The Incredible Journey of Colostrum–From the Era of Rishis to Today’s Research
It can sound harsh to you. However, our statement carries some water – that the so-called modern science often takes credit for groundbreaking discoveries. But…but…but, did you know many of these ideas were already known to our ancient sages or Rishis? Centuries ago, rishis & munis wrote extensively about food, technology, and philosophy with their great intellect. Unfortunately, much of this wisdom was lost due to wars, invasions, and natural calamities.
Also, we are aware of the fact that their writings are hard for a normal person to comprehend. Thanks to the efforts of hardworking scholars, some of this ancient knowledge is being rediscovered & applied to improve the well-being of humanity. One such timeless or priceless treasure is “colostrum.” Revered in ancient times and now validated by modern science, colostrum is making a remarkable comeback that has shown its potential to humanity once again. In this blog, we’ll uncover its fascinating journey, how it was used by our ancestors, and the scientific breakthroughs that highlight its potential benefits today.
Let’s walk through the incredible journey of colostrum (Timeline from thousands of years to today).
For what purpose did Indian Rishis use Colostrum
Known as the "first milk" or the "first food," bovine colostrum (BC) is produced by healthy mammary glands up until the first 72 hours after delivery. Thereafter, Bovine Colostrum takes on the normal rheological (flow of matter), nutritional, microbiological, & physicochemical properties of milk. Both traditional Ayurvedic medicine & the ancient Hindu rishis, or the spiritual masters of India, have recorded the use of colostrum for both medical & spiritual objectives. Rishis have known the potential beneficial effects of BC for people since cows were first domesticated or brought under human control.
You would be amazed to know for 100 years, Scandinavians celebrated the birth of healthy baby calves with a dessert consisting of colostrum & honey.
Thus, these known advantages of Colostrum caught the attention of many dedicated scholars & researchers. Eventually, numerous clinical or non-clinical investigations were carried out by them to strengthen Bovine Colostrum's possible advantages for the welfare of humanity.
We have broken down the Bovine Colostrum's evolution timeline for your easy understanding, along with examples of clinical studies.
The lesser-known timeline (from 1892 to 2024) of Bovine Colostrum is given below:
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In 1892: Paul Ehrlich made a successful effort to show that mice immunized against plant toxins passed immunity to newborns with the help of colostrum. Thanks to him, he later proposed the concept of passive & active immunity. This development helped him earn the 1908 Nobel Prize.
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Late 19th century: In this century, with the efforts of many dedicated scholars, scientific literature has accepted colostrum's antibacterial properties.
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In the 1950s: Dr. Albert Sabin, known as the father of the polio vaccine. He identified antibodies against poliovirus in BC. He further defended its therapeutic use in children who are at risk of polio infection (Sabin & Fieldsteel, 1962).
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In 1920: Spolverini showed her support for the use of cow BC as baby food to keep infection of both humans & cows from children at bay.
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In 1922: Smith & Little showed the antibacterial properties of colostrum in calves by showing that 8 out of 12 calves who did not receive BC did not survive. On the contrary, all 10 calves that consumed BC were able to survive.
Kummer was also the first to show that BC from non-immunized cows has the potential to protect babies from gastrointestinal illnesses.
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In 1963: Campbell & Peterson dedicated themselves to the deep research on BC. Focus of their study was: Mainly focused on the human safety profile & potential medicinal benefits of BC from immunized cows.
The success they got: They managed to develop a method to produce immune colostrum by administering weakened viruses to cows before childbirth. These cows' colostrum is referred to as immune/hyperimmunised colostrum.
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In 1998: McConnell & her dedicated team at Otago University also found something useful about BC’s composition:
What they found: They observed that pasture-fed cows' colostrum had higher antibody levels than hyperimmunized cows (immunizing cows against specific antigens).
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Review 2016: This review article showed that the concentration of enzyme, casein & albumin can be higher in colostrum when compared to milk. As per this article, BC contains a useful constituent, Lactoperoxidase (LPO).
The benefits of LPO: In the presence of hydrogen peroxide, LPO has been shown to generate middle compounds, which shows the possibility of a wide range of antimicrobial activities.
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In 2021: Jogi Reena et al., 2021 conducted a study.
What they found: The team observed that BC has the potential to be antiaging by preserving telomere length (present on the chromosomal endings; also, the greater length of telomere is a positive sign for the body) and increasing the proliferation rate of the fibroblast control cells (skin cells responsible for collagen production & skin structure maintenance).
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Review 2024: by Yalçıntaş Yalçın Mert et al.,
What this article found: The team observed that BC contains growth factors (GFs) like insulin-like growth factors 1 & 2 (IGF-1 and 2) and transforming growth factors alpha and beta (TGF-A & B). Interestingly, according to a study, the best concentration of GFs is seen in colostrum during the first 10 hours after birth.
The known benefits of these growth factors: They can promote wound healing with the help of tissue repair processes & cell proliferation. Additionally, they may also be useful as therapeutic agents for bone-related conditions. They carry the potential to encourage the regeneration of deteriorating tissues.
Conclusion:
So far, all the extensive research on the potential health benefits of colostrum seems quite impressive. Yes, its benefits have been known for thousands of years, but it’s important to consult your healthcare professional before adding any supplement to your routine.
Do not forget the fact that, in the past, our ancestors fed their domesticated cows nutrient-rich grass, avoided hormonal injections, & cared for them like family, resulting in high-quality colostrum. Today, however, commercial practices often compromise quality, with cows receiving poor feed, living in unhygienic conditions, & being injected with hormones for higher production. Wellness Extract advises that if a doctor recommends you colostrum for health benefits, ensure you purchase it from a trusted/reliable source that prioritizes cow welfare & high-quality nutrition.
Disclaimer: The above information provided is written for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalized guidance. Be cautious of adding any supplement in case of health condition or are on under certain medication.
References:
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https://www.researchgate.net/publication/307508209_On_the_Historical_Background_of_Bovine_Colostrum
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https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2024/fb/d3fb00256j
- https://www.drugs.com/npp/bovine-colostrum.html
