Gomutra
Gomutra is an animal-derived substance used in the Ayurvedic materia medica. It is cow urine, 95% water with urea at 2.5% and a further 2.5% of minerals and salts, plus the enzyme urokinase, and creatinine.
| Substance type | Animal-derived substance, not a plant |
|---|
The evidence at a glance
1paper on this site for this drug, every one with a DOI.
- 1Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Gomutra |
Key Phytochemical Constituents
- Water (95%)
- Urea (2.5%)
- Minerals and 24 types of salts (2.5%)
- Enzymes (urokinase, catalase)
- Hormones (erythropoietin-like factors)
- Phenolic acids, volatile organic acids
- Hippuric acid, allantoin
- Aurum hydroxide (traces in some reports)
- Carbolic acid, calcium, manganese, iron
How does it work?
- Bioenhancer activity: Increases absorption and bioavailability of co-administered drugs by modifying gut permeability and hepatic metabolism; US Patent 6,410,059 granted for bioenhancer property
- Antimicrobial action: Phenolic acids, volatile fatty acids, and urea create hostile environment for bacterial and fungal pathogens; direct membrane disruption confirmed in vitro
- Immunomodulation: Stimulates macrophage activity and lymphocyte proliferation, enhancing both innate and adaptive immune responses
- Antioxidant and hepatoprotective: Phenolic compounds scavenge free radicals; allantoin promotes hepatocyte regeneration and wound healing
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Shodhana (purification of toxins/minerals): used in classical practice as a medium for purifying Ayurvedic mineral preparations. Studies have reported reduced heavy metal toxicity in these preparations, attributed to chelation and chemical transformation.
- Bioenhancer (Yogavahi): traditionally used as a yogavahi. A US patent and several studies have reported that cow urine distillate increases the bioavailability of antibiotics, antifungals and anti-tubercular drugs.
- Wounds and skin diseases: traditionally applied topically. Its allantoin content and antimicrobial properties have been reported.
What do recent studies show?
- Pant L, Thapa S, Dahal B and others 2024. In Silico and In Vitro Studies of Antibacterial Activity of Cow Urine Distillate (CUD). Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 38225974 · doi:10.1155/2024/1904763
CUD showed significant antibacterial activity against tested strains with zone of inhibition (ZOI) ranging from 13-24 mm and MIC values ranging from 12.5 to 50 microg/ml; in silico docking confirmed binding to bacterial target proteins.
Only studies that could be traced to a published paper are listed here. An absence here means we could not identify the source, not that no work exists.
Recent safety updates
- Heavy metal contamination is a significant concern; cow urine from industrially farmed cattle may contain lead, arsenic, and cadmium above safe limits
- Not recommended as sole treatment for serious conditions (cancer, diabetes) despite traditional claims; its efficacy for these has not been established
- Potential for microbial contamination if not properly distilled or processed; fresh urine must be processed within hours
- May cause gastric irritation in sensitive individuals when consumed undiluted; Ayurvedic texts recommend specific processing (Arka/distillate form)
What is it made of?
Organic Compounds
- Urea (2.5%)
- Creatinine
- Uric acid
- Hippuric acid
- Allantoin
- Phenols
Minerals
- Sodium
- Potassium
- Chloride
- Calcium
- Phosphorus
- Sulfur
Enzymes
- Urokinase
- Catalase
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Fresh urine, Gomutra Arka (distillate), Gomutra Haritaki
Standard Dosage: 10–30 mL of Arka; 5–10 mL fresh (diluted)
Optimal Timing: Empty stomach, morning
Storage: Arka in amber glass bottles at room temperature
Marker Compounds: Urea, Creatinine, Phenols, Hippuric acid, Allantoin
Vehicle (Anupana): Used as a vehicle (yogavahi) in classical formulations
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies1
- 2024. In Silico and In Vitro Studies of Antibacterial Activity of Cow Urine Distillate (CUD)Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM. PMID 38225974 · doi:10.1155/2024/1904763
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.