Water is an essential part of consumption among humans. Nearly 50 to 60 percent of the human body Is made up water. The flow of nutrients, the excretion of the unnecessary elements is an example of the role water plays in the human body. The entire body functioning has water as one of the primary elements that hugely contributes to its smooth functioning.
Thirst is noticed by an obvious symptom of a desire to have water, a dry or parched mouth and lips, dry throat followed by brief irritation in the throat and mouth.
Water consumption is an instinctive matter as is hunger. The urge to drink water is stemmed by the deficit of water in the system or the throat going dry. Ayurveda has 2 words that summarize the requirement; trushna or thirst and mukha shosh or a dry mouth. Both situations compel a person to drink water. However there is a distinction.
Truhsna or thirst is when the urine has become dark, less urine output, excessive sweating, a bout of loose motions or vomiting leading to a drop in hydration of the body .The body finds itself in short supply of water itself, thereby triggering the symptom of thirst.
Mukha shosh or a dry mouth can be a result of a prolonged speech, heavy breathing as in exercise, cycling or climbing steps or steep hill where there is sudden rise in requirement of air in the lungs. Excessive friction of air in the wind pipe and the mouth can trigger dryness and thereby cause the feeling of thirst or dry mouth.
It is also a requirement in order to digest complex food,that is difficult to digest also called, aamajanya trushna, in Ayurveda.
How do we address it?
Whenever the symptom is derived from a genuine trushna or thirst, water indeed is required by the body. If it is derived from a dry mouth caused by rush of air, then, rinsing water is sufficient to moisten the throat and mouth. In some cases, like aamjanya trushna, indigestion induces a thirst which reduces as the food gets completely digested. If it becomes a regular feature, then it should be addressed with treatment to enhance digestion and regularize the thirst instinct. This is often seen during the onset of diabetes, as diagnosed by modern medicine.
Water should be consumed in proportion to the thirst one has. One should beware that one does not exceed water than required. Anything that is consumed by mouth needs to be digested and acted upon. Water is no exception. By exceeding the intake, there is an added burden over the digestive system as well as the kidneys to act upon the floods thus created in the system. This causes
frequent urination, loss of control over the urine, distended abdomen, gases, constipation, loose motions, lower backache, hyperacidity, arthritis and varicose veins and swelling over hands and feet.
The person often feels cold, clammy and lethargic. There have been patients who have continued urinate the same volume for over a month, even after reducing their water intake by half. The excess water must be eliminated out of the system.
How much water should we have?
Listen to your body and follow your instincts. It guides you.
Thirst is based on following variables;
i. The constitution of the person
ii. The season, summers, the weather
iii. Nature of work
iv. Kind of food eaten – spicy, extra sweet etc.
v. Physical activity/ exercise on a day to day basis
vi. State of mind – anger, depression, anxiety, elation, joyous
If any of the variables have increased for the worse, the thirst levels might increase, if the elation happiness is high, it might reduce.
Do s and don’ts about water drinking
i. Drink water in a sitting position and not standing
ii. Sip water than gulp
iii. Have more water before food, if you wish to lose weight
iv. Have more water after food if you wish to gain weight
v. When the throat is dry, see that the water touches the upper soft palate
vi. Do not take a glass and instinctively finish it, check if you really require it, stop drinking if quenched
vii. Avoid water during exercise, or just a few sips at the most
viii. Avoid extreme cold or hot water
ix. Avoid drinking hot water or tea right after cold water or vice versa
x. Intermittent water during meals; in
xi. between and in small volumes
Excess water drinking has been termed as cause to many diseases, therefore drink water judiciously is a responsible duty to safeguard health.
* This is the Doctor’s interpretation of the Ayurvedic Texts based on his experience of over 32 years, and that there can be further discussion on the issue.
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