Smearing cow dung on the body, the so-called ‘cow-dung’ therapy does not give protection against COVID-19, doctors have warned, adding that it can also cause other infections, including mucormycosis. The warning comes as some people are practising the therapy, believing it will ward off the COVID-19 infection by increasing immunity. 

The practice was witnessed at a cow shelter in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, run by Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Prathisthanam (SGVP), which is just across the road from the Indian headquarters of Zydus Cadila that is developing its own COVID-19 vaccine.  

For the last one month, around 15 people visit the shelter, which houses over 200 cows, every Sunday, apply cow dung and cow urine on their bodies and then, wash it off with cow milk, reported PTI quoting an SGVP official. 

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From frontline workers to people working at pharmacies, people from different sectors come to the shelter to take therapy, the official said. 

However, doctors have said that there is no scientific evidence that states the therapy gives immunity against COVID-19 disease. 

“I have never come across any research which suggested that application of cow dung on the body would increase immunity against coronavirus,” said Dr Dileep Mavlankar, Director of the Indian Institute of Public Health, Gandhinagar, quoted PTI.

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Terming the therapy as “humbug and inauthentic,” chairperson of the women’s wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dr Mona Desai said, “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,” quoted PTI.

She added, “Instead of proving helpful, cow dung would give you other infections, including mucormycosis (which can be fatal in some cases).”

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“Since cow dung also carries several fungi, they may enter into the body and infect you. I urge people to be little aware and not put their lives in danger,” said Desai.