Water Elixir or A Poison

As reflected by the documented data, today due to advanced medical facilities & technologies and excellent emergency services, the average life span has increased. But unfortunately, in spite of this positive aspect, we can’t deny the fact that our quality of health is constantly deteriorating. We are constantly becoming weaker and ill. The situation of today is such that none of us is in a position to claim that he/she is completely healthy. We all are somehow sustaining our lives with the help of pharmaceuticals or neutraceticals i.e. so-called health tonics.

The factors which are broadly responsible for this miserable situation are our wrong eating habits and wrong life style.

If we talk about eating habits , we observe five kinds of mistakes. We are lacking in the proper knowledge about the quality of food that we intake, the quantity of food that we should consume, the combination that should be consumed and the manner in which the food should be consumed.

In fact, whenever we attempt to explore about diet related facts, we come across so much difference of opinions that we finally end up getting nothing but entirely confused. Forget about the food, we don’t even have right knowledge about water which is something most important and which we all take several times in each day. While one would suggest drinking 2 litres of water every day, other would suggest 4 litres of it and still other would suggest even more.

The situation becomes extreme when someone advises to drink water even without feeling thirsty. They would suggest drinking water in plenty. It is said that if we have to treat stomach related ailments like constipation, acidity or gas, then we should drink plenty of water. Similarly, drinking water in plenty is advised in order to detox the body, or if there is burning in urine, or there is formation of stones in kidneys or even to cut the body fat.

But when we try to understand the logical explanations about how does drinking water help in these conditions, then what we come across is beyond my understanding.

For example, in case of stomach related diseases like constipation, acidity, gas and even IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome in which the patients have an urge to pass stools frequently and still there is lack of satisfaction), the cause is our sluggish digestive power. Even the Modern Science believes that these diseases are caused either due to deficiency of digestive enzymes or their dilution.

Hence, in case of these diseases, the complete cure can be achieved only by increasing the digestive enzymes or strengthening the digestive power. In such a situation, it is beyond my understanding that how can water, which is a strong opponent of agni, help in strengthening digestive power and treating the diseases. Isn’t it like, excessive water which is taken to get momentary relief in these diseases, itself becomes a reason for converting them into incurable diseases. Please think about it.

Friends, these days we are consuming plenty of water in the name of detoxification. Ignoring the fact that the nitrogenous wastes such as urea which is produced as a result of natural metabolism, is excreted in the form of urine by kidneys and this process is a natural auto-regulated mechanism of our body wherein drinking water in excess can never be scientifically helpful.

Instead, what actually happens is, the excess water consumed, is initially excreted in large amounts as urine. But later on, while disturbing the standard mechanism of urine formation, kidneys start excreting them in the form of diluted urine. Along with this diluted urine, the ions and other important solutes also start coming out of the body abnormally. If this continues over a long period, it results in an imbalance of fluids and electrolytes in our body. This is exactly the stage when a person starts developing increased blood pressure. Friends, you would be surprised that today the major cause for increased blood pressure (wherein the cause is unknown i.e. idiopathic hypertension), is excessive water intake.

It doesn’t stop here at blood pressure. The constant increased production of urine and filtration etc. results in increased function of kidneys. This process exhausts kidneys and the nephrons start getting damaged. The more the nephrons get damaged, the more compromised becomes the kidney function. Then ultimately it results in a stage when the kidneys are unable to do normal urine formation due to which the level of urea and creatinine start increasing. This is when the kidney is 50% damaged. The patient starts getting some or the other urine related problems. When such patients visit the doctor, according to his symptoms and blood reports he is told that his kidney function is compromised and he is advised to limit his water consumption. Friends it is quite awkward and incomprehensible trend that today, assuming that chemical fertilizers, urea etc. are entering our body through the available food products, we drink lot of water to get rid of their hypothetical presence. But when the actual documented presence of urea etc. is seen in the blood, then we are told to limit our water consumption..

