A full bladder is full of surprises. It really is. You might think I’m referring to a child’s unexpected “accident” or the overwhelming number of bathroom breaks one would make after a night at the bar, but that’s not exactly what I’m talking about. What most people don’t realize is that there is actually more to urine than what meets the eye as that yellow, waste-filled liquid we excrete every, single day. While most of us think of it as merely something to get rid of, its involvement in a variety of uses proves that it is much more valuable than we think.
Hidden value lies within this urine sample.
By painassist via Flickr Creative Commons
Because urine is sterile, it is perfectly fine to drink. This method, more so known as urine therapy, is a popular Asian practice for good health as drinking the first stream of the day will not only boost your immunity, but will also cure ailments such as colds, the flu, and even hangovers due to the antibacterial characteristics of urea. This nitrogenous waste is a common component of urine that happens to be a good antiviral and antifungal agent.
Chemical structure of urea
By NEUROtiker via Wikimedia Commons
Furthermore, drinking urine is a good alternative when water is scarce since it satisfies the body’s need for fluid. In fact, following an earthquake in Egypt, a man was found in excellent condition after surviving off his own urine while trapped within the debris for three days. In addition, Native American tribes used fresh urine as an antiseptic, and mixed urine with mud to make a reliever for insect bites.
Have you ever wanted a tattoo under your parents’ objections? Well in reference to an old cultural practice, it turns out that all you have to do is mix some coal dust with some urine and voila! You have yourself some homemade tattoo ink. Similarly, stale urine was a key component of munitions. Urine was set aside for over a year to undergo fermentation, and the sediment formed was washed and mixed with ash. Once dry, the addition of sulfur and charcoal would produce your very own gun powder.
Still not convinced by the power of pee? Here is a short news clip by YouTube user CNCWorldChannel promoting the use of urine as an alternative for fossil fuels, therefore reducing the cost of energy.
It turns out that approximately 300 mL of urine could supply a lamp with two hours worth of light energy! The power of urine is bound to awe you now, literally.
In conclusion, I obviously don’t urge you all to start drinking your urine or to tattoo yourselves with some homemade ink, but I hope you’ll realize that something like urine which is often perceived as waste, really isn’t waste at all. So upon the next time you urinate, perhaps it might be wise to think twice before you flush it down!
– Clarissa Ngui
