Article for 08-2000
The Healing Power of Water
by Wendy W. Cheslak
Do you drink enough water? How much water should you drink to stay healthy? Unfortunately most of us don’t drink enough water to keep a gold fish alive. By adding more water to your diet (at least 8 to 10 glasses per day) you can improve the following:
| Bowel function | Concentration |
| Digestion | Energy |
| Immune function | Obesity |
| Toxin removal | Sexual Pleasure |
The average American consumes more soda than water. Many do not realize that soda dehydrates your body and can stress normal body functions. If you are consuming beverages containing caffeine, you should add another eight ounces of water for every cup of coffee, tea or soda you drink. Dehydration saps our energy, lowers our immunity, deprives us of creativity, promotes weight imbalances, and hinders our sexual functions.
Our bowels use a tremendous amount of water to eliminate toxins and function properly. If you are not eliminating at least twice daily (three times is the optimum bowel function), then you need more water. We can improve the other end of our digestive system and attack heartburn and ulcers with water. Drink 2 glasses of water at the onset of ulcer pain. Make sure to consume 2 glasses of water every 3 hours thereafter. You can do the same for heartburn and add peppermint tea for severe symptoms. How can water do this? Water aids the pancreas in producing bicarbonate to neutralize stomach acids.
Get ready for a higher IQ when you consume the proper amount of water. Your neurotransmissions rely on hydroelectric function from water. You can improve your concentration simply by supplying your body with water. Water provides the aqueduct for chemicals and nutrients to the brain. Thinking needs an electrical charge and the charge is carried by water.
Water should be your first supplement against a lack of energy. Every cell in the body needs to maintain a balance of water to function normally. When water is scarce, function is sacrificed and energy is lost. For the cells to maintain the proper balance of water they will need the right salt. Use Celtic Sea Salt (see June article on Celtic Sea Salt) to maintain this balance. Use ¼ to ½ teaspoon of salt for every 8 glasses of water.
Your immunity depends upon water to remove toxins from the body and to keep a healthy line of defense. For your cells to maintain a barrier and to prevent penetration of viruses and bacteria, water is necessary to carry out this function. Water helps hold your cells together and strengthens your cell integrity.
Weight loss centers around the world would close their doors if we would just drink more water. The body is made to stabilize and maintain the proper weight. By consuming the proper amount of water, the body will begin to lose weight as hydration of the tissues is restored. (Use with Celtic Sea Salt to prevent water retention.)
Forget the prescription drugs for better sex. Dehydration promotes sexual dysfunction. From maintaining an erection to being fertile, water is necessary for a healthy sex life. For severe erectile dysfunction use water with circulation herbs such as cayenne.
If you want to test to see if you are actually dehydrated, then take this H2O test. Drink nothing but water and drink at least 2 quarts a day. Do this for several weeks. You will notice your thirst mechanism is enhanced because dehydration numbs your body’s thirst mechanism. Dehydration is a vicious cycle and over time leads to many medical conditions. Also, check your urine. If it is murky or dark yellow you are dehydrated. The kidneys are reabsorbing urine to make up for lack of water and your urine becomes concentrated.
Wendy Cheslak is author of "The Power Herbs: Thirteen Herbs Every Medicine Cabinet Should Have" (Morris Publishing) and an herbalist for Apothecary Herbs, Inc.
Sources:
- Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, June 1983
- Your Body’s Many Cries for Water by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D., Global
Health Solutions, Inc.1997
- How to Heal with Salt by Sam Biser, University of Natural Healing, Inc.1994.
The information contained herein is not intended to diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Please seek medical advice from a licensed medical physician before using any herbal products or natural therapies. The information contained herein is copyrighted by Apothecary Herbs, Inc.
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