Let’s Talk Pee!

Interesting Video:

Now I have some issues with this conclusion. Finding bacterial DNA in urine doesn’t mean it isn’t sterile, as the toxic environment inside the bladder may KILL the bacteria, but still leave the DNA for detection. Also given the studies cited were done with women, let’s face it women wipe after #1 operations because they don’t produce as clean a urine stream as males so the possibility of cross contamination from the external skin is much higher.

Fun fact, dudes can write their name in the snow because there is a small twist at the end of the male urethra, much like some early rifled muskets where a small twist was added near the muzzle to impart some spin on the bullet.

Still the human body is teaming with bacteria, so the idea that the bladder would be one of the only sterile places (especially given that the stuff in there is going to be expelled anyway) seems plausible.

I don’t know the validity of washing out a cut, still if all you have is pee, and you have a VERY dirty gash you want to apply dressing to, a rinse with pee might not be the worst idea. For all the above talk, the bacteria in urine must be able to survive in a very acid, and fairly toxic environment, which is very different from say a gash on your leg. Clean water is still the best bet, but I don’t know if you can make an infection WORSE from a quick urine rinse.

Also the Jellyfish sting bit IS true! When a Jellyfish stings you its stinging cells called Cnidocytes pop open like little harpoon guns and release their poisons causing a sting. If the cells discharge OUTSIDE your body the damage is minimal. This is why you can safely handle animals like the Moon Jelly without any ill effects. They are stinging the bejesus out of you, but their cnida are not designed for something as big as a person so the toxin just splashes on the surface or injects into your protective outer skin cells that don’t feel pain.

So why pee on it? Well these cells get triggered by physical pressure, but they can also be caused to discharge by pH changes. The acid in your urine (or better yet some vinegar or even some leftover soda or orange juice) will cause all the Cnidocytes to discharge and wash away. Even when you pull the jelly off you it’s going to leave a bunch of cells on your body that will continue to sting. Acid (including urine) will cause this to stop.

Also urine is a waste product. It isn’t toxic waste, or as dangerous as feces, but it’s hardly good for you. Still like breathing exhaled air into a person’s lungs who’s stopped breathing will give them some much-needed oxygen, there is still some useful water in that urine, so if you are in immediate danger of dying of thirst saving and re-drinking your urine might give you a little more time to be saved.

Still the more you drink the pee and continue to live the more toxic it will become, and the less use you can make of it, so use EXTREME caution.