22 Surprising Uses for Turmeric - Who Knew?

One of the most fetching culinary spices, turmeric has an intense golden hue. The major ingredient in Indian curries, turmeric is the component responsible for curry's dizzying color; it's also commonly used to imbue mustard with its radiant glow.

We're commonly reminded to eat colorful plant foods because their pigments, which are associated with antioxidants - the wonder nutrients that experts believe protect and repair cells from damage caused by free radicals and that also have important anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric's intense color makes it a front-runner in this group of foods; curcumin, a compound found only in turmeric, appears to be the magic ingredient.

A cousin of ginger, this rhizome has a long history of use in herbal remedies, particularly in China, India and Indonesia. Many current studies are looking into turmeric to treat a whole host of health problems, and turmeric has ample other uses as well, as evidenced in the following applications.

1. Brighten your pearly whites. Former Miss USA Susie Castillo swears by her recipe for homemade toothpaste, which includes turmeric powder. Although turmeric is known for its staining prowess, it is commonly (if not counter-intuitively) used to whiten teeth - presumably it's not in contact with the enamel long enough to change the color. Here's how to make your own version, and you can also sprinkle some on your commercial or other homemade toothpaste and brush as usual.

2. Customize foundation. Ashy makeup makes a bad match for luminous skin. Actor Thandie Newton tackles the problem by adding turmeric to tinted moisturizer to achieve a perfect glow that matches her skin tone. And in fact, women in India often use turmeric in face creams and body scrubs to boost the glow factor; sprinkle in a bit at a time until you have the proper tone.

3. Spice up your soap. If you make homemade soap, adding several teaspoons of turmeric to it will not only dial up its color, but will boost its skin-friendly benefits as well.

4. Save your scalp. Many swear by a combination of olive oil and turmeric to deter dandruff and to improve the overall condition of the scalp. Make a mix of turmeric and the oil of your choice (jojoba or coconut oil would be nice), massage into your scalp and leave on for 15 minutes, then shampoo and style as usual. 

5. Embellish temporary tattoos. Use turmeric to create golden Mehndi, the temporary tattoos made with henna, or to add a pretty second color to an extant henna tattoo.


6. Diminish sprain strain. A traditional homeopathic sprain treatment involves making a paste using one part salt and two parts turmeric and enough water to make it spreadable. Apply to the affected joint and wrap in an old cloth that you don't mind staining. Leave on for 20 minutes to an hour, once a day. (Don't do this on body parts that can be seen; you don't want a temporary yellow tinge!) Also of note: the University of Maryland Medical Center suggests taking turmeric to help reduce sprain swelling and makes the effect of bromelain (an anti-inflammatory derived from pineapple enzymes) stronger. Take 250 to 500 milligrams (mg) each of turmeric and bromelain, three times a day between meals.

7. Help tame swimmer's ear. Natural remedy aficionados recommend using warmed garlic oil to help push the water out of ears affected by swimming; adding turmeric to the mix is said to help as well.

8. Soothe a sick stomach. Turmeric has long used to quell bellies that aren't behaving properly. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends 500 mg of turmeric four times daily to treat an upset stomach.

9. Ease achy arthritis. For osteoarthritis, NIH recommends 500 mg twice daily of a specific turmeric extract (like Meriva, Indena); 500 mg four times daily of a non-commercial product has also been used. For rheumatoid arthritis, they note that 500mg twice daily of a specific formulation of curcumin (like BCM-95, Arjuna Natural Extracts, India) can be used. 

10. Love your liver. According to early experimental research at the Medical University Graz in Austria, the curcumin in turmeric may delay liver damage that can eventually lead to cirrhosis.

11. Inhibit skin cancer. Turmeric seems to hold much promise for skin treatments, as well as possibly inhibiting certain forms of cancer. Among other studies, researchers at the University of Texas note that curcumin inhibits the growth of melanoma and may also impede the spread of breast cancer to the lungs.

