# Urine anti-fungal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 1999, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168 "1999-08-15T14:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 1999, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/1 "1999-08-15T14:47:00Z")
I have it on good authority our beloved Madonna (hush, you deves) went on David Letterman and declared she urinates on her own feet while showering because “It’s good for athlete’s foot.” Is it? I’m not sure if she meant “cures it” “prevents it” or “encourages it” - which leads me to another question - does the fungus that causes it really lurk in bathtubs and shower rooms? Is that the only place we can pick this stuff up? (let’s see if Dr. Fidelius is on vacation). ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 1999, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/2 "1999-08-15T15:57:00Z")
The fungus is present in the soil, likes a warm moist environment. Guys sweat more footwise than women, so I suppose this is why they get it more. I think that it’s a bunch of crap that urine would have any anti-fungal properties. Cecil has given a list of diseases you can get from pee so its not sterile. Anyway, how on earth does she manage to pee on her feet? What is she an acrobat or smething? ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 1999, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/3 "1999-08-15T16:29:00Z")
I remember reading in a National Geographic years ago that some of the nomads in Africa bathed their babies in Cow urine due to the lack of sanitary water. Always thought that was kinda odd. In my line of work I get some on me kinda regularly, especially when I’m up to my shoulders pulling a calf out. I’m not talking just birthing liquid here, urine also. I rarely get sick and I think it is a case of if you’re exposed to something on a regular basis then you build up a resistance. Madonna is using her own pee as it is exiting her own body. If the body can get rid of it the first time without getting sick my guess is it can do it again. I also recall Cecil talking about saving and drinking your own urine but I can’ remember exactly what his opinion was on that. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/4 "1999-08-16T00:01:00Z")
Well of course, if you are on a boat with no water & you are a guy, just aim the penis so the pee goes into your mouth. Excellent urine recycling, eh? There aren’t many viruses you can get from cows 🙂 These days, we have plenty of water & fungicides you can buy, etc, much better if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![dasmoocher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@dasmoocher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dasmoocher)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/5 "1999-08-16T00:05:00Z")
Maybe she just doesn’t feel like getting outta the shower. ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/6 "1999-08-16T00:25:00Z")
Actually, urine should be sterile when it leaves the body, but bacteria quickly invade it. Fresh cow pee would certainly be better than some water sources for washing, and, I suppose, it’s ok as a short term water source, but since you would be ingesting stuff your body was trying to get rid of I expect it wouldn’t do over the long haul. I can’t see how it would be fungicidal Larry ---
**Author:** ![EnigmaOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EnigmaOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EnigmaOne)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/7 "1999-08-16T02:19:00Z")
{{{I have it on good authority our beloved Madonna (hush, you deves) went on David Letterman and declared she urinates on her own feet while showering because “It’s good for athlete’s foot.”}}}—Nickerz This was covered a few years back, in a brodcast by the infamous Mark & Brian. Evidently, Madonna made the appearance, and did make the statements in the context that urine does erradicate athlete’s foot. Mark went on to state that he was conducting his own trial, during his morning shower ritual. He later reported positive results. ## I’ll stick to peeing in the pot. – **Kalél** (The Original **EnigmaOne** ) _Common ¢ for all ages._ ---
**Author:** ![falcon2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dbc845/32.png) [@falcon2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/falcon2)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/8 "1999-08-16T04:20:00Z")
This “fact” was featured in the movie “Courage Under Fire.” “I saw it in a movie once” certainly doesn’t measure higly on my credibilty scale, maybe it does for Madona. ---
**Author:** ![Xgemina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/b5e925/32.png) [@Xgemina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xgemina)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/9 "1999-08-16T06:13:00Z")
When I was in the Infantry (B 5/18 Inf - Spartans! hoo-ah) I used to get athlete’s foot pretty bad in the field. The older NCOs used to tell me the quickest way to cure it was to piss on 'em in the shower. I can’t tell you if works, never tried (was told another way that didn’t include urine and used it) * * * “Nuts!” Gen A.C. McAuliffe “The general’s nuts.” unknown 101st AB grunt ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 7:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/10 "1999-08-16T07:41:00Z")
Handy quotes, “Cecil has given a list of diseases you can get from pee so its not sterile.” Cite the column, I would love to be able to correct the mighty one. ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/11 "1999-08-16T07:57:00Z")
I remember a column about urine consumption, but I don’t remember it including diseases being caought from it, I’d like to review the original too, Larry ---
**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 11:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/12 "1999-08-16T11:11:00Z")
Linux is …oh this wasn’t the linux column. Well, use linux to cure DOS, and Lotrimin for athlete’s foot. It’s over the counter, so not too hard to find. Wear sandals if you can. ---
