Urine Therapy: Ancient Elixir or Modern Folklore?

James Odell, OMD, ND, LAc

This article explores the long history of urine therapy and examines the current scientific landscape surrounding this unusual but enduring practice.

From Ancient Ritual to Modern Curiosity

Urine therapy, also known as urotherapy, is the practice of using urine for medicinal or cosmetic purposes, including drinking it or applying it to the skin. Across cultures and over thousands of years, urine therapy has been used both to treat various disorders and as a preventive measure to promote wellness. Even today, many around the world consume urine for its purported healing properties.

While urine therapy has a documented historical record, it remains controversial in conventional medicine and lacks robust support from modern scientific institutions. Most mainstream health sources caution against drinking urine, claiming there is insufficient scientific evidence for its benefits. However, emerging empirical and anecdotal reports suggest potential therapeutic value in treating acute and chronic disorders.

Urine: A Hidden Reservoir of Stem Cells

A notable development in recent years is the discovery of stem cells in urine — known as urine-derived stem cells (USCs)¹ ² — which show promise for self-regulation and regeneration of the body. Research has confirmed that adult stem cells exist not only in tissues and organs but also in body fluids, suggesting urine is far more than a waste product.³ It is, in fact, a complex, individualized fluid. Still, the stigma associated with consuming urine has long discouraged serious research — until recently.

From Skin Care to Dental Remedies: Ancient Applications

Urine therapy has been used both internally and topically to address ailments ranging from dental issues to skin conditions like eczema and acne. Some proponents believe a person’s urine can help resolve almost any health problem. The primary barrier for many is the “yuck factor” — the idea of drinking something the body excretes — even though urine is about 95% water.

For those who can see urine as a resource rather than waste, proponents argue it may offer tangible benefits. Nevertheless, it is not widely accepted by the conventional medical community. While online forums abound with anecdotal success stories, peer-reviewed clinical data is scarce.

Urine as the “Elixir of Life”

In many ancient cultures and traditional medical systems — including Indian, Chinese, Aztec, Persian, Egyptian, Roman, and Greek — urine was never considered a waste product of the body but rather a distilled product selected from the blood that contained useful substances therapeutic to the body.⁴ ⁵ ⁶

In Ayurveda, the ancient Indian health system, Shivambu Kalpa Vidhi (translated as “the self-sustaining process of cosmic creation”) included Shivambu Chikitsa, or urine therapy. Urine was referred to as “the gold of the blood” and “the elixir of long life.”⁸ ⁹

India has some of the most detailed historical records of urine therapy. Even in modern times, notable figures such as former Prime Minister Morarji Ranchhodji Desai publicly endorsed the practice. In a 1981 New York Times interview, Desai revealed he drank a cup of urine every morning in place of breakfast; he lived to age 99.¹⁰ This interview sparked renewed interest in urine therapy, leading to several international conferences in the years that followed.

Interest in urine therapy gained global attention after the first World Conference on Urine Therapy in Goa, India, in 1996, attended by over 600 participants from 40 countries.¹¹ Subsequent conferences were held in Germany (1999), Brazil (2003), Korea (2006), and Mexico (2009). The upcoming 7th World Conference is scheduled for February 17, 2026, with the location yet to be determined.

Rome, China, Mexico: A Shared Curiosity Across Time

While India leads in historical documentation, other cultures also incorporated urine therapy. In ancient Rome, Pliny the Elder recommended urine for treating sores, burns, stings, and rashes. In parts of China, the urine of young boys has been used as a skin protectant, with traditions including washing babies’ faces with it.¹²

In 17th-century France, people wrapped urine-soaked stockings around their necks to treat strep throat, and aristocratic women reportedly bathed in urine for smoother skin. In rural Mexico, farmers used a mixture of urine and charred corn powder as a poultice for broken bones. Such varied applications underscore the wide cross-cultural acceptance of urine therapy throughout history.