12. Battle other forms of cancer. The American Cancer Society says that laboratory studies have shown that curcumin interferes with several important molecular pathways involved in cancer development, growth and spread. Researchers have reported that curcumin can kill cancer cells in laboratory dishes and also slows the growth of the surviving cells. Human studies of curcumin in cancer prevention and treatment are in the early stages.

13. Minimize Alzheimer's symptoms. A clinical trial using curcumin extract published in the Journal of Neurochemistry found a 30 percent decrease in the size of Alzheimer's-associated brain plaque in treated mice - in only one week. 


14. Make longevity tea. Dr. Andrew Weil notes that people in Okinawa, the Japanese island nation with the world's longest average life span, drink turmeric tea daily. To make your own, boil four cups of water, add one teaspoon of ground turmeric, allow to simmer for 10 minutes, strain, and add ginger and/or honey to taste.

15. Use as dye for spicy tie-dyed tees. Yes, turmeric stains fabric … which means that it's an awesome fabric dye. Add three tablespoons of turmeric to a pot of boiling water, let it simmer for a while, and your dye bath is ready. (See more at this photo tutorial.)

16. Make marigold-colored play dough. Homemade play dough is as much fun to make as it is to play with once it's made. And coloring it is especially fun. This recipe instructs on how to make it from scratch, and also how to turn it into a rainbow of colors using, among other natural ingredients, turmeric. (Bonus tip: You can scent homemade play dough with vanilla or peppermint extract.)

17. Naturally dye Easter eggs. There's something magical about mashing up natural dyestuffs in bowls and watching hard-boiled eggs transform into the jewel-like colors found in nature rather than in the lab. Beet juice, onion skin, blueberries, and of course, turmeric all do a bang-up job of the task. Get the how-to here: Eco Easter eggs.
Also see: Use baking soda for easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs


18. Make meat safer. Kansas State University researchers discovered that adding turmeric to meat can reduce the levels of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) by up to 40 percent. HCAs form on chicken and meat when cooked over high heat, like in grilling. Consumption of HCAs is linked to higher rates of cancer.

19. Enliven bland food. While Frito-Lay may rely on Yellow 6 and Red 40 to enhance its preternaturally vivid snacks like Cheetos and Nacho Cheese Doritos, you can skip the nasty artificial colors and add a dash of turmeric to brighten up otherwise insipid-looking food. Whimsical cooks and moms alike can benefit from adding it to eggs, mashed potatoes, soups, cauliflower, or anywhere else a bit of vibrancy is desired.

20. Blend your own curry powder. If there's one thing turmeric is famous for, it's the starring role in Indian curry. (There comes a point in every young Western cook's life when they realize that curry isn't one single spice, but a blend of many.) Making your own curry blend is simple and tastes remarkably bright and fresh; and you can customize it to reflect your personal taste. A good place to start is here.

21. Make delicious dishes. No "uses for turmeric" article would be complete without reminding the reader of all the wonderful food that can be made with turmeric, even if it may not be the most surprising use on the list. Therefore, see: 5 dishes infused with curry.

22. And last but not least, bake a cake! Turmeric cake? Indeed. This Lebanese dessert is not too sweet and has an odd little earthy kick to it compliments of the turmeric. Find a basic recipe here and a vegan recipe here.

Note: Turmeric can be taken in powder or pill form, but use with caution and consult with your doctor first. It's strong stuff. According to the National Institutes of Health, it is unsafe during pregnancy, can make gallbladder problems worse, can make stomach problems such as GERD (or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) worse, and can slow blood clotting and might cause extra bleeding during and after surgery.

Nice BB so for me with my morning smoothie for clarity of mind............Turmeric, Virgin Coconut oil, red Mill Baking soda (the real stuff), pure hemp powder, Pure Celtic or Himalayan sea salt (must be ground to release the Trace minerals)  and Honey with ones favorite fruits and greens. Distilled water all day!!


But before any of that 1 cup of first morning Urine then 1 hr later the Smoothie.


lovelightblessings
1ness

Say what?   

          

Goldiegirl wrote:Say what?   

