Urophagia
Consumption of urine

Urophagia is the consumption of urine. Urine was consumed in several ancient cultures for various health, healing, and cosmetic purposes.[1][better source needed] 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 taste their female counterpart's urine to test 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.[4]

Humans

As food

Emergency survival techniques

Survival guides such as the US Army Field Manual, the SAS Survival Handbook,[5] and others[6][better source needed] generally advise against drinking urine for survival.[7] 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.[7]

Aron Ralston drank urine when trapped for several days with his arm under a boulder.[8] Survivalist television host Bear Grylls drank urine and encouraged others to do so on several episodes on his TV shows.[9]

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.[10][11]

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.[12][clarification needed]

Animals

Livestock

Giraffes

Male giraffes will nudge a female to make her urinate, then taste the urine to assess whether the female is fertile or not.[13]

Dogs

Some dogs sniff their urine then taste it.[14]

References

  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. ^ "A 3rd Survivor Pulled From Collapsed Hotel". Deseret News. July 30, 1990. Archived from the original on April 12, 2009. Retrieved January 8, 2009.
  3. ^ U.S. Department of the Army. FM 21-76 US Army Survival Manual (PDF). U.S. Department of the Army.
  4. ^ Schönning, Caroline. "Urine diversion – hygienic risks and microbial guidelines for reuse" (PDF). World Health Organization. p. 13. Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  5. ^ Wiseman, John "Lofty". The SAS Survival Handbook. p. 42. Warning: Urine and sea-water. Never drink either – Never!
  6. ^ "Equipped to Survive – A Survival Primer". Archived from the original on December 30, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Water Procurement" (PDF). US Army Field Manual. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-06-12. Retrieved 2007-08-27.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^  • 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.
  10. ^ Why You Definitely Shouldn't Drink Your Own Pee, Gizmodo, 22 Oct 2014
  11. ^ Maxine Frith (21 February 2006). "Urine: The body's own health drink?". The Independent. Retrieved 2016-09-26.
  12. ^ "UP Horror: Dalit Boy Thrashed, Forced To Drink Urine & Eyebrows Shaved Allegedly For Sexually Harassing Girl In Jaunpur; VIDEO".
  13. ^ Pratt, David M.; and Anderson, Virginia H. (1985-08-01). "Giraffe social behaviour". Journal of Natural History. 19 (4): 771–781. Bibcode:1985JNatH..19..771P. doi:10.1080/00222938500770471. ISSN 0022-2933.
  14. ^ Fraser, Chelsie (2025-03-17). "5 Reasons Why Dogs Lick Pee & Vet Approved Ways to Stop It". Dogster. Retrieved 2025-07-03.
  • Urine Therapy explained by Boulder resident Brother Sage
  • Shivambhu, non profit organization
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