Water is the sustainer of life of all living beings. Nearly 55-60% of the human body is made up of water and water is required for almost all the activities of the body.
Drinking water in appropriate quantity (Matrayajalapana): Water when used judiciously in appropriate quantity based on one’s thirst in maintaining health.
Drinking large quantity of water (Atijalapana): Drinking large quantities of water, even when thirsty, leads to increase of Kapha and Pitta Dosha especially in persons suffering from fever. It may also lead to increase of thirst, sleep, flatulence, cough, nausea, salivation, difficulty in breathing, nasal catarrh and so on.
Drinking warm water (Ushnajalapana): Drinking warm water helps in easy digestion as it undergoes sweetness at the end of digestion (Svaduvipaka) and cold in potency (Virya).
Avoidance of water (Jalavarjana): Water, being the antagonist of Tejas (fire), persons suffering from poor digestive activity should avoid drinking water during and just after meal as far as possible. Similarly, persons suffering from eye problems, anaemia, enlargement of the abdomen, haemorrhoids, respiratory disorders, oedema etc. also should reduce water intake. If such persons desire water inevitably, they may drink small quantity of medicated water sip by sip.
Time of drinking water (Jalapana Kala): Drinking of water just before the commencement of meals causes weakness of the digestion and emaciation of the body; if taken at the end of the meals it makes for obesity and accumulation of Kapha in the parts above the stomach. Hence it is ideal to take water in the middle of the meals as it maintains the normalcy of the tissues and helps for easy digestion.
Dr. Bhavya B.M ( drbhavya25@gmail.com)