Urinary therapy has been used for a long time as a traditional medicine to treat various diseases symptoms and disease. However, the effectiveness and safety of urine therapy is still being debated today. So, what is the medical view regarding this urine therapy?
urine therapy (urotherapy) is a traditional medical practice carried out by drinking or smearing the skin with one's own urine. This therapy has been used since thousands of years ago in several countries, such as Egypt, China, and India.
Urine is believed to be able to treat various complaints, such as asthma, arthritis, and acne, as well as eliminate the poison of jellyfish stings. Although there are some people who try it, but the success of urine therapy is still uncertain.
Medical Views Regarding Urine Therapy Myths You Need to Know
The following is a medical view regarding the myths of the benefits of urine therapy for health:
Prevents the growth of cancer cells
There is a myth that urine can inhibit the growth of cancer cells, because certain tumor-inducing proteins are found in urine. Therefore, consuming urine is believed to trigger the body to produce antibodies to fight cancer-causing proteins.
Treating acne
Applying urine on the skin of the face is believed to dry and treat acne. The content of urea in urine is thought to increase skin moisture, soften the outer layer of the skin, and remove dead skin cells on the surface of the facial skin that can cause acne.
In fact, the urea content in urine is certainly different from the urea content in facial skin care products, such as creams or skin moisturizers. In fact, rubbing urine on the skin can trigger an infection and make the skin easily injured.
Although there are many who practice and claim the success of urine therapy, the medical evidence to support this statement is still so minimal that further research is needed.
Treating wounds from jellyfish stings
Urine has also been used for a long time to remove toxins from jellyfish stings on the skin. The content of ammonia and urea in urine is believed to be able to relieve wounds caused by jellyfish stings.
However, keep in mind that urine also contains sodium which can actually worsen the wound from a jellyfish sting.
Therefore, if you are stung by a jellyfish, the first step you can take is to slowly release the tentacles. Next, clean the injured skin area with warm or running water, then apply an over-the-counter pain reliever ointment.
Based on the explanation above, it can be concluded that the benefits of urine therapy to overcome various health problems are still being debated, and there is no scientific evidence that supports the effectiveness and safety of urine therapy for health.
So, before you plan to do urine therapy to treat certain complaints, you should consult a doctor to ensure its safety.