Yes Urine Therapy has been around for over 6000 yrs. It is the purest from of distilled water. Urine carries your stemcells and tells the body what is going on internal.

i have a few post at PurpleSkyz"s OOM2 on the subject or one could use the internets :)for research if one chooses. i have done this now about 2 1/2 yrs. Not just just drinking it either. Again this something that should be researched.

lovelightblessings
1ness

I believe Mahatma Ghandi also did this for many many years.

I've heard of it. Just never met anyone who actually does it.

I think I will stick with my collagen hydrolysate in hot water with lemon first thing to get my body moving.  A person would have to be "pure" to drink their urine and god knows that's not me. I love my wine too much. 

I don't like distilled water but I do give it to my dogs because I don't want them having the minerals in their system.

Goldiegirl wrote:I've heard of it. Just never met anyone who actually does it.

I think I will stick with my collagen hydrolysate in hot water with lemon first thing to get my body moving.  A person would have to be "pure" to drink their urine and god knows that's not me. I love my wine too much. 

I don't like distilled water but I do give it to my dogs because I don't want them having the minerals in their system.

Sorry a person does not have to be pure. The kidneys filter everything to make it pure. Even the sick can drink urine and see results within hours. Again research will show that. I have many books on the subject. It is your medicine for most all of ones ills. It is all choice.

http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/salud/esp_salud06b.htm

lovelightblessings
1ness

Saint wrote:I believe Mahatma Ghandi also did this for many many years.

Also,Morarji Desai, 4th prime minister of India, an advocate of urine therapy.

lovelightblessings
1ness

I take Tumeric on a regular basis, and one survival tidbit is to use your urine to cleanse a burn or a wound if nothing else is available as urine from a healthy person is sterile. However I don't think I would drink it ... and definitely not in place of water ... saline wise and PH wise it would be somewhat akin to drinking seawater.

Kevind53 wrote: saline wise and PH wise it would be somewhat akin to drinking seawater.

depends on what you eat.

lovelightblessings
1ness

This thread has taken quite a different twist, but then again, I love twists and turns.

 :hyfr: 

I have read, but never the need to try it, that urine is good for athletes foot fungus. So guys...or gals should you need to, pee on your feet when in the shower...LOL

 

As for water, alkaline water is all the rage for health benefits and to prevent aging.  I put lemon in my water and I drink margaritas with lime because....Lemon and Lime juice will alkalinize the body.

Really good discussions here. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts, experiences and opinions.

 :spring2:

1ness wrote:

Kevind53 wrote: saline wise and PH wise it would be somewhat akin to drinking seawater.

depends on what you eat.

lovelightblessings
1ness

No, not really, although the amount of liquids you consume would have an effect on the salinity. The more dehydrated you are, the greater the salinity. On the other hand, consider that a primary role of the kidneys is to filter waste and toxins from the body. Is that really something you want to put back in?

Kevind53 wrote:

1ness wrote:

Kevind53 wrote: saline wise and PH wise it would be somewhat akin to drinking seawater.

depends on what you eat.

lovelightblessings
1ness

No, not really, although the amount of liquids you consume would have an effect on the salinity. The more dehydrated you are, the greater the salinity. On the other hand, consider that a primary role of the kidneys is to filter waste and toxins from the body. Is that really something you want to put back in?

 
WOW,really? did you do any reading or have any experience with UT therapy?
 
From your holy book:  (Proverbs 5:15) advises: "Drink waters from thy own cistern, flowing water from thy own well."


i can tell you from ones own experience. Food is what changes the taste of ones urine. i have been on my fasts. i have done only Distilled water fasts that had very little taste of salt that one cannot even tell.
 
i have done fruit fasts and will tell you no slat taste at all.
 
Then ones regular eating habits show very little to no taste of salt there also.
 
Once out with friends i had popcorn with salt on it and tell you WOW that tasted awful that next morning and the salt taste was very strong.
 
 i do not eat meat so no experience with that taste. i do not consume any table salt.

Now some facts:
The amount of Sodium ions varies depending on how much the person consumes. But typically it is around 2%

Approximately 2% of your urine by mass is salt (mainly sodium chloride).

urine therapy , urotherapy or Shivambu Kalpa.

from around the web since i cannot cut and paste 5 books i have on the subject.

