I can see that I was fortunate in not having fallen ill on my recent trip to India. The number of signs for clinics purveying Ayurvedic medicines [ based on ancient Indian herbal remedies] was overwhelming. In my ignorance, I determined to look into this more when I returned -- and then up pops this story in today's Telegragh [registration may be required].

Apparently 'India's main opposition party, the Hindu nationalist BJP, has begun selling medicine and cosmetics made of, among other things, cows' urine and dung.' Nice!

Getting into its stride, the report goes on... 'The best seller so far has been "kamdhenu ghanvati" - a multi-purpose pill that the stall manager, Manoj Kumar, claimed was a "one-stop" cure for liver diseases, diabetes, haemorrhoids and asthma.'

Reassuringly...'It's very good, very effective," a BJP official, S P Sharma, said after buying a cream he claimed helped his daughter get rid of pimples'.

In a final flourish, the writer observes...'few agree that cow urine enhances their effect. Cows are sacred to India's 800 million Hindus and are often used by political parties to try to influence voters.'

Tony, Michael, Charles........bring on the cows.