Use of Pregnant Cow Urine for Androgenic Alopecia in Medieval India

Abstract

Introduction: The modern era of sex hormone began less than 100 years, and the role of endocrine factors in Androgenic Alopecia (AGA) was recognized by modern medicine only around 75 years ago. It has been suggested that oestrogens may inhibit the peripheral action of androgens. Pregnant mare urine, natural source of oestrogens, has been used since around 75 years for various indications associated with menopause and is of potential benefit in treatment of AGA. Methodology: A detailed and in-depth semantic analysis of (i) the name Indralupta, used around 2500 years ago by Suśṟuta to denote a type of alopecia and, (ii) the medications prescribed in two Maṇipravāḷam (medieval Malayāḷam which is admixed with Sanskrit) medical poems, dated to early 1300s CE, was done so as to identify whether the meanings are pertinent to the underlying character of the disease and principle of management. This was done as part of a project aimed at identifying any system of nomenclature of organs, diseases, drugs, etc., the link between these and areas where principles of Āyurvēda correlate with those of Modern medicine Results: The analysis shows that semantically, Indralupta is same as AGA and that the medieval Āyurvēdics had used pregnant cow urine for its treatment. Conclusion: The findings indubitably establish that Āyurvēdic physicians had the clear concept that: (i). A virilising substance in the body caused Indralupta, (ii). Pregnant women have antagonists to this which is excreted through urine, and (iii). Local application of these would be effective in antagonising the virilising one. These are the same as the modern concepts of AGA and its management, thereby underscoring the scientific nature of Āyurvēda, even as per the standards of modern science. It is also concluded that that the method of semantic analysis used here is a feasible and appropriate method to bring out hidden knowledge in Āyurvēda