John Armstrong and the 20th-Century Revival

The mid-20th century saw a revival of interest, particularly through the work of Englishman John Armstrong, whose 1944 book The Water of Life detailed cases where drinking urine appeared to help patients with severe illnesses. Armstrong sometimes even donated his own urine to patients unable to produce any themselves, claiming they regained strength and reduced pain with each subsequent dose.

Armstrong also advocated rubbing the body with “old urine” — aged for a period of time — for hours as a complement to drinking it, especially in serious illnesses. He claimed regular topical use could clear most skin conditions and improve skin smoothness.

Beyond traditional use, modern medicine still employs components of urine. Urea remains a common ingredient in skincare products due to its moisturizing, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Medical products derived from urine include diuretics, fertility treatments, and estrogen-based medications.

What’s Really in Your Urine?

Urine is produced by the kidneys as they filter the blood, removing excess substances and waste. It plays a vital role in the body’s excretory system, helping to maintain fluid and electrolyte balance while eliminating unneeded compounds.

Scientific analysis has identified more than 158 distinct chemical constituents in human urine.¹³ These include:

• Water (about 95%) – the primary component.

• Urea – a nitrogenous waste product from protein metabolism.

• Uric acid – formed from the breakdown of purines found in DNA and certain foods.

• Creatinine – a byproduct of muscle metabolism.

• Electrolytes – such as sodium, potassium, chloride, and phosphate.

• Other dissolved substances – hormones, vitamins, and minerals.

  
  

Urine may contain trace microorganisms, but in healthy individuals without infection, the quantities are minimal. It also contains enzymes, minerals, antioxidants, antibodies, and other bioactive compounds.

Color and appearance can vary: normal urine is clear to pale yellow due to urobilin, a pigment from hemoglobin breakdown. Abnormal colors — such as deep yellow, red, or cloudy — may signal dehydration, infection, or other health issues.

Urine as a Personalized Medicine

Many advocates of urine therapy regard it as a natural homeopathic nosode. The term “nosode,” from the Greek nosos (“disease”), refers to homeopathic remedies prepared through potentized dilutions of disease-related material — such as microorganisms, toxins, or diseased tissue. In homeopathic theory, these highly diluted preparations stimulate the body’s innate healing mechanisms.

Urine, containing microscopic fragments of waste products and microorganisms unique to the individual, is considered an ideal personal nosode.¹⁴ Supporters claim it can influence cellular processes, including DNA integrity, mitochondrial function, cell proliferation, and immune modulation.

Nosodes are widely used in homeopathic practice. Surveys suggest that 95% of homeopathic physicians consider them an important therapeutic tool, and studies have reported their use in improving chronic illness outcomes. A 2005 study reported that nosodes had been of vital importance for successful homeopathic treatment of chronic ailments in an average of 41% of patient cases.¹⁵ ¹⁶

From Waste to Regeneration: Stem Cell Potential

The discovery of urinary stem cells (USCs) has renewed interest in the therapeutic potential of urine. Like other body-fluid-derived stem cells — amniotic fluid¹⁷, synovial fluid¹⁸ ¹⁹, breast milk²⁰, peripheral blood²¹, menstrual blood²² ²³, and most commonly, umbilical cord blood²⁴ — urinary stem cells have several advantages over other sources, such as bone marrow-derived stem cells and adipose-derived stem cells, including:

1. Noninvasive collection – urine is easily obtained through a simple, noninvasive process, avoiding the need for bone marrow aspiration or tissue biopsies.

2. Abundant supply – urine is readily available and continuously produced.

3. Low risk of contamination – urine is a sterile body fluid, reducing contamination risk during collection.

4. Multipotent differentiation potential – USCs can become bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, and nerve cells, making them ideal for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.

5. Immunomodulatory properties – USCs can help in treating autoimmune diseases and suppressing immune rejection after transplantation.

6. Low tumorigenesis risk – compared with embryonic stem cells, USCs have a lower risk of cancer development.

   
   

Urinary stem cells have the potential to revolutionize regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. While drinking urine provides only a small number of stem cells at a time, consistent consumption over long periods may contribute to some of the benefits reported by practitioners.

How Much, How Often, and When?

Most authors recommend starting with just a few drops up to one ounce daily. The Chinese Association of Urine Therapy warns that excessive intake may cause diarrhea, fatigue, fever, or muscle soreness.

The first morning urine is typically regarded as the most potent. Overnight, the body concentrates minerals, hormones, and other compounds, making this sample especially rich in potentially beneficial constituents.

Ancient Practice, Future Potential

The world is continually evolving in terms of health and wellness, and we are rediscovering traditional practices and methods toward achieving optimum mind and body health. Many of these methods often look unconventional and challenge societal norms. Urine therapy happens to be one of these ancient healing practices that sparks curiosity and controversy.

With a long history of reported medical uses over many millennia — despite continued medical resistance — ongoing interest persists in exploring the medicinal uses of urine.

Urine is an extraordinary natural healing liquid that contains substances produced by the body, historically a unique form of bioregulatory medicine. As ongoing research is being conducted on the potential use of stem cells derived from urine, expect to hear more about the wonders of urine therapy.

Further Reading: Exploring Urine Therapy

For those who want to dive deeper into the subject, here is a collection of books on urine therapy. These works range from historical classics to beginner-friendly guides and modern explorations of the practice:

• The Golden Fountain: The Complete Guide to Urine Therapy by Coen Van Der Kroon

• Shivambu: The Vital Bang: Urine Therapy for a Better Life by Hitesh Goenka

• Urine Therapy for Beginners by Tomasa Mayert

• The Water of Life by John Armstrong

• Urine Therapy by Jason Walter

• Urine Therapy by Christopher Langley

• Healing with Urine Therapy by Stallone May

• Aged Urine by Harry Matadeen

• Manual for Urine Therapy Teachers and Therapists by Brother Sage

• Urine Therapy Healing Handbook by Freda Isabella

• Miracles of Urine Therapy by Morarji Desai

• Urine Therapy Explained by Amandha Vollmer

References

1. Zhang, Yuanyuan, Elena McNeill, Hong Tian, Shay Soker, Karl-Erik Andersson, James J. Yoo, and Anthony Atala. "Urine derived cells are a potential source for urological tissue reconstruction." The Journal of urology 180, no. 5 (2008): 2226-2233.

2. Bharadwaj, Shantaram, Guihua Liu, Yingai Shi, Rongpei Wu, Bin Yang, Tongchuan He, Yuxin Fan et al. "Multipotential differentiation of human urine-derived stem cells: potential for therapeutic applications in urology." Stem cells 31, no. 9 (2013): 1840-1856.

3. Huang, Ru-Lin, Qingfeng Li, Jian-Xing Ma, Anthony Atala, and Yuanyuan Zhang. "Body fluid-derived stem cells—an untapped stem cell source in genitourinary regeneration." Nature Reviews Urology 20, no. 12 (2023): 739-761.

4. Savica V, Calo’ LA, Santoro D, et al (2011).: Urine Therapy through the centuries. J Nephrol; 24 (S 17): S123-S125

5. Van Der Kroon, Coen. The Golden Fountain: The Complete Guide to Urine Therapy Echo Point+ ORM, 2022.

6. Armstrong, J. W. "AUTO-URINE THERAPY—THE ELIXIR OF LIFE: YOGA, AYURVEDA, AND SELF-PERFECTION." Yoga in Modern India: The Body Between Science and Philosophy (2004): 181.

7. Khan, Yaqub, Irfan Aziz, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Bipin Bihari, Hemant Kumar, and Manju Panday. "A review-Shivambu kalpa-various therapeutic uses of urine." Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Science 4, no. 2 (2014): 93-98.

8. Vaidya, Ashok DB. "Urine therapy in Ayurveda: Ancient insights to modern discoveries for cancer regression." Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine 9, no. 3 (2018): 221-224.

