Liver Doc slams Paresh Rawal's urine therapy claim, calls it Harmful, Unscientific Practice
New Delhi: A renowned hepatologist from Kerala, Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, popularly known as "The Liver Doc" on social media, has publicly criticised veteran actor Paresh Rawal for claiming that he drank his own urine for 15 days to recover from a knee injury. Dr. Philips strongly advised against the practice, calling it harmful and lacking any scientific proof.
In an interview with Lallantop on April 27, the Hera Pheri actor revealed that he drank his own urine “like a beer” after sustaining a knee injury on the set of Ghatak. Although doctors estimated a three-month recovery period, Rawal said that action choreographer Veeru Devgan, father of actor Ajay Devgn, had suggested drinking the first urine of the day while avoiding alcohol, red meat, and smoking to aid the healing process.
Rawal claimed he followed this advice diligently for 15 consecutive days and even joked, “I will sip it like a beer because if I have to follow through, I will do so properly.” According to him, his X-ray reports later showed signs of healing, which surprised his doctor.
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The revelation shocked the public, and the video clip of the interview quickly went viral, sparking criticism and intense debate on social media. Dr. Philips, who addressed the issue on his Twitter page, warned people not to follow such unscientific practices, emphasising the health risks.
He wrote, "Please don't drink your urine (or others) because a Bollywood actor says so. There is no scientific evidence to support the idea that drinking urine provides any health benefits".
"In fact, consuming urine can be harmful, potentially introducing bacteria, toxins, and other harmful substances into the bloodstream. Your kidneys work very hard to remove toxic stuff out of your body through urine. Don't insult it by putting it back in. Urine is NOT sterile. Urine is a potent combination of salts and chemicals that your body is attempting to remove. These chemicals can cause significant health problems if you consume them," he added.
Further slamming Paresh, he wrote, "Paresh Rawal is the perfect example of the Indian WhatsApp Boomer Uncle. He's saying this to stay alive in the media".
No scientific evidence: Health experts
There is no scientific evidence to prove that urine therapy can treat any disease, said health experts on Tuesday.
"As an oncologist, I must emphasise that while anecdotal experiences like Paresh Rawal's are fascinating, they should not be mistaken for medical advice. There is no scientific evidence supporting urine therapy as a treatment for any diseases, whether musculoskeletal injuries or cancer," Dr. Abhishek Shankar, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr BR Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital at AIIMS, Delhi, told IANS.
"Even with all the scientific progress and easy access to good healthcare information, it is unfortunate that some people still look for shortcuts and try to promote them. Drinking urine does not cure any health problems. This myth has been proven wrong many times," added Dr. Rajeev Jayadevan, Convener, Research Cell, Kerala State IMA.
Urine therapy, also known as Urophagia, is the practice of drinking urine. In Ayurveda, urine was used to treat asthma, allergies, indigestion, wrinkles and even cancer. However, the claims are based on anecdotes or ancient texts and have no robust scientific evidence to support the benefits.
On the other hand, there is evidence to show that drinking urine has several health risks, said Shankar. Many studies showed that urine contains bacteria, which, if ingested, could be harmful. It can also introduce toxins into the gut and potentially cause further illnesses like stomach infections. Further, because urine is a diuretic, it may also increase a person's risk of dehydration.
Mr Rawal is not the only one to claim the benefits of urine therapy. The list also includes British TV star Ben Grylls and Mexican boxer Juan Manuel Marquez.
"There is no credible scientific evidence that supports this type of therapy for any benefit whatsoever, urine is actually body based that contains a lot of waste materials which the kidneys filter, and reintroducing it into the body can cause a lot of side effects like infection, electrolytic balance or delayed appropriate medical care," Dr Charudatt Vaity, a Mumbai-based intensivist told IANS.
The experts noted that recovery from injuries depends on several factors, like rest, nutrition, and appropriate medical care. They cautioned the public to rely on evidence-based medicine rather than unverified home remedies.
"It's important to rely on facts and real science, not on myths or shortcuts, Dr. Jayadevan told IANS.
