Ayurveda Article - Healing Waters For Your Health

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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," says Vaidya Mishra, Director of

Research and Product Development at Maharishi Ayurveda Products

International. "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."

Vaidya Mishra explains how 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," says Vaidya Mishra. "The deeper physiology

is not getting enough moisture."

Vaidya Mishra explains that this occurs when the person's agni is low

and ama blocks the microchannels (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," explains Vaidya Mishra. "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," explains Vaidya Mishra. "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."

Ayurvedic texts explain that water that has been boiled and spiced is

absorbed much faster by the body. Unboiled, unspiced water from the

tap takes about six hours to be absorbed even if every channel is

clear. Water that has been boiled five minutes and then cooled takes

only about three hours to be absorbed, as the extra sharpness in the

water from boiling helps open the channels. The most absorbable kind

of water -- water that has been boiled, steeped in herbs, and is

still hot--takes only one and one-half hours to be absorbed, due to

the sharp agni quality created by boiling and by adding herbs and

spices.

 

Water for Your Body Type

"An ayurvedic expert can design a therapeutic water recipe to give a

specific benefit," says Vaidya Mishra. 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.

 

Benefits of Properly Absorbed Water

Even though it takes a little extra effort to boil your water and add

spices to it, the benefits are remarkable. Ayurvedic texts explain

that when water is properly absorbed, it has many health-giving

qualities.

 

Here are a few

• Helps to remove fatigue (shramnashana)

• Enhances glow of skin

• Prevents constipation

• Increases stamina

• Provides satisfaction

• Helps the heart by pacifying Sadhaka Pitta, the subdosha of

Pitta that governs the emotions and their effect on the heart

• Helps digestion

• Cools the body

• Supports physiological functioning

• Assimilates easily

• Has life-giving qualities

• Has antioxidant properties

 

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 level of need and

comfort," says Vaidya Mishra.

Vaidya Mishra recommends making 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," says

Vaidya Mishra. "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

American 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," says Vaidya Mishra. "If you are eating soup or dhal, you'll

need much less water. If you are eating a 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," says Vaidya Mishra. "In between meals you can sip

the spice-water." You will be surprised how something as simple as

water can enhance your health.

 

 

 

Note : This ayurvedic information is educational and is not intended

to replace standard medical care or advice.

Copyright MAPI, 2002.

 

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