New Delhi, April 29
There is no scientific evidence to prove that urine therapy can treat any disease, said health experts on Tuesday, after Bollywood actor Paresh Rawal vouched for its benefits for his knee injury.
In a recent media interview, the veteran actor claimed that he "sipped his urine like a beer first thing in the morning" to heal his injured knee.
"I did for 15 days and when the X-ray reports came in, the doctor was surprised," Rawal said.
"As an oncologist, I must emphasise that while anecdotal experiences like Paresh Rawal's are fascinating, they should not be mistaken for medical advice. There is no scientific evidence supporting urine therapy as a treatment for any diseases whether musculoskeletal injuries or cancer," Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS, Delhi, told IANS.
"Even with all the scientific progress and easy access to good healthcare information, it is unfortunate that some people still look for shortcuts and try to promote them. Drinking urine does not cure any health problems. This myth has been proven wrong many times," added Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Convener, Research Cell, Kerala State IMA.
Urine therapy, also known as Urophagia, is the practice of drinking urine.
In Ayurveda, urine was used to treat asthma, allergies, indigestion, wrinkles and even cancer.
However, the claims are based on anecdotes or ancient texts and have no robust scientific evidence to support the benefits.
On the other hand, there is evidence to show that drinking urine has several health risks, said Shankar.
Many studies showed that urine contains bacteria, which if ingested could be harmful. It can also introduce toxins into the gut and potentially cause further illnesses like stomach infections. Further, because urine is a diuretic, it may also increase a person's risk of dehydration.
Rawal is not the only one to claim the benefits of urine therapy. The list also includes British TV star Ben Grylls and Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez.
"There is no credible scientific evidence that supports this type of therapy for any benefit whatsoever, urine is actually body based that contains a lot of waste materials which the kidneys filter, and reintroducing it into the body can cause a lot of side effects like infection, electrolytic balance or delayed appropriate medical care," Dr Charudatt Vaity, a Mumbai-based intensivist told IANS.
The experts noted that recovery from injuries depends on several factors like rest, nutrition, and appropriate medical care. They cautioned the public to rely on evidence-based medicine rather than unverified home remedies.
"It's important to rely on facts and real science, not on myths or shortcuts," Jayadevan told IANS.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Thank goodness for experts speaking out against this! I can't believe people still fall for these myths when we have modern medicine. 🤦â€â™€ï¸
While I respect Paresh Rawal as an actor, celebrities really shouldn't be promoting unproven therapies. Their influence can make people try dangerous things.
I appreciate how balanced this article is - it presents the expert opinions while acknowledging the historical context of urine therapy in Ayurveda. More science journalism should be like this!
The placebo effect is powerful, but that doesn't mean we should drink our waste products! 😅 Good on the doctors for setting the record straight.
I wish the article had included more details about why people keep believing in this despite all evidence. Is it distrust of modern medicine? Lack of education? Would love to see that explored.
"Sipped his urine like beer" is going to be stuck in my head all day now... thanks for that mental image, Paresh ji! ðŸºðŸ˜‚
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