Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a renowned hepatologist and widely recognized as ‘The Liver Doc’ on social media, recently criticized Sridhar Vembu, the co-founder and CEO of Zoho, for supporting claims made by IIT Madras Director, Prof. V. Kamakoti, regarding the alleged medicinal benefits of cow urine (gomutra).
In a post on platform X, Dr. Philips directly addressed the issue, stating, “Hey science-illiterate boomer uncle, even your so-called Indian traditional medicine, Siddha, supports fecal transplants. How long will you continue to embarrass yourself, misinform your followers, and spread nonsense?” His comments highlighted his dissatisfaction with Vembu’s endorsement of Kamakoti’s views.
Dr. Philips also emphasized the responsibility of influential figures to use their platforms wisely, urging them to promote evidence-based science instead of propagating outdated ideas. “As someone with a significant audience, focus on sharing credible information that helps advance our community through science and research. Stop promoting ancient pseudoscience and amplifying misinformation, like the claims made by the IIT Madras professor,” he added.
The debate began after Prof. Kamakoti, during an event on January 15, claimed that cow urine has "anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and digestive properties" and could potentially treat conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). His remarks sparked widespread skepticism, with many critics dismissing them as pseudoscientific and lacking scientific validity.
Defending Kamakoti, Sridhar Vembu argued that critics of cow urine fail to recognize its possible benefits as suggested by emerging scientific perspectives. He compared the use of cow urine to the growing interest in fecal transplants and fecal capsules derived from healthy donors, particularly individuals from pre-industrial societies.
According to Vembu, these methods are being explored for their ability to restore gut health. “Gut bacteria are vital to our immune system, physical well-being, and mental health. The idea that cow urine and dung have beneficial properties is not superstitious nonsense—modern science is aligning with these perspectives. It’s the closed-minded critics who fail to see the bigger picture,” Vembu asserted.
However, Dr. Philips strongly countered these statements, explaining the fundamental difference between scientifically validated treatments like fecal transplants and unproven claims about urine therapy. “If you want to understand the science behind fecal transplants, you can refer to our work. We’ve pioneered this approach to save patients suffering from severe alcohol-related hepatitis,” he said, sharing links to his research. He further dismissed the notion of cow urine as a credible therapy, stating, “There’s no scientific evidence to support the supposed benefits of urine therapy. Stop spreading misinformation and educate yourself instead of resorting to flawed arguments.”
Dr. Philips also called on Vembu to focus on spreading valuable and scientifically backed insights rather than endorsing outdated practices. “As someone with influence, you have a responsibility to promote knowledge that is grounded in evidence, not to amplify baseless claims like those made by the IIT Madras professor,” he said.
The discussion gained additional traction when a video of Prof. Kamakoti praising the "medicinal properties" of cow urine went viral. In the clip, he suggested that cow urine’s anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and digestive properties could effectively treat various health issues, including IBS. This statement reignited the ongoing skepticism surrounding such claims, with critics labeling them as baseless and lacking scientific support.
This isn’t the first time Dr. Philips and Vembu have clashed. The two were involved in a similar disagreement last year over the health benefits of walking barefoot, commonly referred to as “grounding,” which also stirred debates around pseudoscientific claims.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Sai Sindhuja K/MSM)