People in India are bathing in cow dung as they believe that it will help boost their immune system against Covid-19. However, there is no scientific evidence for this and doctors are warning against this practice as it risks the spread of other diseases.
Although India has reported about 22.66 million cases and over 246,000 deaths, experts say that the actual numbers could be five to 10 times higher. Hospitals are running out of beds, oxygen and medicines, leaving many to die without any treatment.
Some citizens in the state of Gujarat have been going to cow shelters once a week to cover their bodies in cow dung, hoping that it will boost their immunity and help them recover from Covid-19, reported the Straits Times.
Even doctors are doing it because they believe that their immunity would improve and that they can go and tend to patients with no fear.
While waiting for the dung and urine mixture on their bodies to dry, these citizens hug or honour the cows at the shelter and practise yoga to boost energy levels. They then wash off the dung with milk or buttermilk.
This practice has raised concerns while doctors and scientists in India and across the globe have warned against using alternative methods for Covid-19 treatment. They say that these methods can lead to a false sense of security and even complicate health problems.
“There is no concrete scientific evidence that cow dung or urine works to boost immunity against Covid-19. It is based entirely on belief,” said Dr J.A. Jayalal, national president at the Indian Medical Association.
“There are also health risks involved in smearing or consuming these products – other diseases can spread from the animal to humans.”
Another concern is that this practice involves the gathering of people, which only facilitates the spread of Covid-19.
Also read: Over 40 Bloated Bodies Of Suspected Covid-19 Victims Found On India’s Ganges River
