Urophagia

Urophagia is the consumption of urine . Urine was used in several ancient cultures for various health, healing, and cosmetic purposes; urine drinking is still practiced today. ^[1] In extreme cases, people may drink urine if no other fluids are available, although numerous credible sources (including the US Army Field Manual ) advise against using it. Urine may also be consumed as a sexual activity .

Reasons for urophagia [ edit ]

As an emergency survival technique [ edit ]

Survival guides such as the US Army Field Manual , the SAS Survival Handbook , ^[2] and others ^[3]^{[
better source needed
]} generally advise against drinking urine for survival. ^[4] These guides state that drinking urine tends to worsen rather than relieve dehydration due to the salts in it, and that urine should not be consumed in a survival situation, even when no other fluid is available. ^[4]

In one incident, Aron Ralston drank urine when trapped for several days with his arm under a boulder. ^[5] Survivalist television host Bear Grylls drank urine and encouraged others to do so on several episodes on his TV shows. ^[6]

Folk medicine [ edit ]

In various cultures, alternative medicine applications exist of urine from humans, or animals such as camels or cattle , for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, including drinking of one's own urine , but no evidence supports their use. ^[7]^[8]

Forced [ edit ]

People may be forced to drink urine as a form of torture or humiliation, as in the case of a Dalit boy in Jaunpur , India, who in 2023 was accused by local youths of sexually harassing a girl. ^[9]

Health warnings [ edit ]

The World Health Organization has found that the pathogens contained in urine rarely pose a health risk. However, it does caution that in areas where Schistosoma haematobium , a parasitic flatworm, is prevalent, it can be transmitted from person to person. ^[10]

References [ edit ]

^ Picturedesk (2018-09-20). "After Reaching 18 Stone, This Woman Resorted To A Traditional Native American Lifestyle Which Includes Drinking and Washing With Her Own Urine" . Media Drum World . Retrieved 2021-12-20 .
^ Wiseman, John "Lofty". The SAS Survival Handbook . p. 42. Warning: Urine and sea-water. Never drink either ? Never!
^ "Equipped to Survive ? A Survival Primer" . Archived from the original on December 30, 2019 . Retrieved May 26, 2016 .
^ ^a ^b "Water Procurement" (PDF) . US Army Field Manual .
^ Mark, Jenkins (August 1, 2003). "Aron Ralston ? Between a Rock and the Hardest Place" . Outside . Archived from the original on August 12, 2021 . Retrieved May 26, 2016 .
^ • Thistlethwaite, Felicity (February 26, 2015). " Stars vomit profusely after drinking their own urine on Bear Grylls: Mission Survive ". Daily Express . Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022. • Loughrey, Clarisse (December 18, 2015). " Obama refused to drink his own urine on Bear Grylls, 'It's not something I'd make a habit of '". The Independent . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022. • Singh, Anita (May 31, 2014). " Bear Grylls: Kids, please don't drink your own urine ". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.
^ Why You Definitely Shouldn't Drink Your Own Pee , Gizmodo, 22 Oct 2014
^ Maxine Frith (21 February 2006). "Urine: The body's own health drink?" . The Independent . Retrieved 2016-09-26 .
^ "UP Horror: Dalit Boy Thrashed, Forced To Drink Urine & Eyebrows Shaved Allegedly For Sexually Harassing Girl In Jaunpur; VIDEO" .
^ Schonning, Caroline. "Urine diversion ? hygienic risks and microbial guidelines for reuse" (PDF) . World Health Organization . p. 13 . Retrieved February 15, 2022 .

External links [ edit ]

Urine Therapy explained by Boulder resident Brother Sage

Shivambhu, non profit organization

[:0-1] Picturedesk (2018-09-20). "After Reaching 18 Stone, This Woman Resorted To A Traditional Native American Lifestyle Which Includes Drinking and Washing With Her Own Urine" . Media Drum World . Retrieved 2021-12-20 .

[2] Wiseman, John "Lofty". The SAS Survival Handbook . p. 42. Warning: Urine and sea-water. Never drink either ? Never!

[3] "Equipped to Survive ? A Survival Primer" . Archived from the original on December 30, 2019 . Retrieved May 26, 2016 .

[:1-4] "Water Procurement" (PDF) . US Army Field Manual .

[5] Mark, Jenkins (August 1, 2003). "Aron Ralston ? Between a Rock and the Hardest Place" . Outside . Archived from the original on August 12, 2021 . Retrieved May 26, 2016 .

[6] • Thistlethwaite, Felicity (February 26, 2015). " Stars vomit profusely after drinking their own urine on Bear Grylls: Mission Survive ". Daily Express . Archived from the original on March 1, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022. • Loughrey, Clarisse (December 18, 2015). " Obama refused to drink his own urine on Bear Grylls, 'It's not something I'd make a habit of '". The Independent . Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 18, 2022. • Singh, Anita (May 31, 2014). " Bear Grylls: Kids, please don't drink your own urine ". The Telegraph . Archived from the original on March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2022.

[warnings-7] Why You Definitely Shouldn't Drink Your Own Pee , Gizmodo, 22 Oct 2014

[Indep-8] Maxine Frith (21 February 2006). "Urine: The body's own health drink?" . The Independent . Retrieved 2016-09-26 .

[dalit-9] "UP Horror: Dalit Boy Thrashed, Forced To Drink Urine & Eyebrows Shaved Allegedly For Sexually Harassing Girl In Jaunpur; VIDEO" .

[10] Schonning, Caroline. "Urine diversion ? hygienic risks and microbial guidelines for reuse" (PDF) . World Health Organization . p. 13 . Retrieved February 15, 2022 .

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