India's northern Uttarakhand state has launched a programme to buy 5000 litres of cow urine daily for use in an ancient system of herbal medicines and cosmetics known as Ayurveda.
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State animal husbandry minister Trivendra Rawat said his department would begin collecting the urine for Rs 5 (0.064 pence) per litre from next month through a network of 1900 specially created milk cooperatives.
Officials said they would have 26 species of mountain cows as their urine had a 'richer' herbal residue content compared to what was available from the plains, with unique ingredients capable even of curing diseases like cancer.
"Cow urine had the same potential as allopathic medicines to fight disease," Ayurvedic chemist Rakesh Bahuguna said.
The provincial government also plans on setting up a Cow Science and Technology Institute to research the medicinal values of cow urine and cow dung.
And eventually it plans on creating a state-wide network by which cattle owners can interact directly with buyers who make a range of Ayurvedic pills and potions that claim to cure liver ailments, diabetes, asthma and hemorrhoids.
Ayurvedic products like Sanjivani Ark - a transparent urine-based potion - are marketed as treatment for cancer in addition to face creams, shampoos, memory pills and even aphrodisiacs, all of which are becoming popular in India as alternative, non-chemical commodities.
Several Spa and weight loss treatments are also increasingly being marketed as Ayurvedic remedies.
And while many Indian scientists and doctors believe in the efficacy of some Ayurvedic medicines, few agree that there is proof of cow urine enhancing their impact.
They also warn against blind faith in its curative powers.
"Supposedly successful experiments in no way vindicate the use of cow urine as a bio-enhancer," Dr Ish Pal Singh Ghai said.
Deeper study needs to be carried out before we can even begin to consider its potential utility, he warned.
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