Hence it is very clear, that the excessive water that we consume in the name of detoxification does not detoxify our body and instead, it becomes a reason for various other diseases. The reason for increase in number of kidney patients is also the trend of excessive water consumption.

Friends, at least I believe that instead of a medium of detoxification, actually water is a medium of toxification. Here, I would like to present some practical examples to you. You would have observed that our food products remain safe only until they do not come in contact of moisture. Even the garbage outside our houses starts rotting only when it comes in contact of water. We see maximum number of poisonous insects and creatures etc. during rainy season. All these facts suggest that rather than a medium of detoxification, water is actually a medium of toxification. Please consider it.

Friends, in case of burning in urine also, we are living in myth that this problem is resolved by drinking water in plenty.

Here, I would like to tell you that if someone is experiencing burning sensation while passing urine then there are two possibilities, either it is due to some infection or due to some obstruction in the passage of urine.

I can tell you with full confidence that a confirmed UTI cannot be treated with water. To treat a UTI, you would definitely require some medication. The increased intake of water would only give you relief from burning sensation by diluting the urine or washing out the superficial debris of the affected area. But if the condition is left untreated and instead it is managed for a long time by increased water intake then due to persistent infection and renal exertion, it damages kidney which initially causes blood pressure and later on other fatal diseases of kidney.

If the burning sensation in urine is due to some obstruction or weakness in nerves then in this situation increased water intake will not only be harmful but very harmful.

At this point I would like to tell you about a very important research. The patients who were suffering from recurrent or persistent UTI, were told to intake boiled water in less amount, during treatment. They were also asked to use boiled and cooled water in toilets. The results which were observed after some days of practice were very surprising. This research helped us to conclude that excessive intake of raw water and use of impure water which has microorganisms, in toilets can be a reason for persistent infection of urine.

These days, it is a practice to install RO or other water purifiers for water purification but due to even a little negligence in the maintenance or if the water is not being purified properly, there is always a strong possibility of bacteria, viruses and other microbes entering our body through the water. Likewise, improperly packaged or old packaged bottled water also have similar possibilities. Since water is the only material which is not cooked, neither outside nor inside (by jathragni). Rest all of the things whether they are solid or liquid, are cooked outside the body as well as inside the body (these all are absorbed only after being completely digested by jathragni). Perhaps, this is the reason why in the Shastras, there is always a provision of drinking cooked water, especially in case of patients. Please think about it.

In case of kidney stones also, drinking water in plenty in an attempt to expel the stones or to prevent stone formation, is not as per the Shastras. Instead, the Shastras have mentioned to treat the problem with treated milk mixed with little ghee (clarified butter).

Friends, clearly the matter is quite serious as well as complicated in the sense that after all how much, when and how should we drink water so that this divine gift nourishes our body rather than destroying it.

The situation reminds me of few lines from an old song. The song goes like… if you are not able to sort your complicated work, then leave it to God, he will ease your problems, God will accomplish what you could not…

So, let me take you directly to almighty’s refuge, I mean let me present the directions on eating and drinking practices, which have been mentioned in original Granthas or books like Charak Samhita, Sushrut Samhita, Wagbhat Samhita etc. from our vedas like Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samveda, Atharvaveda and Ayurveda which are entirely scientific, eternal and unassailable and have been created by almighty himself.

In this long series of eating and drinking practices related Shastra defined discussion, let us first of all discuss water which we consume daily and which is the most important beverage.

Kevalam Saushadham Pakvamaamushnam hitam cha tat I
Sameekshya Maatrayaa Yuktamamritam Vishamanyatha II

This Shloka can be interpreted as—

If it has to be taken alone then water should either be treated with medicines, or it should be boiled or it should be cold or it should be heated. The water is as efficacious as amrita (elxir) if it is taken as per the condition of body and in right amount, at right time and in right manner. Else otherwise, it creates toxicity in the body.

Like in case of any other food product, three different quantities are to be speculated in case of water too. These are excess quantity, adequate quantity and less quantity.

Excess Quantity of Water

Regarding excess quantity of water, I would like to tell you that in the vedas or in original Granthas of Ayurveda, nowhere there is a provision of drinking excess water for a healthy or ill person in any condition except for the condition of acute fluid loss.

According to Achaarya Wagbhatt-

Atiyogen salilam trishyatopi prayojitam I
Prayati Pittashleshmatvam jwaritasya Visheshtah II

The above Shloka can be interpreted as—

If some has a tendency to drink excess water even when thirsty, then his disease causing doshas get aggravated and cause many diseases in his body. This is especially true for people suffering from fever.

Acccording to Achaarya Charaka—

If someone eats solid food materials to his full and afterwards drinks water too in plenty, then the vaata, Pitta and kafa doshas in his Aamashaya (intestine) get extremely aggravated and that person gets several diseases.

According to Aacharya Sushrut-

Atyambupanadvishamashanadva Sandhaarnaat swapnaviparyayaachcha I
Kaalepi Saatmyam laghu chaapi bhuktamannam na paakam bhajate narasya II

This Shloka can be interpreted as,

Due to drinking plenty of water, even the food taken in small amount at proper time does not get digested properly and the problem of indigestion arises.

The excess water taken, weakens the thirteen types of agni present in our body like 1 Jatharagni (i.e. fire at the level of digestive system), 7 Dhaatu agni (i.e. fir at the level of various structural units of the body) and 5 Bhutaagni (i.e. fire at cellular level).

Aacharya Wagbhatta writes—

Rogaa sarveapi mandeagnau sutraamudaaraani cha I

Which means, this weak agni is understood to be the root cause of almost all of the diseases, as per Ayurveda.

Describing the significance of this agni, Aacharya Charaka writes—

Aayurvarnabalam swaasthyamutsaahopachayau prabhaa I
Ojastejoagnayah Praanashroktaa Dehagnihetukaa II

Which means, for anyone, if there is any foundation for his age, complexion, health, vigour, growth, intelligence, immunity and even his praana (spirit) then it is his agni.

Further Charaka writes –

Shaanteagnau mriyate, yukte Chiram Jeevatyanaamayah I
Roogi Syaadvikrite, Mulamagnistasmaanni Ruchyate II

Which means, it is the agni whose inactiveness results in a person’s death. A person remains live till this agni remains active . If there is imbalance in this agni, the person becomes sick. This is the reason why agni has been called the root of a human body.

Anyone who wishes for longevity while remaining healthy, should always protect his agni with alacrity.

When we talk about protecting agni, the first thing which comes to mind is its strongest opponent i.e. water. Perhaps that’s the reason why the Shastras do not recommend drinking of excessive water.

Even if we look at it with the perspective of modern science, an excessive intake of water causes increase in blood volume which in turn exerts pressure on heart. And finally this results in increased pressure of blood in blood vessels i.e. increased blood pressure. Besides, water intake in excess can result in a condition of water retention in the body in which swelling is observed in feet and other parts of the body. The body constantly feels heavy.

In such conditions, generally, diuretics are prescribed in order to discard excess water from the body so that the patient gets relief.

Apart from this, excessive intake of water can also give rise to conditions such as nausea, vomiting, heaviness in stomach, lethargy, laziness, headache etc.

Here, I would like to share with you a very important fact. If unfortunately, our kidneys become unable to expel the excess water drunk by us, then this blocked water starts entering first into extra cellular spaces and then into the cells. This unwanted water dilutes the cellular fluid which alters the function of the cell.

There is a strong possibility that this functional imbalance caused at cellular level could be the root cause of various such diseases whose origin remains unclear even today.

Here, I would like to share with you a surprising fact that even in the case of origin of diabetes, Acharyas believed water rich food and beverages were the main culprits. It is written the Shastras that any practice which increases the tendency of urinating, could be a reason for diabetes. Here, it is ponderable that possibly the increased frequency of urination in the patients of diabetes is an attempt by the body to get rid of its over hydration.

You would be surprised to know that similar alterations in the brain cells could become a reason for headache, confusion, head spinning, stokes, coma and even death.

Possibly, over-hydration could be toxically affecting the electromagnetic field of our body as we see in nature when water and electricity come in contact with each other.

Certainly, our Acharyas would have done deep studies and that’s the reason why they have described water as poison and have not advised excessive drinking of water anywhere.

Here, we can discuss a very good as well as practical example- Till a river flowing in between the fields is limited by its banks, the fields around it yield enormously but as soon as the river overflows its banks, it destroys the yields of fields surrounding it.

So friends, balance is the key for everything, and so for water- never drink excess of water.

Adequate quantity of water

For a healthy human being, the quantity of water that he should drink, cannot be fixed . Infact, this quantity keeps on fluctuating depending upon the amount of physical work done by him, the atmospheric conditions, and the state of his body.

Broadly speaking, a person should consume 1.5 t0 2 litres of liquids every day. By liquids, we mean cumulative volume of water, milk, juice, tea, coffee, soup etc. that we intake.

To put it more precisely, if a person is passing out a minimum of 500ml urine in 24 hours, then it can be considered that his body is getting adequate amount of liquids.

On the basis of a detailed study of the Shastras, for a healthy person in contemporary world, the adequate amount, adequate time and adequate manner of water intake is as follows-

For purification of intestines- Every healthy human being should consume 250 ml or a glass full of warm water, sip by sip.

For facilitating digestion of food-
1. 100-150 ml i.e. approximately a cup of water should be gradually consumed along with food.
On feeling thirsty, a person should drink a sip or two of water with patience.

Less quantity of water

In some of the diseases, drinking water is prohibited but when the thirst is intolerable, the patient is allowed to intake water in very less quantity.

Paandradarpeenus mehgulmamandaanlaatisareshu I
Pleehani cha toya na hita kaamamasahye Pibedalpam II

The above shloka can be interpreted as- In diseases like anemia, digestive disorders like constipation, acidity, gas, IBS etc. sinus, diabetes, nodes, weak digestive power, diarrhea, spleen disorders, swellings, weakness etc. there is a prohibition on intake of water but the Shastra says that the patient can have a little water if the thirst becomes intolerable.

Further, the Shastras say

Unvasthitdoshaagnevyodhikshhenabalasya cha I
Naalpamapyaamamudkam hitam tadwi tridoshakrit II

Meaning, a person whose doshas are abnormal or whose agni is anormal i.e he is suffering from some or the other disease or a person who is suffering from weakness after illness, should not drink raw water even in lesser amount. This is so because the raw water can worsen his condition by aggravating his doshas.

All the Aacharyas have univocally instructed-

Rite sharanindaaghaabyaapibetsvasthoapi Chaalpashah I

Meaning, except in winter and summer seasons, even a healthy person should drink water in less quantity.

Unfortunately, in contemporary world, due to unawareness we take even water, which is such an important beverage, casually. In contrary, since thousands of years ago, knowing the importance of water, our Rishi-munis have described various qualities of water and have also given detailed instructions on potable and unpotable water depending on various factors like, on the basis of geography (i.e. Desert, Tropical or Temperate regions), on the basis of source (i.e. from well, pond, river, lake or spring), on the basis of season ( I.e. water of summer, winter and rainy seasons) and on the basis of soil (i.e. while soil, black soil etc.). They have especially emphasized on prohibition of excessive intake of water, intake of raw or old stored water.

Friends, I would like to tell you that at our clinic we have been practicing the methods of drinking water as mentioned in the Shastras and our patients getting surprising results. At this point, I would like to give an end to this topic and would like to advise you all to drink lesser amount of water, and drink fresh and boiled water. I would like to make an appeal to all of you to have complete faith in our scientific Shastras and practice drinking water in the prescribed manner so that you all will achieve good health and the water which is a divine fruit in the form of amrita (nectar), nourishes our body rather than destroying it.