Cow's Milk

Cow's milk (Go-Dugdha) is considered the best among all types of milk. It is sweet in taste, cold in potency, unctuous, soft, heavy, and has a sweet post-digestive effect. It is life-giving, rejuvenative, aphrodisiac, promotes intellect, strengthening, increases breast milk, relieves fatigue, and alleviates Pitta and Vata. It is beneficial in Raktapitta (bleeding disorders), Shosha (wasting), cough, fever (chronic), Gulma (abdominal masses), Unmada (psychiatric disorders), and Grahani (irritable bowel). It promotes Ojas (vital essence) and is considered the best Rasayana (rejuvenator). Fresh, warm (straight from the cow) milk is lighter and more easily digested. The properties vary by breed and color of the cow. Verses 3-8.

• Jivaniya (life-giving)
• Rasayana (rejuvenative)
• Vrishya (aphrodisiac)
• Medhya (intellect-promoting)
• Balya (strengthening)
• Stanyajanana (galactagogue)
• Shramahara (fatigue-relieving)
• Pittahara (alleviates Pitta)
• Raktapitta-shamaka (controls bleeding disorders)

In the absence of goat's milk, purify it with cow's milk (Gavya Kshira).

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Madhyama Khanda, Chapter 12: Rasadishodhana-Maranakalpana (Mercury and Rasa Preparations)

Warm fresh cow's milk, buttermilk, bathing in clean river water — these are beneficial in fainting (Murchchha), Sanyasa (comatose states), and in disease recovery.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 28: Diet for Intoxication (Madatya Pathyapathyam)

Warm fresh cow's milk, buttermilk, bathing in clean river water — these are beneficial in fainting (Murchchha), Sanyasa (comatose states), and in disease recovery.

— Sharangadhara Samhita, Parishishtam, Chapter 17: Diet for Intoxication (Madatya Pathyapathyam)

Blue barley soaked in cow's milk, applied with a probe on thin dry wicks.

— Sushruta Samhita, Uttara Tantra, Chapter 11: Kaphabhishyanda Pratishedha Adhyaya (Chapter on Treatment of Kapha-type Conjunctivitis)

The milks described are: cow's milk (gavya), goat's milk (aja), camel's milk (chaushtra), sheep's milk (avika), buffalo's milk (mahisha), mare's milk (ashvaya), woman's milk (narya), and elephant's milk (karenu) (verse 47).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances

Cow's milk is minimally moisture-producing, unctuous, heavy, rejuvenating, cures bleeding disorders (raktapitta), is cool, sweet in taste and post-digestive effect (verse 50).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances

Goat's milk has similar qualities to cow's milk but is especially beneficial for consumptive patients (shosha).

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances

Old ghee (purana ghrita) from cow's milk is specifically recommended for consumption, eye diseases, and wasting.

— Sushruta Samhita, Sutra Sthana, Chapter 45: Dravadravya-vidhi Adhyaya - On Liquid Substances