How much water

[Guest guest]

Dear members,

 

Normally it is reccomended to drink a lot of water. I would like to

know if drinking a lot of water will cool the body a lot (leading to

kapha dosha)? Will drinking a lot of water reduce pitta?

 

Thanks

Vibhuti

[Guest guest]

Dear Vibhuti,

Drinking too much water will water-log your digestive tract, leading to

agnimandya (weak digestive fire).

Drink large volumes of water between meals (on an empty stomach), and only sips

of water with meals (not to wash it down, however, just to lubricate the food).

The amount of water needed varies from person to person based on what you eat,

your prakriti/vikriti, the ambient temperature, and exercise generally, kapha

needs the least, vata moderate, and pitta the most for kapha and vata, water

should be warm, as herbal teas; for pitta, preferably cool but not ice cold,

generally).

The total amount of water consumed on a daily basis could range from 500 mL to

2000 mL - probably about 1000-1200 mL is best for most.

Large amounts of water consumed all at once are generally poorly absorbed, and

tend to have a diuretic or laxative effect

To ensure proper hydration (i.e. in vata), it is best to get water in

electrolyte-rich forms, e.g. soups, broths, herbal teas etc., consumed in

moderate amounts throughout the day.

Caldecott

[Guest guest]

"vibhuti_vibhuti_das" <vibhuti_vibhuti_das> wrote:

> Normally it is reccomended to drink a lot of water. I would like to

> know if drinking a lot of water will cool the body a lot (leading

to

> kapha dosha)? Will drinking a lot of water reduce pitta?

 

Dear Vibhuti,

You are a very senior member of this club, and the querry is really

points to a gap in our knowledge. Opinions may differ and it will be

informative to invite discussion on this forum.

 

You have touched a subject which is extensively discussed on our

list. Though Todd answered your querry in general terms, he missed to

attract attention to one of his own notable posts msg #2133, on good

and bad waters. Water is the subject which attracts this author very

much. In this post he attempts to review the discussion so far on our

list, and give some new ideas in understanding water, hitherto not

discussed. Many more thoughts by other members are welcome.

 

Our bodies are nothing but miniature version of universe. "Yatha

brahmande tatha pinde" is the sanskrit saying. Before first breath,

we spent nine months floating in amniotic fluid. Water, one of the

five main elements making the universe, represents soma, the

nourishing, cooling quality associated with lunar energy (See Msg

#473). Moon represents mother and therefore 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, sweat or wet part of stools. In fact

Panch Karma cleansing process (Dhouti, Neti, Swedan) heavily depends

on water as "detoxifier". Our body is nearly 70% water.

 

In message #1312, the mechanism by which body regulates water

quantity is discussed. Salt and mineral balance is the key to

quantity of water requirements of the body. Dry skin and unquenchable

thirst may occur even though one drink lots of water, indicating the

deeper physiology is not getting enough moisture. This happens when

the person's agni is low and ama blocks the microchannels (shrotas)

which carry water to the cells. Thus it is not the water which

extinguishes "agni", but despite inflow of water, ama blocked

channels do not allow cells to receive adeqate hydration. 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 or electrolytes containing various

elements (Msg# 473, 485, 2139, 2201, 2214). The usage of such

medicated waters in preventing hair loss and anemia is discussed in

Msg# 2263. Usage of such waters in strengthening dhatus and

consequentially reducing "exhaustion" under chronic disease patients

has been experienced by many Vaidyas. Further, since water denotes

soma, its contribution in relieving anxiety and causing coolness to

mind can be experienced by having a glass of water after returning

from walk on a sunny day. In every indian household, we are offered a

glass of water when we visit.

 

Ayurvedists pay maximum attention to food that we eat. However, in

order of volume or weight, we consume maximum weight of air, next

water and lastly food. Hence is it not logical that we pay maximum

attention to air, next water and last attention to food. And it is

noteworthy that toxins produced as a result of this intake is

inversely proportional to weight. Thus air produces least amount of

toxins, water comes next and food produces maximum amount of toxins,

if discussions on diet we had during last March April 2004 are any

guidance. On these guidelines, air attracted maximum attention of

yogis. In "no medicine approach", the ways of enhancing oxygen

absorption by bodies by Pranayama and other similar breathing

exercises has received maximum attention of ancient acharyas.

However, most of the time, our limited perception of ayurveda remains

restricted to Vatis, Arishtas, Kashyas etc. The new awakening is now

evident in the teachings of Ramdev Maharaj, Breathing technique

teachings by others. Those who wish to learn ayurveda, first try the

yoga, pranayama etc. In the experiments of this author, he attributes

50% success of the treatment of terminal cases to the breathing

exercises. Unfortunately, the subtelity of the techniques precludes

their description on the internet.

 

Regarding water, if the nervous system is adequately cleaned out by

Ushapana, Ushnodaka, Panch Karma etc, let the thirst itself guide you

to the quantity of water per day. Water is Jeevanya, and cannot cause

any damage, as long as you obey thirst signal. If taken in this

manner, it does not load the kidney as some believe. On the other

hand, when partial renal failure occurs, water retention (edma) is

the result. Some anti-hypertensive diuretic medications are contra-

indicated under such conditions. Patients undergoing haemodialesis

are generally advised not to drink more water, but this view is like

putting the cart before horse. Adequate water makes kidney's job

easier. By using proper electrolytic water discussed in Msg# 2139,

2201, 2263, author noted that the urine quantity per day increased

for such patients; and other indicators ( Creatinin, Uric Acid in

blood, Albumin in Urine ) reduced! Results not published since number

of such cases was not large enough to impress. While we are in the

subject of renal failure, it is worth pointing out that according to

modern science, excess protein intake is one of the main reasons for

the renal problems. So in order to become heart-wise, one may end up

kidney-foolish.

 

Dr Bhate

[Guest guest]

Respected members,

 

 

Thanks to Dr Bhate and Mr Todd for kind info on water. I will go

through the messages posted earlier, on this issue.

 

Regards

Vibhuti