Urine therapy, which includes drinking, injecting, massaging with-, and/or bathing in- urine, is an ancient practice that is used today, not only in times of sickness, but also in times of good health for preventive health maintenance. It has been claimed to have proven helpful in a great number of varying illnesses, ranging from a simple cold and a throat-ache, to tuberculosis and asthma, from minor skin problems such as itching to major skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis and even skin cancer.
It is difficult to convince a majority of people that drinking ones own urine can cure a number of disorders.
The reason is that modern medical science has hammered it into our heads that urine is liquid containing useless and even harmful substances that have been rejected by the body. Traditional cultural influence has also nurtured a kind of disgust for urine in our mind.
Before discussing the effects of urine on our bodies and our disorders, let us first consider the composition of urine.
Normally a human passes from 750-1500 milliliters of urine in a day. The requirements of water increase after consumption of fried or highly spiced foods. This will result in an increase in the total quantity of urine. On the other hand, in summer a large proportion of body water is lost through perspiration, thus decreasing the amount of urine. More urine is passed during the colder periods of the year than during the hotter parts.
Generally urine is clear like pure water, or there may a tinge of yellow in it. When the quantity of urine decreases, due to hot weather or for any other reason, the concentration of substances in the urine increases, in which case it will probably be of a deeper yellow or orange color. The urine of a person suffering from jaundice is generally as yellow as turmeric, and that of a feverish person has a reddish tinge. Disorders of the kidneys or the urinary tract may cause urine to become turbid and red in color.
The urine of a healthy person is a little salty in taste. If the urine is of a more intense yellow color, it may be a little saltier in taste. If there is a reddish tinge in the urine, it may have a slightly bitter taste. Variations in the intake of solids and liquids as well as variations in the weather cause corresponding variations in the color and taste of urine.
The following are the average quantities of the various substances listed below, in 100 milliliters of urine as reported in 'Introduction to Biochemistry' by Dr. Pharon:

Substance Milligrams 1] Urea nitrogen 682.00 2] Urea 1459.00 3] Creatinin nitrogen 36.00 4] Creatinin 97.20 5] Uric acid nitrogen 12.30 6] Uric acid 36.90 7] Amino nitrogen 9.70 8] Ammonia nitrogen 57.00 9] Sodium 212.00 10] Potassium 137.00 11] Calcium 19.50 12] Magnesium 11.30 13] Chloride 314.00 14] Total sulphate 91.00 15] Inorganic sulphate 83.00 16] Inorganic phosphate 127.00 17] N/10 acid 27.80

Some other important constituents of Shivambu are as follows:
Enzymes
·        Amylase (diastase).
·        Lactic dehydrogenate (L. D. H.).
·        Leucine amino-peptidase (L. A. P.).
·        Urokinase.
Hormones
·        Catechol amines.
·        Hydroxy-steroids.
·        17-Catosteroids.
·        Erythropoietine.
·        Adenylate cyclase.
·        Prostaglandin's.
·        Sex hormones.
Miscellaneous
·        Copper.
·        Urobilinogen.
    