9. Khan, Yaqub, Irfan Aziz, Imtiyaz Ahmad, Bipin Bihari, Hemant Kumar, and Manju Panday. "A review-Shivambu kalpa-various therapeutic uses of urine." Asian Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Science 4, no. 2 (2014): 93-98.

10. https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/everyday-explainers/morarji-desai-drink-urine-birthday-leap-day-9187741/

11. Kang, Kook-Hee. "Urine therapy briefing for scientists." CELLMED 2, no. 4 (2012): 32-1.

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13. Putnam, David F. Composition and concentrative properties of human urine. No. NASA-CR-1802. NASA, 1971.

14. Khuda-Bukhsh, Anisur Rahman, Jesmin Mondal, and Rajesh Shah. "Therapeutic potential of HIV nosode 30c as evaluated in A549 lung cancer cells." Homeopathy 106, no. 04 (2017): 203-213.

15. European Coalition on Homeopathic and Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (ECHAMP). [Internet]. Brussel: ECHAMP; c2016. Nosodes. [about 1 screen]. Available from: https://echamp.eu/our-sector/practiceand-evidence/products/nosodes. [Last cited on 2020 Apr 27].

16. European Central Council of Homeopaths. Nosodes in Homeopathy Practice: An ECCH Survey; 2008. [Internet] Europe: ECCH; 2008. Available from: https://www.aeha-buendnis.de/wp-content/ uploads/2019/11/Nosodes-in-homeopathy-practice-ECCH-surveyJuly-2008.pdf.

17. Perin, Laura, Sargis Sedrakyan, Stafano Da Sacco, and Roger De Filippo. "Characterization of human amniotic fluid stem cells and their pluripotential capability." Methods in cell biology 86 (2008): 85-99.

18. de Sousa, Eduardo Branco, Priscila Ladeira Casado, Vivaldo Moura Neto, Maria Eugenia Leite Duarte, and Diego Pinheiro Aguiar. "Synovial fluid and synovial membrane mesenchymal stem cells: latest discoveries and therapeutic perspectives." Stem cell research & therapy 5, no. 5 (2014): 112.

19. Zhang, Sheng, Takeshi Muneta, Toshiyuki Morito, Tomoyuki Mochizuki, and Ichiro Sekiya. "Autologous synovial fluid enhances migration of mesenchymal stem cells from synovium of osteoarthritis patients in tissue culture system." Journal of Orthopaedic Research 26, no. 10 (2008): 1413-1418.

20. Hosseini, Seyed Mojtaba, Tahere Talaei-Khozani, Mahsa Sani, and Bahareh Owrangi. "Differentiation of human breast‐milk stem cells to neural stem cells and neurons." Neurology research international 2014, no. 1 (2014): 807896.

21. Kawano, Yoshifumi, Yoichi Takaue, Tsutomu Watanabe, Takanori Abe, Yasuhiro Okamoto, Asayuki Iwai, Tsuyako Iwai et al. "Efficacy of the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells by granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in pediatric donors." Cancer research 59, no. 14 (1999): 3321-3324.

22. Luz-Crawford, Patricia, Maria J. Torres, Daniele Noël, Ainoa Fernandez, Karine Toupet, Francisca Alcayaga-Miranda, Gautier Tejedor et al. "The immunosuppressive signature of menstrual blood mesenchymal stem cells entails opposite effects on experimental arthritis and graft versus host diseases." Stem cells 34, no. 2 (2016): 456-469.

23. Patel, Amit N., Eulsoon Park, Michael Kuzman, Federico Benetti, Francisco J. Silva, and Julie G. Allickson. "Multipotent menstrual blood stromal stem cells: isolation, characterization, and differentiation." Cell transplantation 17, no. 3 (2008): 303-311.

24. Fernandez, Conrad V., Kevin Gordon, Michiel Van den Hof, Shaureen Taweel, and Françoise Baylis. "Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women with regard to collection, testing and banking of cord blood stem cells." CMAJ 168, no. 6 (2003): 695-698.

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