Urine Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses
Properties: Anti-fungal, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial
What is Urine?
Urine is a liquid waste or byproduct of the body that is produced by the kidneys, stored in the bladder and expelled through the urinary tract. Production of urine is greatly affected by the amount of daily liquid consumption.1 Urine is mostly water. It contains a great deal of uric acid, urea, creatinine, various electrolytes, phosphate and organic acids. There are also traces of protein in normal urine as well as antibodies, enzymes, hormones, glucose and water-soluble vitamins.1 2 Urine is not toxic, per se. It’s sterile when it leaves the kidneys but picks up contaminants as it passes the body. Expelled urine breaks down quickly in air and readily becomes unpleasant in odor and texture. Contamination and bacterial growth quickly amplify in warm climates as opposed to cooler ones.2
Urine Health Uses and Health Benefits
Urine therapy, urotherapy and urinotherapy is the practice of implementing urine uses for medicine. Urine uses for medicine have existed for centuries as a natural home remedy for various ailments. Historically, records from the Egyptians, Jews, Greeks and Romans praised the natural substance for its urine health benefits calling it “god of the blood” and the “elixir of long life”. It was not considered a waste, rather urine health benefits were seen as being useful in naturally caring for the body.1
Today, most scientific disciplines put no value on urine uses for medicine. They see urine therapy as having roots in spiritual and religious history. To the contrary, many homeopaths praise the effects of urine health benefits for healing cuts, treating infections and killing fungal infestations.3 Possible urine uses for medicine include:
- Athlete’s Foot - Athlete’s foot is caused by a fungal infection that spreads rapidly and is highly contagious. Spreading urine on areas infected by athlete’s foot has long been shown as an effective natural home remedy. It’s thought that uric acid kills fungi.
- Ear Infection - Although mainstream medicine may dispute using urine therapy to treat ear infections, this practice has been used for centuries. Putting a few drops of urine in an infected ear, laying sideways for a few minutes and then rolling to let the urine drain out is an effective home remedy.
Urine Side Effects and Precautions
Urine is not toxic when it leaves the body but it rapidly deteriorates in an open climate. Using stale urine for medicinal purposes is highly discouraged. Urine also should not be used on infants.1