As a knowledgeable qualified doctor has pointed out, there is a strong possibility of there being several other beneficial substances not yet know to science, in addition to the above substances, present in urine.
Urokinase, an enzyme present in urine, prevents the formation of blood clots in the blood vessels, and is even capable of dissolving clots already formed. When such blood clots obstruct the flow of blood in the blood vessels of the heart a heart attack may be precipitated. Dr. Mezel of the Edgewater Hospital of Chicago, IL USA, injects urokinase into the bodies of victims of heart attacks thus aborting the attack and saving the life of the patient.
Dr. Salaria, an eminent surgeon of Ahmedabad, Gugjarat, India, too makes it a practice to give an injection of the patients own urine before undertaking surgery so as to forestall any risk of overburdening or harming the heart during or after the operation.
The hormone erythropoietine, one of the substances usually present in urine, stimulates the bone marrow to increase the rate of production of erythrocytes (red blood corpuscles). This is the reason why a patient of anemia derives substantial benefit from auto-urine therapy.
Another hormone present in urine, adenylate cyclase, co-ordinates the actions of all hormones in the body through the production of a substance known as cyclic A. M. P..
Prostaglandin is a hormone that is essential for the contraction of the muscles of the uterus. Many scientists are of the opinion that this hormone can act as a contraceptive.
Urine contains sex hormones, insulin and growth hormones as well.
The Nobel Laureate Albert Sczent Georgyi has carried out a number of experiments testing the effect of methyl glyoxal, a constituent of urine, on cancer patients, and has had considerable success in several cases.
In addition to the above, one must not lose sight of the high probability of the presence of urine in many substances which are as yet unknown to science.
All the beneficial substances are present in urine in very finely divided and highly potentised forms. As a result they are quickly absorbed from the stomach and the intestines within a short time following the imbibing of urine. And despite the extremely small quantities in which they are present in the urine, they have been found to be of great benefits to the body.
Dr. Dharmadhikari of Pune in Maharashtra state, India, has tried auto urine therapy on more than 200 patients, and has carried out scientific investigations related to this therapy. Here are the conclusions he has arrived at as a result of these researches:
·        The body begins to absorb more oxygen from the atmosphere after the commencement of auto-urine therapy, and the metabolic reactions are speeded up. The results of a large number of experiments support this conclusion.
·        The commencement of auto-urine therapy is invariably followed by a slow but definite increase in the number of red blood corpuscles in and the hemoglobin content of the blood.
Dr. Dharmadhikari believes that these changes in body functions play a very important part in curing disorders. In the book 'Yoga' published by the Bihar School of Yoga, Monghyr, a knowledgeable and learned doctor has ascribed the efficacy of urine to the following reasons:
1.     Urine supplements the essential nutrients and makes up the deficiency of any nutrient in the body.
2.     Urine contains highly active enzymes, that have a salutary effect on al the physiological reaction taking place in the body.
3.     Urine contains valuable salts necessary for the body. (The well-known and widely prevalent 'Biochemic' therapeutic system uses just twelve salts to cure any and every disease).
4.     The hormones contained in urine are of great benefit to the body.
5.     Urine possesses bactericidal properties. It therefore destroys the disease-causing bacteria in the body, especially those infesting the digestive tract.
6.     The substances present in the urine augment and sharpen the body's natural powers of resistance to disease.
7.     The substance called 'urea' present in urine is a diuretic and increases the efficiency of the kidneys.
8.     Urine is a tonic that strengthens the body, and an 'elixir' the confers longevity.
Ayurveda and other ancient works on medicinal science have accorded their approval to the drinking of urine as a therapeutic measure. Ayurveda regards urine as an effective antidote against the harmful confluence of excesses of the three humours.
It is believed by some researchers that urine acts like a vaccine, promoting the generation of antibodies that fight and over the agencies that cause disorders, thus resisting and curing diseases.
The sum and substance of the above discussion is that urine has an undoubtedly salutary effect on the body, but that the details of exactly how it acts in the body have not yet been worked out sufficiently clearly to command universal agreement among the experts.
How far would it be proper to recommend or adopt a remedy, the mode of action of which has not yet been completely understood? The answer to this objection is simple and straightforward. To this day the mode of action of a number of drugs and therapeutic procedures such as aspirin, acupuncture, electric shock treatment, etc., has not been worked out satisfactorily. But this in no way reduces their efficacy. The doctor knows well what effects aspirin will produce in the body after being ingested orally, and accordingly prescribes aspirin (which in fact the world consumption of aspirin exceeds the consumption of any other drug!) for the patient as and when necessary. Knowledge of its mode of action is not essential for the doctor. In the same way, innumerable experiments have established the actual effect of auto-urine on the body. It has always been found to have favorable effects, not a single case of an untoward effect having been recorded so far.
There is a mass of documentary evidence establishing the fact that imbibing of ones own urine has been and is being restored to by criminal elements to obviate physical damage and to augment their powers of endurance of pain inflicted by beatings; by mountaineer's to maintain their vigor and to fight adverse atmospheric conditions; and by numerous monks and ascetics to develop the capacity to complete their penance's successfully.
Briefly, it is nothing more than a conjecture that urine is a useless fluid that has been rejected by the body; no instances of urine having a seriously, or even mildly, harmful effect on the body have been recorded. A renowned heart specialist of Bombay, India once issued an appeal through a newspaper to members of the public, inviting them to write to him about their experience of auto-urine therapy, especially about cases of adverse effects. His purpose was to demonstrate that drinking urine is harmful. Soon there was a deluge of hundreds of letters in response to his appeal; but there was not a single letter among them that reported any adverse effects.
 

