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, though no health benefit to it has been proven. In extreme cases, people drink urine if no other potable fluid is available, although numerous credible sources advise against it. Urine is also consumed as a sexual activity and by wrestling legend Jake Roberts.

Reasons for urophagia

As an emergency survival technique

Survival guides such as the US Army Field Manual, the SAS Survival Handbook, and others generally advise against drinking urine for survival. 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. While some people in dire straits have drunk urine, whether this actually helped or hindered their situation is unclear.
In one incident, Aron Ralston drank urine when trapped for several days with his arm wedged under a boulder. Survivalist television host Bear Grylls drank urine and encouraged others to do so on several episodes on his TV shows.

Folk medicine

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.

Sexual practice

Some people are sexually aroused by urine, which can include the drinking of their own or other people's urine.

Health warnings

The World Health Organization cautions that the drinking of urine carries health risks.