What some simply excrete, others apply externally or even drink: urine. Experts give an assessment as to whether your own urine therapy is effective against illnesses and dry skin.
Urine consists of 95 percent water - the remaining approximately five percent is made up of electrolytes such as potassium, sodium or chloride ions, urea, uric acid, creatinine and fatty acids. Urine is, first of all, a type of waste product from the body that is excreted in an average amount of up to 1.5 liters per person every day. Some people may ask why you should rub it on your skin, let alone drink urine. But own urine therapy is actually known worldwide and there are people who are convinced that urine can protect against diseases. Can urine heal the body? General practitioner Ilker-Akgün Aydin and dermatologist Dr. Uwe Schwichtenberg classifies the theory of own urine therapy in an interview with
Deutsche Welle
.
Own urine therapy against illnesses and dry skin: What experts say about it
Like autologous blood therapy, autologous urine therapy is an ancient folk and natural medicine. Your own urine should contain active ingredients that bring the body and metabolism back into balance. In certain regions of China, for example, it is customary to drink children's urine to cure illnesses. Former Indian Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who lived to the age of 99, is also said to have drunk a cup of his own urine every day. “Urine is a liquid excretory product. That means there are substances in it that we basically want to get rid of. There are no studies that prove any benefit,” explains Ilker-Akgün Aydin.
You can find even more exciting health topics in the free 24vita newsletter, which you can subscribe to right here.
But what about the effect of urine against allergies and on the skin? Supposedly, self-urine therapy can cure hay fever after just two weeks. The allergy sufferer would have their own urine administered orally or injected into the muscle. Doctors who practice naturopathy can probably use this method to successfully treat hay fever, asthma and allergic eczema as well as neurodermatitis.
When it comes to skin, a connection may be more conceivable, as urea or urea is contained in many skin creams to keep it elastic and supple. Dermatologist Dr. Uwe Schwichtenberg confirms that the urea in urine is chemically equivalent to the urea in the cream, which can ultimately promote the elasticity of the skin. Even if there are no valid studies on self-urine therapy, some people who suffer from dry skin or neurodermatitis swear by urine as a topical treatment.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. It in no way replaces a visit to the doctor. Our editorial team is not allowed to answer individual questions about medical conditions.