Naturopathy and Water Therapy

Have you ever considered the therapeutic benefits of water? Most people may think that water is only for drinking, bathing, and swimming. Of course, drinking water is the most important thing, but you can also use water to relieve headaches, backaches, constipation, and menstrual cramps. The challenge in modern society is that most people expect instant cures for their problems. People with migraines hope that a magic pill will take away the pain so they can sit at the computer for ten more hours without a break. Other people suffer from back pain and want a quick drug to relieve the pain, without regularly taking the time to exercise, exercise and oxygenate the spine. In naturopathy, the water is used for hip baths, spine baths, head and foot soaks. This may seem too simple to be effective, but the water has a very therapeutic effect without dangerous side effects.

I would like to offer here just one headache relief technique that I learned at Nisargopchar Naturopathy Ashram in Pune, India. First, rinse your head with cold water for about 5 minutes while keeping the rest of your body dry. Then wrap your head in a damp towel. Now draw yourself a bucket of hot water to soak the feet. Sit with your feet in the hot water for 10 to 15 minutes. Close your eyes and follow your breath to calm your mind. This technique cools the head while warming the feet, increasing blood circulation that relieves headaches. Of course, it’s easier to just take a pill, but have you really considered the possible side effects of pain relievers? What can they do to your kidneys in the long run? Have you ever studied the side effects of pain relievers? Do you think any of those warnings apply to you?

Now the only time water isn’t right is the exact time everyone seems to be taking it. That is, you should never consume water during meals. Drink water at least 30 minutes before or 30 to 60 minutes after a meal. This is recommended in both Naturopathic and Traditional Chinese Medicine, but for whatever reason, the average person never learns this in school.

During meals, at most, drink a little water or include soup with your meal. Water during meals dilutes digestive juices, making it harder for the stomach to do its job. Perhaps you have seen people who use water to swallow their food. This practice indicates that they are not chewing their food enough and therefore feel the need to drink a full bottle of water at each meal. I often ask friends with this habit if they have teeth in his stomach which will fully chew the food for them once it falls inside. In many cases, they answer that their grandmothers always gave them the same advice. This is a good example when grandmothers know much more about health than we learn in school health education programs.

If you believe that soft drinks and coffee provide enough water to hydrate your body, you may also believe that shopping is enough exercise. Cool water and freshly squeezed juices are by far the best fluids to meet your body’s needs. If you’re craving something a little stronger, green tea is a healthy and tonic option. As all my friends point out, I am still an avid coffee lover! To my credit, I have gone from ten cups a day to one cup a day in the last twenty years. I’m quite happy with this progress, although I know Dr. Jacob will shake his head when he sees me drinking my afternoon. Java.