Urophagia

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^{[examples needed]}, however numerous sources, including the US Army Field Manual^{[citation needed]}, advise against it.

Urine may also be consumed as a sexual activity.

Human health warnings

The World Health Organization has found that the pathogens contained in urine rarely pose a health risk.^{[citation needed]} However, it does caution that in areas where Schistosoma haematobium, a parasitic flatworm, is prevalent, it can be transmitted from person to person.^{[2][citation not found]}

Human consumption of urine

As food

See also: Virgin boy egg

Emergency survival techniques

Survival guides such as the US Army Field Manual, the SAS Survival Handbook,^[3] and others^{[4][better source needed]} generally advise against drinking urine for survival.^[5] 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.^[5]

Aron Ralston drank urine when trapped for several days with his arm under a boulder.^[6] Survivalist television host Bear Grylls drank urine and encouraged others to do so on several episodes on his TV shows.^[7]

Medicine

Historically, doctors would taste patients' urine to detect hyperglycemia.^{[citation needed]}

Sexual activity

Main articles: Urolagnia and Soupeur

Folk medicine

Main article: Urine therapy

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.^[8][9]

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.^{[10][clarification needed]}

Consumption of urine by non-human animals

Livestock

See also: Reuse_of_human_excreta § Food_source_for_livestock

Giraffes

Main article: Giraffe § Reproduction_and_parental_care

Male giraffes taste the urine of females in order to detect fertility.^[11]