Experts dismiss Paresh Rawal’s urine therapy as harmful, unscientific
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Actor Paresh Rawal recently shared that he drank his own urine for 15 days in an attempt to alleviate knee pain, advocating for urine therapy, also known as urophagia or urotherapy. In an interview with Lallantop’s Saurabh Dwivedi, Rawal claimed that after following this regimen, his knee condition improved. However, there is no scientific evidence to support the health benefits of consuming human urine.
Dr. Anil Kumar B T, Head of the Department of Nephrology and Senior Transplant Physician at Gleneagles BGS Hospital, Bengaluru, explained that urine therapy is based on the belief that beneficial bacteria could be present in the urinary tract, similar to the “good bacteria” in feces used for fecal transplants to restore gut health. However, no scientific research supports the idea that urine contains such beneficial bacteria. In fact, urine, like feces, contains harmful bacteria and waste products that the body expels for a reason.
The misconception that urine is sterile can be traced back to a 1950s study of urinary tract infections (UTIs), where urine samples showing no signs of infection were labelled “negative.” This led to the myth that urine is completely sterile. However, practitioners overlook the fact that urine also contains bacteria and toxins, which the body eliminates.
The American Cancer Society has stated that there is no scientific evidence supporting the use of urine or urea as a treatment for cancer. Recent studies have shown that urine contains bacteria that could potentially harm the body if ingested.
Dr. Kumar further explained that urine is essentially waste expelled by the body, containing 95% water and 5% toxins, urea, and creatinine. Reintroducing these waste products by drinking urine forces the kidneys to filter them out again, putting undue pressure on the kidneys and potentially causing harm. Even small amounts of urine consumption can increase toxins in the body, raising the risk of infections and other health complications.
Some practitioners claim that consuming small amounts of urine, such as 5 ml, is safe. However, Dr. Kumar emphasized that even small, regular doses can accumulate toxins and introduce harmful bacteria, leading to potential infections. He also cautioned that drinking urine could interfere with medications being taken for other health conditions, as it reintroduces byproducts that can negate the effects of the drugs. Moreover, urine is not sterile once it leaves the body, as it can easily be contaminated.
Drinking urine offers no proven health benefits and may pose significant risks, including kidney strain, infection, and negative interactions with medication.