"MY WATER BROKE!!"
Amniotic fluid is pee. Well, mostly pee. When the fluid first starts to form inside the amniotic sac (a few weeks after conception), it's mostly made of your own body fluids. But when baby's kidneys kick in and start putting out urine (at as early as 11 weeks), those new fluids start building up to help cushion and protect baby's growing body. After around week 20, the amniotic fluid is mostly urine.
This all might sound a little gross at first, but thank goodness for those fluids! They keep baby safe in case you fall, push out on the uterine walls to give baby more space (and allow for more practice wiggling around), help baby learn how to breathe and swallow, and serve as protection from infection by stopping the growth of certain types of bacteria.
The amniotic fluid also contains skin cells that have shed from baby, which means your doc can use it to test for some genetic disorders.
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. Your pregnancy and birth. 4th ed. Washington, DC: ACOG; 2005.
 
Urine as a lifesaver:
During the NBC Nightly News on October 16, 1992, Tom Brokaw reported that, "In Egypt, rescue workers found a 37-year old man alive in earthquake rubble. He survived almost 82 hours by drinking his own urine. His wife, daughter and mother would not and they died" (http://www.all-natural.com/urine.html ). We’ve all heard stories of individuals who have either lived or died by being trapped in places without food or water for days. In those stories, the survivors were always the ones that drank their own urine. The ones that died probably could not overcome the misguided thoughts that urine is an unhealthy waste product of the body. But it is not; urine is simply a substance that the body does not need at the time, and a substance that the body secretes. And sometimes, it’s a lifesaver.
Drinking one's morning urine ('amaroli') was an ancient yoga practice designed to promote meditation. The ancient Hindu and yoga texts that mention auto-urine drinking, require it be done before sunrise and that only the mid-stream sample be used.^[37] The pineal hormone melatonin and its conjugated esters are present in morning urine in significant quantities, the pineal gland secreting melatonin maximally at about 2 am, this secretion being shut off by the eyes' exposure to bright sunlight.^[37] Melatonin, when ingested or given intravenously, amongst other effects, provokes tranquility and heightened visualisation.^[37] There are high concentrations of melatonin in the first morning urine, but not in a physiologically active form.^[37] Mills and Faunce at Newcastle University Australia in 1991 developed the hypothesis that ingestion of morning urine into low pH gastric acid would cause deconjugation of its esters back to the active form of melatonin. This, they suggested, might restore plasma night-time melatonin levels. Thus, they argued, oral pre-dawn consumption of auto-exogenous melatonin, by either re-setting of the sleep-wake cycle or enhancement of the physiological prerequisites for meditation (decreased body awareness (i.e. analgesia) and claimed slowed brain wave activity, as well as heightened visualization ability), may be the mechanism behind the alleged benefits ascribed to 'amaroli' or auto-urine drinking by ancient texts of the yogic religion.^[37] Difficulties in constructing a double-blind clinical trial make it hard to test this to any requisite evidence-based standard.
 
How to use urine therapy?
Basic rules:
1. Midstream urine should be used, the exception being in a fast
where urine is being passed every ten to fifteen minutes. The
first flow should always be midstream.
2. Urine should be sipped like tea and not drunk like water. This will
prevent excessive problems in the form of loose stools and other
eliminative processes.
3. The first flow of the day is the most important and the best time
of the day to drink it is between three and four a.m..
4. Drink at least one liter of water per day.
5. Pungent and salty food as well as excessive protein should be
avoided.
6. Urine passed during the night before three a.m. should not be
used.
 

