A History of Colostrum

The history of bovine colostrum use is an old as history itself. In England and Scandinavia, colostrum is a traditional tonic and folk remedy given to entire family to keep them healthy for entire year. This first milking of a cow following a calving is traditionally made into a pudding called "beestings" to celebrate the birth and promote good health. [1]

Ayurvedic medicine has used colostrum for thousands of years in India where it continues to be widely used today. Cows are considered to be gods in India [2]. According to old texts, the colostrum also was used by the Ancient Egyptians. Masai tribesmen in Kenya drink bovine colostrum by the liter because they know how good it is for them. They are well-known for their toughness under extreme conditions and their health constitutions. Cows are considered their most important form of wealth, and they even sing songs of praise to colostrum as a recognition for the benefits they get from it.

When Antony van Leeuwenhoek, Dutch inventor of the microscope and discoverer of bacteria, red blood cells and protozoa - first peered through his new invention, he was looking at milk. Albert Sabin, the inventor of the oral polio vaccine, also used antibodies properties from bovine colostrum [3, 4]

Prior to 1950, colostrum was intensively studied and used for its immune boosting powers and as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. UNFORTUNATELY, with the advent of sulfa drugs, cheap antibiotics and other synthetic drugs, interest waned in natural remedies. The benefits of colostrum were largely lost for over 40 years.

Germany army also used colostrum during World War II to treat injured army.

Prior to 1980, colostrum was harvested in North America from buffalo and goats. But, after 1980s era, bovine or cows colostrum was harvested for mass market.

In 2007, the world largest supplier for colostrum, has started selling patented colostrum product - The Alpha Lipid Lifeline. This product was derived from the highest grade of colostrum, taken from selective cows in New Zealand. This colostrum product blended together with good bacteria’s that you can found in Yakult product and also comes with vitamins and minerals. You might see a lot of colostrum product in the market, but you won't find grade-10 colostrum in the market other than Alpha Lipid Lifeline!

Sources:
[1] - Sally Fallon, Planet Thrive. planetthrive.com
[2] - Heinemann J. Fascinating Colostrum: AN Ancient Food for Modern Times, 1999.
[3] - Sabin AB, Antipoliomyelitic substance in milk from human beings and certain cows. Journal of Diseases of Children, 80:866 (1950)
[4] - Sabin AB, Fieldsteel AH. Antipoliomyelitic activity of human and bovine colostrum and milk. Pediatrics 29(1): 105-115 (1962)