Unsolved:Urophagia
Urophagia is the consumption of urine. Urine was consumed in several ancient cultures for various health, healing, and cosmetic purposes.[1] People have been known to drink urine in extreme cases of water scarcity,[2] however numerous sources, including the US Army Field Manual,[3] advise against it. Urine may also be consumed as a sexual activity. Some male animals will taste the female's urine, for example, a male giraffe will nudge the female to make her urinate, then taste the urine to assess whether the female is fertile or not.[4] Other animals, including horses, use urine to assess female fertility.
Human health warnings
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.[5]
Humans
As food
Emergency survival techniques
Survival guides such as the US Army Field Manual, the SAS Survival Handbook,[6] and others[7] generally advise against drinking urine for survival.[8] 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.[8]
Aron Ralston drank urine when trapped for several days with his arm under a boulder.[9] Survivalist television host Bear Grylls drank urine and encouraged others to do so on several episodes on his TV shows.[10]
Medicine
Historically, doctors would taste patients' urine to detect hyperglycemia.
Sexual activity
Folk medicine
In various cultures,[which?] alternative medicine can advocate the consumption of urine from various animals such as humans, camels, or cattle for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, but no evidence supports their use.[11][12]
Forced
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.[13][clarification needed]
Animals
Livestock
Giraffes
Male giraffes taste the urine of females in order to detect fertility.[4]
Dogs
Some dogs sniff their urine then taste it.[14]
References
- ↑ 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" (in en-GB). https://mediadrumworld.com/2018/09/20/32609/.
- ↑ "A 3rd Survivor Pulled From Collapsed Hotel". Deseret News. July 30, 1990. http://archive.deseretnews.com/archive/114813/A-3RD-SURVIVOR-PULLED-FROM-COLLAPSED-HOTEL.html.
- ↑ U.S. Department of the Army. FM 21-76 US Army Survival Manual. U.S. Department of the Army. https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/items/Fm21-76SurvivalManual/FM21-76_SurvivalManual.pdf.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Pratt, David M.; and Anderson, Virginia H. (1985-08-01). "Giraffe social behaviour". Journal of Natural History 19 (4): 771–781. doi:10.1080/00222938500770471. ISSN 0022-2933. Bibcode: 1985JNatH..19..771P. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222938500770471.
- ↑ Schönning, Caroline. "Urine diversion – hygienic risks and microbial guidelines for reuse". p. 13. https://sswm.info/sites/default/files/reference_attachments/SCHOENNING%20ny%20Urine%20Diversion%20Hygienic%20Risks%20and%20Microbial%20Guidelines%20for%20Reuse.pdf.
- ↑ Wiseman, John "Lofty". The SAS Survival Handbook. p. 42. "Warning: Urine and sea-water. Never drink either – Never!"
- ↑ "Equipped to Survive – A Survival Primer". http://www.equipped.com/primer.htm.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Water Procurement". US Army Field Manual. http://www.equipped.com/21-76/ch6.pdf.
- ↑ Mark, Jenkins (August 1, 2003). "Aron Ralston – Between a Rock and the Hardest Place". Outside. https://outsideonline.com/outside/features/200409/aron_ralston_9.html.
- ↑ • 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. Template:BulletLoughrey, 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. Template:BulletSingh, 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. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/urine-the-bodys-own-health-drink-5335496.html.
- ↑ "UP Horror: Dalit Boy Thrashed, Forced To Drink Urine & Eyebrows Shaved Allegedly For Sexually Harassing Girl In Jaunpur; VIDEO". https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/up-horror-dalit-boy-thrashed-forced-to-drink-urine-eyebrows-shaved-allegedly-for-sexually-harassing-girl-in-jaunpur-video.
- ↑ Fraser, Chelsie (2025-03-17). "5 Reasons Why Dogs Lick Pee & Vet Approved Ways to Stop It" (in en-US). https://www.dogster.com/dog-behavior/reasons-why-dogs-lick-pee.
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