I agree Chris. I think that anectodotal evidence can often be dangerous, not just misleading. Heck, we (as of today) don't even know what the scientific evidence actually is regarding NSAID pain medication..

I checked into this urine thing with a Nephrologist I know. Here's what he said:
Urine is simply a filtrate of blood. As the blood goes through the nephrons of the kidney the blood is filtered, then some of the filtrate is reabsorbed and then materials are secreted into the urine by active transport. So basically, anything that the blood contains that is small enough to go through the pores of the capsule and capillaries will wind up in the filtrate. Some things, like glucose, are reabsorbed actively back into the blood. Water is passively reabsorbed along with some electrolytes etc. Some materials that are not found in the blood are manufactured (secreted) by the kidney tubules so that they can be excreted. These include urea and uric acid, some(salt) water and other waste products. Nothing whatsoever that is good for you, according to mainstream medicine. That's the body's wisdom in getting rid of it. The major waste product from cells in the body is ammonia, and the major waste product from blood is a broken form of heme called bilirubin.

Drinking urine will increase the osmolarity of blood. This will INCREASE transport of water from all the other cells in the body into the bloodstream. This will INCREASE the rate at which (absent adequate potable water) the cells shrink and malfunction. The blood's elevated concentration of sodium and chloride ions will cause the kidneys to work harder to get rid of the excess by attempting to produce more urine. It would seem that drinking urine not only fails to provide fluid in a form the body wants, but also causes the body to increase the rate dehydration with respect to other fluids on-board. That would result in degradation of mentation, taccycardia, and muscle weakening.

Common water filters and purification tablets are not able to filter out these waste products. Osmotic (desal) membranes may help with the salts. Distillation of urine may recover a water fraction, but probably not worth the effort. Best advice: don't drink urine. If you're in a hot climate and you're ABLE to pee.... pee on your shirt. You may reduce fluid loss by perspiration/transpiration a tiny bit.

....unfortunately now I can't ask my Nephrologist friend any further questions: he asks that I never again approach him at the nursing station or anywhere else with any questions whatsoever, and that I seek counseling.


Now... I'm washing my hands of this issue <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />