The cow is considered sacred or holy in India, particularly, among the Hindus. In Ayurveda, cow urine (also called Gomutra) is claimed to be quite beneficial and is a natural source of many minerals required by the body. This may be due to the fact that when cows graze in the field, they eat many medicinal leaves which may reflect in their urine. The use of cow urine for therapeutic purposes has a long history in Indian culture. The urine of a pregnant cow is considered special and it is claimed that it contains special hormones and minerals.