Hot Water Helps

Freshly boiled water is light and digestive. It is sipped frequently throughout the day to cleanse the body tissues and prevent the accumulation of wastes and toxins.

Ayurveda suggests that preventing the accumulation of waste matter, impurities, and toxins in the body tissues and their prompt removal of these substances from the body is of prime importance for good health. In Ayurvedic practice, accumulated impurities are called ama. Ama is considered to be a major contributing factor in many diseases because it disrupts the delicate biochemistry in the tissues and blocks the channels of circulation and communication.

This disruptive process often starts with poor digestion, which creates the toxins, followed by poor elimination, which allows toxins to be absorbed into the circulatory system and transported throughout the body. Frequent sipping of hot water helps dissolve impurities and cleanse the entire digestive and eliminative systems. The result is an improvement in digestion and assimilation of food, improved elimination, and prevention of the formation of ama.

The hot water with its special cleansing quality is absorbed into the circulatory system and travels throughout the body. The extra warmth and fluid aids in opening circulation, dissolving accumulated impurities in the body tissues, and flushing them out of the body.

Many people report that after just a few weeks of this program digestion and elimination improve, and they feel lighter, fresher and more vibrant. A significant number of individuals have attributed improvements in overall health and reduction of diverse symptoms to simply following the hot water recommendation.

Intake

The usual recommendation is to sip hot water frequently throughout the day, as often as every half hour if possible. The water should be hot, but comfortable to sip. Even taking just a few small sips fulfills the recommendation, although you may drink as much each time as feels comfortable to you.

Water Type

It is recommended to use pure spring water or some kind of purified water for your daily hot water intake.

Heating

Ideally the water should be boiled for about 10 minutes. Water that has been heated but not boiled is not considered as effective as boiled water. Boiling the water allows excessive mineral deposits and impurities to precipitate out and increases the water’s lightness and its cleansing influence. Boiling the day’s supply for 10 minutes in the morning and keeping it in a glass or stainless steel thermos for up to 12 hours is an effective, time-saving approach. The above recommendations are ideal. If the ideal is not possible, do the best you can.

Spice Additions

A slice of fresh ginger root, a pinch of turmeric or ginger powder, or a few fennel seeds may be added to the boiling water if desired. These spices can increase the cleansing influence of the water in the physiology. Lemon may be added occasionally if it is not upsetting to the stomach.

Note: This hot water recommendation is to be followed with common sense. It should not be done on a permanent basis. Normally a few weeks at a time is considered reasonable. It can be done longer for chronic Ama conditions. If done to excess it could lead to unwanted weight loss.