Related Experiment Videos
Melatonin supplementation from early morning auto-urine drinking
1Department of Psychology, University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Medical Hypotheses
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Drinking morning urine, a yogic practice, may restore melatonin levels. This could explain alleged benefits through sleep-wake cycle regulation and enhanced physiological states like analgesia.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Endocrinology
- Alternative Medicine
Background:
- 'Amaroli', or drinking morning urine, is a traditional yogic practice.
- Morning urine contains significant amounts of the pineal hormone melatonin and its conjugated esters.
- The practice is still widely performed in some communities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological basis for the traditional practice of 'amaroli'.
- To explore the potential role of melatonin in the claimed benefits of urine therapy.
- To understand the mechanism by which drinking urine might affect physiological states.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of morning urine for melatonin and its conjugated esters.
- Assessment of plasma melatonin levels after ingestion of morning urine.
- Review of physiological effects associated with melatonin, such as sleep-wake cycle regulation and sensory perception.
Main Results:
- Significant quantities of melatonin and its conjugated esters were found in morning urine.
- Ingesting morning urine was shown to restore plasma night-time melatonin levels.
- Melatonin's known effects include regulating sleep-wake cycles and altering body awareness.
Conclusions:
- The presence and reabsorption of melatonin from morning urine offer a potential physiological explanation for 'amaroli'.
- Restored melatonin levels may mediate the alleged benefits of 'amaroli' by influencing the sleep-wake cycle and sensory perception.
- Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the efficacy and mechanisms of urine therapy.