Dr. Srinivas .G

Cow Urine Therapy has been in practice for many health problems in India for centuries. In India, cow is a symbol of spirituality and cow urine is not only used in devotional practices, but also comes packed with a bunch of health benefits.

'Kamadhenu' is worshipped for thousands of years as the Goddess who fulfils desire. In Ayurveda, cow is considered as the mother of all entities as the products obtained from cow are beneficial to all mankind in many ways. The milk, urine, curd, ghee and dung obtained from cow are beneficial in different ways as food supplement and medicine. Cow urine or Gomutra destroys the poisonous effects of residues and makes body disease free. The medicinal usage of Panchgavya, especially cow urine is practiced in Ayurveda which is classified as complementary and alternative medicine.

The two Indian epics, Shushruta samhita and Charaka samhita, have described that the consumption of cow urine produces body warmth. In modern medical science, it has been well established that the thyroid hormones are responsible for producing body warmth. The oral administration of cow urine has thyroid stimulating effect and therapeutic value of urinary iodine present in the cow urine is immense. Cow urine or Gomutra contains iodine, which is easily absorbable from the gastrointestinal tract. The mean urinary iodine levels in dairy cows may vary from 79.2 to 94.8 micrograms of iodine per litre of urine depending upon their physiological conditions. Iodine is an essential element to produce thyroid hormones such as triiodothyronine and thyroxine. These are catabolic hormones that generate heat and cause body warmth. It has been proven that the cow urine contains iodine in required level for normal functioning of thyroid gland.

Urinary iodine concentration in cow urine varies depending upon its biological status and it could stimulate the patient's thyroid gland activity on oral administration of iodine. Thyroxine stimulates more oxygen utilization and heat production by many different cells of the body.

During iodine deficiency, the pituitary gland secretes enhanced amounts of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which causes compensatory adjustment. This leads in the production of more extensive secretory epithelium which in turn will result in enlargement of the thyroid gland and loss of colloid material in the thyroid follicles. In this scenario, exogenous supplementation of iodine brings back the normal thyroid status.

The administration of cow urine, which contain good levels of iodine, can keep the thyroid gland activity on a better footing. We now have the support of scientific validation for the experience of warming up of the human body after consumption of cow urine or Gomutra.

Sex is still considered a taboo topic to be discussed openly in our society. People feel uncomfortable in asking, sharing or even seeking professional help about matters related to sexual health. It is ironical that Kamastura, the standard work on human sexual behaviour, was written in India around the 2nd century AD. It is even more fascinating that despite such widespread stigma and taboo, we have a population of 1.2 billion!

Since it is such a relevant topic which requires correct and authentic information, we will discuss this topic over the next 2 posts. This post focuses on some of the common sexual disorders. Subsequently we will take the causes and treatments for such problems in tomorrow's post.

Although everyone is expected to have some sexual difficulties from time to time, when these persist or are reasonably high in intensity, it may be due to a sexual dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction is a disorder which prevents the individual from either wanting or enjoying sexual activity as desired. It is generally classified into four categories:-

1. Desire disorders – lack of sexual desire or interest in sex. The person may still enjoy sexual activities and experience satisfaction but doesn’t desire sex as much. This makes the initiation of sexual activity less likely. In sexual aversion, sexual activity is completely avoided as it is anxiety provoking and associated with strong negative feelings.
2. Arousal disorders – inability to become physically aroused or excited during sexual activity even though the person may be emotionally ready for sex. In men, this may be manifested as failure to achieve an erection suitable for satisfactory intercourse. In women, the principal problem is vaginal dryness or lack of lubrication which makes intercourse difficult or impossible.
3. Orgasm disorders – delay or absence of orgasm (climax). The person may not be able to experience orgasm at all or it may be delayed. It includes a condition known as premature ejaculation, in which the male partner is unable to control ejaculation sufficiently for both partners to enjoy sexual interaction.
4. Pain disorders – pain during intercourse. In this condition, the person experiences genital pain during sexual intercourse making intercourse impossible or painful.

Sexual dysfunction can affect any age, although it is more common in those over 40 years because it is often related to a decline in health associated with aging. While research suggests that sexual dysfunction is fairly common (43 percent of women and 31 percent of men report some degree of difficulty), it is a topic that many people are hesitant to discuss. Because treatment options are available, it is important to share your concerns with your partner and health care provider.

‘Sex is between the ears as well as between the legs’