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Urophagia is the consumption ofurine. Urine was consumed in several ancient cultures for various health, healing, andcosmetic purposes.[1][better source needed] People have been known to drink urine in extreme cases ofwater scarcity,[2] however numerous sources, including theUS Army Field Manual,[3] advise against it.
Urine may also be consumed as asexual activity.
Some male animals will taste female animals' urine, usually to test fertility.
TheWorld Health Organization has found that the pathogens contained in urine rarely pose a health risk. However, it does caution that in areas whereSchistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm, is prevalent, it can be transmitted from person to person.[4]
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Survival guides such as theUS Army Field Manual, theSAS 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 hostBear Grylls drank urine and encouraged others to do so on several episodes on his TV shows.[9]
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Historically, doctors would taste patients' urine to detecthyperglycemia.
In various cultures,[which?]alternative medicine can advocate the consumption of urine from various animals such as humans,camels, orcattle for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, but no evidence supports their use.[10][11]
People may be forced to drink urine as a form of torture or humiliation, as in the case of aDalit boy inJaunpur, India, who in 2023 was accused by local youths of sexually harassing a girl.[12][clarification needed]
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Male giraffes will nudge a female to make her urinate, then taste the urine to assess whether the female is fertile or not.[13]
Some dogs sniff their urine then taste it.[14]
Warning: Urine and sea-water. Never drink either – Never!
