Drinking Urine: Urotherapy. Is it safe? Health Benefits of Drinking Urine?

Drinking Urine: Urotherapy. Is it safe? Health Benefits of Drinking Urine?
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What is Urine Therapy?

Urine therapy (UT), urinotherapy or urotherapy are terms that refer to the applications of human urine for medicinal purposes. Urine therapy may include a variety of ways of using urine including drinking, massaging with and/or bathing in. It is used not only in times of sickness, but also in times of good health for preventive health maintenance. Although drinking urine may sound as a new alternative therapy, it actually isn’t that new. In fact, drinking urine is mentioned in old writings of India and Rome.

Alleged Health Benefits of Urine Therapy

According to urine therapy advocates, drinking your own urine has a positive effect in your health and may cure many illnesses, including certain forms of cancer. It is claimed that urine is effective in treating a variety of diseases such as multiple sclerosis, colitis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, hepatitis, pancreatic insufficiency, psoriasis, eczema, diabetes and herpes. UT is claimed to be effective for around 175 known diseases (Lara, 1997; Peschek-Böhmer and Schreiber 1999). Unfortunately, these claims are not documented as scientific literature and are based on testimonials of individuals. The American Cancer Society claims that “No well-controlled studies published in available scientific literature support the claims that urotherapy can control or reverse the spread of cancer.”

Is Drinking your Own Urine Safe?

Urine is basically water (95%) with Urea as its main component (2.5%). Minerals, salts, hormones, and enzymes make up the rest of it. A complete list of Urine components can be found online. The American Cancer Society also mentions that “drinking or injecting urine or applying it directly to the skin is safe and not linked to any harmful side effects, but the safety of these practices has not been established by scientific studies”. Also, there have been reports of nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, and diarrhea after drinking one’s own urine, especially during the first few days.

Forget your Soda, Drink the New India’s Cow Urine Drink

Proponents of the benefits of urine therapy have gone a step forward and have developed a drink that is claimed to reap the benefits of urine for a better health. According to a recent article, published by Times Online, a new drink made form cow’s urine is planned to be launched soon. The new soft drink made from bovine urine is being developed by the Cow Protection Department of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), India’s biggest and oldest Hindu nationalist group. In addition to cow’s urine, the new drink will contain medicinal and ayurvedic herbs. The article claims that the drink is tasty and has no urine smell.

Additional Sources:

The Miracles of Urine Therapy

Urine Therapy (Uropathy) - Your Body’s Own Best Medicine, A Powerul Infection Fighter

Lara, M (1997) UROPATHY The Most Powerful Holistic Therapy. The Uropathy Foundation

Peschek-Böhmer, F and Schreiber, G (1999). Urine Therapy: Nature’s Elixir for Good Health. Healing Arts Press