1. The quantity used is left up to the individual.
   

Initial adjustment phase:
1. Prepare the mind by making a resolve to at lease attempt the
process and examine your reactions, thoughts and feelings.
2. When you feel mentally prepared to attempt the actual practice,
collect some fresh urine and start by rubbing your hands with it.
Feel its texture, smell it, and see whether it can actually clean
your skin as well as some people claim. After about five minutes
wash it off with cold water and feel the skin to see whether the
urine has had an effect. Do not use soap after rubbing.
3. The next phase of adjusting the body and mind is to
put one drop onto the tongue. Taste and smell play an important
part in assessing its nature.
4. Eventually you should build up the quantity you take in until you
can drink a full glass of midstream urine and feel neutral in body
and mind. Then you will be ready to start more advanced curriculums.
A closer look at the details:
The toxins of urine are also necessary to vaccinate and protect the body from future illnesses. The main theory behind urine therapy after all, isn’t that it straight out cures diseases, but instead, it is geared more towards building immunity to diseases, much like vaccinations. The small amounts of possibly toxic substances which can be found in urine largely seem to have a positive effect on the immune system. An important task of the immune system is to rid the human body of diseased or unusable substances that have developed during the course of an illness, and when these substances reach healthy tissue, the blood becomes stronger, the activity of leukocytes (white blood cells) increases, and the patient probably recovers. This phenomenon is known as auto-inoculation or self-vaccination and can be seen as mother nature's method of healing an illness without external intervention. Urine therapy, therefore, can be seen as a form of self-vaccination: certain bodily substances which have been removed from the body, some of which may have been produced as a result of illness, are re-introduced into the body in small amounts. These substances are re-absorbed into the blood through either the intestines or the skin, and the immune system is then given the chance to react appropriately.
 
So there are some facts from around the web. 

You say to me “On the other hand, consider that a primary role of the kidneys is to filter waste and toxins from the body. Is that really something you want to put back in?”

YES!!

Did you miss the part where i mention i have been doing this for over 2 yrs? That has been my experience on the subject, what has been yours?


lovelightblessings
1ness

No, but I have studied anatomy, physiology and have extensive study and experience (read lifetime) in EMS, Wilderness EMS as well as basic survival training. I'm no snake eater, but in a wilderness survival situation there's a pretty good chance I would walk out alive. 

Your quote from Proverbs is a very big stretch, especially since the word cistern specifically relates to a dug pit, and the word well to a spring. The first usage of waters is plural and is used for many things including urine, so you have to look at context. The second word is a different one in the Hebrew, it can mean a stream or flood, but in this case, the voice/tense/mood and the context indicate it means simply flowing. BTW the word water is not actually there in the Hebrew, but inserted by the translators to make it more understandable. A reasonable assumption since it is connected to the word for spring. However context is everything so lets look at the whole passage.

In full context, verse 15 opens a passage urging marital fidelity. I quote the entire passage from Peterson's "Message" translation which makes that clearer than most.

Proverbs 5:15-20 wrote:
Do you know the saying, “Drink from your own rain barrel, raw water from your own spring-fed well”? It’s true. Otherwise, you may one day come home and find your barrel empty and your well polluted. Your spring water is for you and you only, not to be passed around among strangers. Bless your fresh-flowing fountain! Enjoy the wife you married as a young man! Lovely as an angel, beautiful as a rose— don’t ever quit taking delight in her body. Never take her love for granted! Why would you trade enduring intimacies for cheap thrills with a whore? for dalliance with a promiscuous stranger?

So in true context, while the passage does use water rain and spring water in an illustrative sense, in reality, it has nothing to do either water or urine.

Look at your own chart, high in sodium, potassium, and chloride = high in salts. Not good in a survival situation where dehydration is possible even likely. High in Urea = waste, along with Ammonia and Ammonia compounds, also waste. There is a reason the kidneys are filtering these things out, and it's not so you can re-ingest them. A dog might eat crap, but I have never seen one lapping up it's own piss.

I guess you could always add a little turmeric in it so that it masks the flavor.

 :juggle: