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The benefits of water
The following article is in three parts:
Two - The Physical Benefits of Water - How much water do we need?
Three - The Health Benefits of Baths
Part One - The Shapes Words Make
This first part is about the subtle effects of water and to illustrate this I'd like to use Masuro Emotos frozen water crystal photography as an example of how our thoughts and words affect water and most importantly the water in our body. Masuro Emoto developed a way of photographing frozen water crystals in a dark field microscope in order to observe the patterns formed by certain words, music, prayer and even locations. Certain negative influences break up the water but positive words and intentions form beautiful and intricate patterns.
If you are not familiar with Emotos work then please click on the link below to watch a six-minute film that discusses his work and shows a variety of fascinating photographs - it's actually very calming to watch
As I watched this video a word came to mind that is increasingly being used at the moment in the spiritual movement, that word is "coherence" and is used mainly in relation to harmony between the heart and mind. When there is coherence within any given medium the more harmony and healing is then available.
When things are broken up, lacking in coherence, then healing becomes very difficult.
What's noticeable about the water crystals in the film is the harmony in their structure, the coherence inherent in nature when uncontaminated by negative intent or when suffused with positive intent.
When you apply this practice to your body, which is about 75% water, and think about how powerful water is as a medium for conveying thoughts and feelings it illustrates how affected we are by our own self talk and feelings. Also think about the impact our words have upon others.
Perhaps experiment with some or all of the following, try making one of them a habit.
- Whenever you drink something say "thank you" or "I love you" to it first.
- Place a jug or bottle of water in the kitchen with a positive word underneath it.
- Try writing (or use a tube of henna paste - it can be found at some Asian grocers and washes off in a few) directly onto your skin!
- Say positive words or kind things to yourself as you drift off to sleep. This actually programmes you to have positive dreams, which then has a positive impact upon your day.
Part Two - The Physical Benefits of Water
First some facts about water:
- Water is the only substance on Earth that is present in three forms - liquid, solid (ice) and gas.
- The chemical makeup of pure water is just two molecules of hydrogen gas to one molecule of oxygen gas - H2O
- Depending on our activity the average adult loses half a gallon of water a day; this occurs through sweat, urination, defecation and respiration.
- We can only survive a few days without it; rapid dehydration (such as that which occurs in a desert) causes heart and kidney failure leading to death.
- The ratio of negative to positive ions determines it's acidity or alkalinity - the more negatively charged ions present the more alkaline the water and therefore the more beneficial to our health.
Gradual Dehydration
If we don't replace what we lose on a daily basis we slowly dehydrate; this results in many signs and symptoms often mistaken for actual health conditions when all that may be needed is extra water. An obvious sign is dry, flaky skin that is wrinkling more rapidly than normal (also look at nutrition and stress). Another sign is hunger when there is no practical reason for it - next time you are hungry, when you think you've eaten enough, try drinking a couple of glasses of water. If you are still hungry twenty minutes later then the hunger is genuine.
Feeling tired is often a sign of dehydration, simply put, everything that occurs in the body takes place in the presence of water, even things you may not at first realise such as sense of smell and cognitive functions. For example "brain fog" may sometimes be a lack of water.
When a physical, mental or emotional strain (stress) is placed upon the body it needs more fluid to help it cope, when this need is not met fatigue can be one of the first signs. When the body - I include our energy system, thoughts and emotional fields as being part of the body - is facing some kind of change that is out with the norm it is perceived as a form of stress; this is not necessarily negative, it's simply a change that is perfectly normal or healthy such as exercise or even emotional processing. In order to process the change more water is needed so if you find your energy is flagging as you work perhaps you need to drink more water.
When we receive therapy, from massage to healing to emotional clearing, we need more water to help the body deal with physical and energetic shifts and cleansing. In fact, in the case of any kind of emotional processing energy can simply stop moving as water is still needed for all the processes that are taking place even when something that is regarded as being beyond the physical is being used.
The point of discussing the above is to highlight the fact that everyone’s need for water varies regarding what you are doing. The prescriptive "two litres" a day is a little too global. It may be too much for some and not enough for others and will of course vary with each individual from day to day.
The key is to observe how you feel and use common sense as to how much water you drink from day to day according to what you are doing. Do you work in an over heated office? Is your work very physical? Do you dance or go out running etc? Are you very emotional or stressed or do you do a lot of inner growth work? All of the above needs more water consumption.
Detoxification with Water
As mentioned above water will help clear emotional energy but it is also the most important and potent physical detoxification agent we can use. Even when we go to extreme lengths through diet and supplements to cleanse the body water is needed to make these processes work, without enough of it the body will have a hard time releasing any toxins. A common problem that can lead to chronic toxicity is constipation; often all that's needed to cure this is more water. What are the signs of toxicity through colon congestion? Rather than repeat them here please go to the articles on colon health.
One final note to this part about water and dehydration is to observe the colour of your pee! It should be a pale, straw colour, not dark yellow...
Part Three - The Health Benefits of Baths
About 15 years ago I read a very comprehensive article on solutions for problem skin that recommended using a bath filled with Epsom salts and a little sea salt for deep cleansing of the body and skin.
This bath is also deeply relaxing (health boosting for that alone!) and if used with intention the salt is also cleansing for the energy field in general - useful to know if you work with difficult or distressed people.
Healthy Sweating!
The following bath using the above-mentioned method is meant to induce a healthy degree of sweating, the kind that clears out toxins. It is excellent at the start of a virus and can nip it in the bud or at least reduce the severity of the infection; it is also the most soporific home treatment I have ever come across, which of course is great for any infections as it is during sleep that the body heals and repairs itself naturally.
You need a half-kilo of Epsom salts for this, which can be a little more difficult to obtain now they are sold in smaller amounts. When I first tried this they were easier to come by despite the sales assistants slightly incredulous attitude (Epsom salts are an old remedy for constipation, you only need a couple of teaspoons I think).
Unrefined sea salt
For the bath you also need a handful of sea salt, I would recommend unrefined as the high mineral content is remarkably healing and softening for the skin; health food shops sell a variety of reasonably priced unrefined salt. As an added note it is worth buying this anyway as not only are the bad effects of salt greatly reduced but the higher mineral content is actually good for you, and it has a fuller more pleasant taste.
Method
As you run the bath add the half-kilo of Epsom salts and a generous handful of sea salt, make sure it is all dissolved and soak in the bath for twenty minutes. It is best done in the evening before bed and don't use to wash, just soak and allow yourself to deeply relax, perhaps play soothing music and have candles or low lights. You could also try adding up to six drops of a sedative essential oil such as chamomile, lavender, marjoram or ylang ylang.
Gently towel dry and go to bed as soon as possible perhaps drink a sedative herb tea as well. As this bath can induce sweating have a large glass of water by the bed in case you wake up thirsty.
I mentioned also that this bath could clear negative energy; as you soak simply intend, or ask, that this take place. If this is your only reason for the bath (apart from relaxation) then the Epsom salts can be left out. All you need is a couple handfuls of sea salt.