**Author:** ![JillGat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9fc29f/32.png) [@JillGat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JillGat)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/13 "1999-08-16T14:34:00Z")
In Jamaica mothers wipe out their babies’ mouths with urine soaked diapers, presumably to prevent thrush. I don’t think it works, but that’s the theory. It is true, though, that urine is an accepted antidote for jellyfish sting. ---
**Author:** ![Alphagene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Alphagene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alphagene)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/14 "1999-08-16T15:41:00Z")
Urine is a good treatment for jellyfish stings because the salt content causes osmotic shock to any remaining nematocysts (stinging cells) that haven’t stung yet. Maybe the urine causes osmotic shock to the athlete foot fungus. I thiknk fungal cells are a little tougher though… ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 1999, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/15 "1999-08-17T05:18:00Z")
You can search the column archives, there might be some stuff there about peeing and washing your hands, but here is a clip: ‘Mindful of our discussion earlier this year about the importance of washing one’s hands after going to the bathroom (January 12, February 2) and recalling my comment that urine itself, being fairly sterile,’ ‘Fairly’ is almost…Maybe I got a little confused about our peee Vs. others pee. But anyway, he did say that the genital region, boxer shorts, panties, etc are loaded with cloriform bacteria, which is why we are supposed to wash after peeing… ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 1999, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/16 "1999-08-16T23:46:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Handy quotes, > “Cecil has given a list of diseases you can get from pee so its not sterile.” > Cite the column, I would love to be able to correct the mighty one. Correct? Cecil is never wrong; however, he can be misquoted. Here’s the column in question: [http://www.straightdope.com/columns/960112.html](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/960112.html) The quote Handy was referring to was this: _"I’ve said this before: your boxer-shorts region–from belly button to mid-thigh–is crawling with germs known as coliform bacteria. These bacteria originated in your intestine, and some of them are deadly. "_ He also says, a little later: _“Urine itself is actually fairly sterile. Cecil has read reports of it being used during wartime in poor countries as–I’m not making this up–a sort of battlefield Bactine.”_ Let me also refer you to Cecil’s discussion of urine drinking, from THE STRAIGHT DOPE TELLS ALL, ppg. 223-225. (This column is not in the online Archives, go buy the book already!) your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![lvick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d07c76/32.png) [@lvick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lvick)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 1999, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/17 "1999-08-17T00:45:00Z")
Well, I KNEW it was a missquote. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 1999, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/18 "1999-08-17T00:54:00Z")
No, I must investigate further because that’s not the article I was thinking about. But close. Anyway, for those who want to know what urine theraphy is like here is stuff from a web site: Very briefly, here are two ways to do urine therapy. This is in no way a complete discussion of how to use the therapy, but simply an introduction. 1. Use your own urine in a homeopathic fashion. First, collect midstream urine in a clean cup or container. This should be a clean catch, meaning the genital area (important for women in particular) has been cleaned beforehand. To 1/6 ounce of distilled water in a sterile bottle, add one drop of fresh urine. Cap and shake 50 times. Take one drop of this mix and add to another 1/6 ounce of distilled water and shake 50 times. Take one drop of this mix and add to 1/6 oz. of 80 to 90 proof vodka which acts as a preservative. Place three drops under the tongue hourly until there is obvious improvement or temporary exacerbation of symptoms. As improvement progresses, lengthen the interval between treatments. After 3 days, suspend treatment to avoid pushing the immune system. Treatment is resumed if progress remains static or relapse occurs. It’s from an almost impossible story at: [http://www.biomedx.com/urine/](http://www.biomedx.com/urine/) ---
**Author:** ![Mac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@Mac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mac)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 1999, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/19 "1999-08-17T01:11:00Z")
I had a high school health teacher/football coach who would recommend this to his students. Don’t know anyone who actually tried it or at least would admit it afterwards. This one practically screams UL. * * * The american people are very generous people and will forgive almost any weakness, with the possible exception of stupidity.—Will Rogers ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 1999, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168/20 "1999-08-17T14:36:00Z")
> [@](#): > > …he did say that the genital region, boxer shorts, panties, etc are loaded with cloriform bacteria,… Handy, while I have a friend who’s emissons from that vicinity can damn near render a person unconcious, I think it’s _coliform_ bacteria you’re talkin about. * * * The overwhelming majority of people have more than the average (mean) number of legs. – E. Grebenik [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urine-anti-fungal/3168.md?page=2)