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Ayurveda
Healing
Waters
Well water, pond water, rain
water – there are many types of water described in Ayurvedic texts, and
each has a therapeutic value, just as food does. Water represents soma,
the nourishing, cooling quality that is associated with lunar energy. It
helps with digestion, cools and balances Pitta dosha, supports Kapha, and
counteracts the dryness of Vata. It nurtures, lubricates and also
detoxifies when it flows out of the body as urine. Water, when properly
absorbed by the body, has several healing qualities:
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Helps to remove fatigue (Shramnashana)
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Enhances glow of skin
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Prevents constipation
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Increases stamina
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Provides satisfaction
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Helps the heart by pacifying
Sadhaka Pitta
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Helps digestion
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Cooling
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Always helpful to the body
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Easy to assimilate
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Life-giving
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Antioxidant
The healing effects of water
can be enhanced using Ayurvedic methods.
Water for Cleansing
Sometimes people have dry skin and unquenchable thirst even though they
drink lots of water. The deeper physiology is not getting enough moisture.
This occurs when the person's agni is low and ama blocks the
micro-channels (shrotas) which carry water to the cells. In order
to cleanse the channels and enhance moisture absorption, Ayurvedic texts
recommend boiling the water for various lengths of time, creating a
therapeutic water called ushnodaka. Another method is to add spices
or herbs to the water after boiling.
Why It Works
When the water boils, it gets charged with heat, becoming sharper in
quality (sookshma). This sharpness allows it to cleanse the
channels and penetrate deeper levels of the physiology. Spices create an
added therapeutic effect by interacting with the water on the molecular
level. Spices create different effects on the body through aroma and
taste. It becomes easier for the body to flush out toxins and impurities
because of the sharpness of the agni (heat) in the water and
because of the sharpness of the spices. Over time, it cleanses the
channels so the water is unobstructed as it travels into the body to
hydrate the tissues, and travels out carrying waste.
Ancient texts talk about the difference in the rate of absorption of
regular water vs. boiled water:
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regular water - takes about
6 hours if every channel is clear
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boiled and cooled water -
takes about 3 hours to be absorbed, and helps open the channels
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hot herbalized water - takes
about 1 1/2 hours, due to sharpness of agni and herbs and spices
Water for Your Body Type
An Ayurvedic expert can design a therapeutic water recipe to give a
specific benefit. One water recipe might enhance immunity, another might
cleanse the skin, another might help with prostate
imbalance. You can also choose a spice-water recipe for your body type or
imbalances.
Vata Balancing Water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3
leaves mint, 1/2 t. fennel seed, and 1/4 t. marshmallow root. Place the
water in a thermos. Sip it throughout the day at a warm but not hot
temperature.
Pitta Balancing Water
Boil two quarts of water for 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 1/4
t. fennel seed, 2 rose buds, and 1 clove. Store it hot inside a thermos,
but before drinking pour it into a cup and let it cool to room temperature
in summer. In winter, it can be slightly warmer.
Kapha Balancing Water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3
holy basil leaves, two thin slices of fresh ginger, 1/4 t. of cumin, 1/2
t. of fennel. Place the water and spices in a thermos, and sip the water
at a hot or warm temperature throughout the day.
How Much is Enough?
How much water you should drink depends on your age, how much physical
work or exercise you do, the weather, your diet, your stress levels, your
herbal food supplements, and your body type. The warm Pitta types usually
are thirstier than the watery Kapha types. Vata types are often
constipated or have dry skin and thus need to drink more water. I usually
recommend two quarts of spice-water a day, but every person has to
determine their own individual needs. Make your spice water first thing in
the morning and sipping it every fifteen minutes throughout the day. Drink
plain water after 7:00 p.m., as spice-water is too enlivening to drink
right before sleeping. If you don't finish the spice-water by then, throw
it out and start fresh in the morning. You may want to drink some plain
water during the day as well. If you have been exercising and need to
drink a full glass of water, it's better to drink plain water rather than
the spice water.
Water at Meals
Ayurvedic texts also recommend sipping plain water at meals, because
Ayurvedic food already contains spices and you don't want to overwhelm the
body. On the other hand, if you are eating a plain meal without spices,
then the spice-water will help digestion. A cup of water at meals is good,
but it depends on what you are eating. If you are eating soup or dhal,
you'll need much less water. If you are eating a higher quantity of dry
foods, such as crackers, you'll need more. Water at meals can be room
temperature or hot, depending on your body type, but should never be
ice-cold, as that would douse the digestive fire. Forty-five minutes after
the meal, you may suddenly feel thirsty, and then it's a good idea to
drink a lot of water as the body needs it for digestion. In between meals
you can sip the spice-water. You will be surprised how something as simple
as water can enhance your health.
– Vaidya Rama Kant Mishra
May 14, 2002
Disclaimer:
Information provided in this article is for the sole purpose of imparting education on
Ayurveda and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.
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