Gujarat : ‘Cow Dung’ Therapy May Cause Black Fungus
People in Gujarat have resorted to “cow-dung therapy” to treat the infection but doctors warn that this may cause the dangerous Black Fungus infection.
Amid the second wave of the pandemic sweeping across the country, reports have emerged that many people in Gujarat have resorted to “Cow-Dung Therapy” to treat coronavirus. People have been visiting a cow shelter run by Shree Swaminarayan Gurukul Vishwavidya Prathisthanam (SGVP) in Ahmedabad. The shelter has over 200 cows. A SGVP official said, “For the last one month, around 15 persons visit it every Sunday to apply a paste of cow dung and cow urine on the body. As participants wait for the dung and urine mixture on their bodies to dry, they hug or honour the cows at the shelter, and practise yoga to boost energy levels. Once dry it is then washed off with cow milk. People believe that doing this increases the body’s immunity against Covid-19. Those taking the therapy include some frontline workers and people working at medical stores.” Doctors, however, do not vouch for its efficacy.
Dr Mona Desai, chairperson of the women's wing of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) 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. Since cow dung also carries several fungi, they may enter into the body and infect you. Instead of proving helpful, cow dung would give you other infections, including Black Fungus. . I urge people to be little aware and not put their lives in danger.
