Research on Therapeutic Milk Production for Diabetes in Humans from Indigenous Cattle

In ancient Vedic literature, there are references to indicate that milk and milk derivatives can be used, among other things, for the treatment of human diseases. It is reported that “only desi Indian cow milk contains 24 essential elements – notable among those are copper and gold (Aurum Hydra oxide) which provide energy & immunity power, highly antibiotics & antitoxin”. Of various milk derivatives with medicinal properties, curd is a very popular fermentation product described in Rig-Veda. It is used along with different herbs to cure various diseases.

 

Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous syndrome characterized by abnormalities in carbohydrate and fat metabolism. That result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both. Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, renal failure, nerve damage which can lead to erectile dysfunction (impotence), foot and leg amputations in adults. The World Health Organization reports that every fourth diabetic in the world is an Indian. Projections indicate that the 30 million diabetics in India will go up to 40 million by 2010 and 74 million by 2025. Generally, once succumbed to the disease, people resort to allopathic treatment for its cure.

 

Presently, India possesses 40 indigenous breeds of cattle acclimatized in various agro-climatic regions. There are anecdotal evidence to claim that curd made from milk of Gir and Ongole cattle can play an important role in reducing the risk of diabetes in humans. Therefore, in the proposed project, the potential of curd produced from Gir and Ongole milk in reducing diabetes risk will be researched. This experimentation is based on the assumption that the curd can stimulate the pancreatic duct in humans resulting in the production of insulin.

 

It will be worth to do a literature search on the medicinal property of curd from indigenous cattle in curing human diseases, particularly diabetes of different types. Diabetic patients in selected districts will be identified for the trial and will be grouped into seven experimental groups. The first group will be given curd made from milk of Local Desi cattle; the second group with curd made from milk of local Desi cattle fed with specially formulated (herbal+roughage+concentrate) diet. The third group of patients will be given curd made from Exotic cattle; the fourth group with curd made from milk of local Exotic cattle fed with specially formulated (herbal+ roughage+concentrate) diet. The fifth group will be given curd made from milk of Buffalo; the sixth group with curd made from milk of local Exotic cattle fed with specially formulated (herbal+roughage+concentrate) diet and seventh group with no curd to act as control Blood samples will be collected from the seven groups at regular intervals and analyzed for blood glucose level (fasting and post prandial). The results will be statistically analyzed.

 

Later, based on the results, an in-depth study will be conducted to understand and Isolation of active molecule responsible for the therapeutic action. The study will be carried out in close coordination with physicians in the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department of concern state governments.

 

Diabetes poses a major health problem globally and is one of the top five leading causes of death in most developed countries. A substantial body of evidence suggests that it could reach epidemic proportions particularly in developing and newly industrialized countries. Diabetes is a complex condition with a multitude of metabolic imbalances involving the regulation and utilization of insulin and glucose (sugar) in the body.

 

There is much need to find a permanent solution where the Indian Cow can be reaped to harvest the benefit in curing this disease. Diabetes is currently considered an epidemic disease that is largely preventable and treatable through diet, exercise and lifestyle changes. Considering the enormous burden due to diabetes in India, it is important to realize the cost-effective measures of diabetes care like early screening, tight metabolic control, monitoring of risk factors and assessing of organ damage. The better understanding of our ancient methodology is surely an answer to the permanent cure. It just needs to be researched thoroughly, which will result in improved delivery systems and should translate to improved diabetes control in newer dimensions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/221385/pahar i-cow-milk-cures-diseases.html

2. http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tpnational/tp-andhrapradesh/can-the-milk-of-indiancows-cure-diabetes/article3622248.ece.