdominal diseases. It is mainly used in Kapha diseases and Vata disorders associated with excess kapha dosha. On the skin, it exerts potent antipruritic action. So, it alleviates itching. It helps in eradication of intestinal worms. In abdominal diseases, it is useful when a patient has aggravated and increased kapha symptoms.
Gomutra (Cow Urine)
Urine collected from all cows is not always beneficial. When ayurveda talks about cow urine, it means desi cow urine collected from Indian original and indigenous breeds of cow. We don’t recommend urine from other cows. The availability of desi cow urine is rare in urban India. Due to this reason, we don’t use cow urine in treatment at our clinic. So, this article will also be brief due to lack of experience about its uses.
Ayurvedic Properties of Gomutra
RASA (Taste) | KATU (Pungent), TIKTA (Bitter) & KASAYA (Astringent) and slightly MADHURA (Sweet) |
GUNA (Main Quality) | TIKSHNA (Sharp) |
VIRYA (Potency) | USHNA (Hot) |
VIPAKA (Resultant) | KATU (Pungent) |
Organs Effect | Stomach and Skin |
Dosha Karma
Reduces | Kapha Dosha. |
Pacifies | Vata Dosha if mixed with Kapha Dosha |
Increases | Pitta Dosha. |
Suitable | Kapha Body Type and Kapha Disorders. |
Unsuitable | Pitta Body Type and Pitta Disorders. |
Primarily, Gomutra (Cow Urine) is best in the treatment of abdominal and skin diseases in which kapha dosha has its primary dominance. However, it does not increase Vata dosha due to its Kshar (alkaline) nature, according to Sushruta Samhita. But it increases Pitta Dosha.
Medicinal Properties
Gomutra (Cow Urine) has the following medicinal properties.
- Nootropic (cognitive enhancer) – मेध्यम्
- or vermifuge (kills worms).
- Antiedemic (reduces edema).
- Appetizer.
- Hematogenic (stimulates the formation of blood cells).
- Cardioprotective.
- Digestive stimulant.
- Antispasmodic (useful in dull abdominal pain due to Kapha Dosha).
- Anti-constipation.
- Antipruritic (alleviate itching).
- Mucolytic.
Gomutra (Cow Urine) Indications
In classical ayurvedic texts, Gomutra (Cow Urine) is indicated in the following diseases.
- Intestinal worms.
- Skin diseases (kapha origin).
- Pruritus (itching) – without redness, burning or heat sensation.
- Abdominal pain (kapha vata origin).
- Feeling lump in the abdomen.
- Abdominal diseases (with kapha dominance).
- Heaviness in the abdomen.
- Constipation (kapha origin).
- Anorexia.
- Loss of appetite (due to excess kapha dosha).
- Edema.
- Ascites.
- Anemia (due to malfunction in blood cell formation).
Non-classical Indications
Some people also claim cow urine benefits in several diseases. Some of them are list below:
- Kidney disease.
- Leucorrhea.
- Productive cough.
- Nonbleeding piles.
- Jaundice.
- Asthma.
- Urinary disorders.
- Ear problems.
- Cancer.
However, some symptoms of these diseases are similar to symptoms of diseases indicated for cow urine in ancient classical texts.
Gomutra Dosage
The classical ayurvedic dosage of Gomutra (Cow Urine) is as follows:
Children (above the age of 8 years) | 0.15 ml per Kg of body weight |
Adults | 10 ml |
Pregnancy & Lactation | Not Recommended |
Geriatric Dosage | 0.15 ml per Kg of body weight |
Maximum Possible Dosage | 20 ml per day |
How to Take Cow Urine
Anupan (Adjuvant) | 4 parts of water. |
Dosage Frequency | Twice daily |
Medication Time | An empty stomach, after a meal |
Cow Urine Side Effects
Gomutra (Cow Urine) can also cause side effects as follows:
- Restlessness.
- Mouth ulcers.
- Heartburn.
- Hyperacidity.
- Burning or heat sensation in the body.
- Burning pain in the abdomen.
These side effects of cow urine generally appear in people with Pitta Body Type or patients suffering from Pitta disorders. If it is used wisely considering Kapha dosha, it might not cause any side effects.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Gomutra (Cow Urine) is likely unsafe during pregnancy. Because it reduces Kapha, but pregnant women need such food or supplement that improves and increases Kapha in the body. According to this concept, it might lead to delivering a child with low body weight and some pitta diseases.
In similar ways, lactating mothers need some foods that nourish their body as well as improves breastmilk supply. Cow urine might act the opposite. Due to anti-kapha, it might decrease the breastmilk supply.
References
- Charak Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 1, गव्यं समधुरं किंचिद् दोष घ्नं क्रिमि कुष्ठनुत्॥ कण्डू च शमयेत् पीतं सम्यग्दोषोदरे हितम् ॥१०१॥ (C. S. Ch. 1)
- Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45, गोमूत्रं कटु तीक्षण उष्णम् सक्षारत्वं वातलम् ॥ लघ्वग्नि दीपनं मेध्यम् पित्तलम् कफ वातनुत् ॥२२०॥ शूल गुल्म उदर अनाह विरेकास्थापनादिषु ॥ मूत्र प्रयोग साध्येषु गव्यं मूत्रं प्रोजयेत् ॥२२१॥ (S. S. Ch. 45)