India’s Ayurvedic healers have identified 33 types of water, ranging from rainwater, well, waterfall, sea/ocean, source, mountain to boiled water, the effects of each of them being felt by the human bodies differently.
Water is a vital element not just because it is making out the overwhelming part of our body but also because it decreases the tiredness and the thirst, and increases the body’s energy, glows as well as heart and kidney’s conditions. Certain types are highly recommended for certain doshas, some are advised to be avoided. Dosha in translation from Sanskrit means „that which can cause problems”. There are three categories or types: vatha, pitha, and kapha that, ideally, could be established by an Ayurvedic doctor/healer using over 80 parameters to diagnose or treat diseases.
Good water is the key to a good life and the best water in India is considered the Himalayan water that collects the energy from the sun, rocks, plants, and nature when flowing down the mountains. It is difficult to have access to this water if outside India, however, there are ways of “energizing” any drinking water. This could be by pouring the water from one cup to another before drinking it, by trying to pour it into the mouth without touching the lips and contributing to its free flow (like from the water source), and by “purifying” it.
In India, there are five metals recommended to purify the water. The five metals are gold, silver, copper, brass, iron, iron, the last one recommended to be used only at the full moon only. In the Orthodox tradition, gold was especially used for purification. On daily basis, one can use copper cups. The purification of water takes place at night, at the moon’s light. In the morning, the water should be taken out of the metal.
Other most common do’s and don’ts on the drinking practice of water in Ayurveda:
- drink water whenever you feel thirsty;
- drink one hour after food or one hour before meals; “Pitha” people are allowed to drink after 30 min;
- drink it first thing in the morning on the empty stomach,
- use at least one liter of water for the detox;
- never drink water while walking or standing, always sit down, so that there will be less negative energy entering the body;
- filter the tap water before drinking it, even though true Yogi never drink such water;
- cold water is digested after 6 hrs and is not recommended in the following situations: body aches, cold, cough, sore throat, pain in joints, constipation, after a detox cure, after fried and oily food. Drink lukewarm water in these instances;
- cold water is recommended for “pitha” people to reduce the “fire” in the body; don’t drink cold water unless of unconsciousness, feeling of internal heat/ fire in the body, poison, blood issues, dry cough, vomiting;
- hot water is digested in 3 hours; if you boil and cool it, the water digests in 1,5 hrs;
- any water, bottled/closed for a long time, is considered bad for the body’s nervous system; if water is 5 days or older – it will take our bodies over 12 hrs to digest it; the bottle which is made from plastic contributes to the “death” of the water.
by Nicoleta M. based on the Ayurvedic Course in Rishikesh March 2019 by Keshav Dav (https://keshavdavfoundation.com/aurveda-rishikesh#rec113518428)