This is the last article by the author for Science India, written a few days before his passing in December 18, 2023.
Water is essential for our life as life in any form is not possible without it. Water has been used to maintain health since time immemorial. Water helps in treating diseases and hence is known as the most ancient remedial agent. Using water to gain and maintain health is a very old cure. References depicting the use of water in the treatment of disease are found in ancient texts like the Vedas. The great bath found in Mohenjo-Daro shows that water was used as a therapeutic measure by the Harappans to restore health. Water has several remedial properties which are used in many forms externally as well as internally in the treatment of illnesses. Intake of adequate water drinking is always advised by the physicians in certain diseases and conditions.
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Studies have revealed the beneficial effects of water in various acute and chronic disease conditions. This ancient technique of treatment has been developed as hydrotherapy, a non–pharmacological mode of treatment which treats the body with the application of water and is a principal treatment modality under the system of naturopathy.
Water has ever been indispensable to humanity whose earliest settlements were always by a river or by the sea, for there they found food, drink, cleanliness, health, and joy. Bathing was one of humans’ instinctive habits, performed in many cases as a religious rite. Water is the second most essential thing for survival of human beings, the first is of course air. Indian scriptures like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Ayurvedic texts like Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, etc. extensively deal with the healing powers of sun, water, fire, clouds, etc. These texts describe ways and means of maintaining a healthy life in harmony with nature and without medication. In these scriptures detailed information is available regarding varieties of water as per their source, their properties and uses in health and disease. It is also said that the old tradition of taking baths in rivers, ponds or waterfalls on specific occasions is virtually a natural form of hydrotherapy.
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It is believed that all living beings are created by the combination of the five basic elements and soul. Space, air, fire, water, and earth are the five basic eternal substances designated as panchamahabhutas. Imbalance in these panchamahabhutas creates disease which can be recovered by balancing them. So, the use of these panchamahabhutas for health promotion and healing was widely prevalent in ancient India.
Description of water in Vedas
Rigveda and Atharvaveda have plenty of references regarding use of water as therapy. The Vedic rishis had a clear understanding of the therapeutic values of these panchamahabhutas. There are a good number of descriptions in Atharvaveda and Yajurveda which narrate the qualities and therapeutic potentials of these elements. Earth is narrated as ‘Mother’, water is considered as ‘Amrita’(panacea) and Sun was equated to ‘Brahma’ (creator).
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Water was an extraordinary and omnipresent element in Rigveda. It was the upholder of all lives and the savior of everything living or dead on earth. It says that water is a great medicine. It does away with the diseases and is the giver of health, strength, long-life, wealth and immortality. A sutra of Rigveda (7-35-10) can be referred to which says that ‘May the Creator who is protecting us, shower His blessings on us. May the glimmering dawns bring us happiness; may the (rain) clouds be a source of prosperity to us and may the owners of land be beneficial to us’. There are plenty of instructions in the later Vedic literature on how to clean one’s own body with water. AVS 6.24 is the only complete charm in the Atharvaveda which focuses on the healing properties of water.
Water has been treated in the ancient Indian literature comprising the Vedas, Brahmaṇas, Upanishads, Puranas, and Smrtis with different aspects, i.e., spiritually, philosophically, cosmologically, medically, and poetically. Water is regarded as the one of the basic substances from which the universe came into being. Water occupies the highest place amongst the five basic elements of nature, called panchamahabhutas, i.e., –akash (ether, substratum, space); vayu (air); teja or agni (radiation, energy, or fire); apa (water); and prthivi (earth). It is believed that these five bhuta constitute the physical universe. Air is said to have been generated from space, fire from space, water from fire, and earth from water.
The Vedas also have descriptions of the medicinal qualities of water. Rigveda hails water as the reservoir of all the curative medicines and of nectar. It prays for water which the cows drink and offers oblations to deities presiding over the flowing waters: O Water! which we have drunk, becomes refreshing in our body.
In Ayurvedic texts,Charaka says that the Himalayan water has divine qualities. Therefore, all rivers coming from the Himalayas such as Ganga and Yamuna, are pure. Ganga, throughout ancient Sanskrit literature, finds mention as a holy river and water of Ganga is considered to have the property of healing the diseases and purifier of the body as well as mind.
Use of Water as a Therapy
The history of using water as a therapy is as old as mankind itself. The natural springs found at various places in India such as Rajgir (Bihar), Sohna (Haryana), Dehradun (Uttarakhand), etc. are famous for the treatment of disorders like arthritis and asthma. Springs of Rajgirwere famous since the time of Lord Buddha for having the properties to heal gastro-intestinal disorders and rheumatism.
Water therapy in western countries
It is said that Hippocrates, the father of medicine, spoke about the effectiveness of water. In 19th century, the knowledge of water therapy was resumed in western countries. Vincent Priessnitz, Father Sebastian Kneipp, Johnan Schroth, and Louis Kuhne are some of the names who were involved in popularising water therapy there to a great extent. They did experiments with water and worked to establish the health-giving properties of water as an effective mode of treatment.
What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is a branch of nature cure system which treats disease by the application of water in various forms and temperatures. Hydrotherapy is derived from the Greek word ‘hydrotherapia’ which literally means ‘treatment using water’. It is one of the basic methods of treatment widely used in naturopathy medicine. It has also been referred to as water therapy, aquatic therapy, pool therapy, and baleno therapy. Naturopathy is a healing system which is also considered as a way of life to maintain physical, mental, and spiritual well-being which is based on the rational use of elements freely available in nature — earth, water, fire, air, and space. The therapies used are in the form of mud applications, natural diet, baths with cold and hot water, use of sunlight, exercise and walking in open air, massage, fasting, relaxation and positive mental attitude through prayers and meditation. The concepts of naturopathy have been developed on the premise that ill health is because of accumulation of toxic substances in the body and the body has immense capabilities to heal itself by eliminating these substances. Water not only cleanses the body on the outside but also purifies it internally and creates a radiance of gloriously good health, strength, and youth in inner feeling.
Remedial Properties of Water:
Water has various remedial properties, which are used in therapeutic purposes for treating diseases. Some of the properties to designate the various physiological and therapeutic effects of water are as under:
* Tonic: Increases the vital activities to restore the body to a normal tone or condition
* Stimulant: Increases the vital activities but to a much greater degree.
* Sedative: Lessens the vital activity and is conducive to relaxation and rest.
* Antispasmodic: Relaxes the spasm or relieves the convulsions.
* Depressant: Decreases normal body activities to a marked degree.
* Anodyne: Relieves the pain.
* Spoliative: Increases the oxidation and breaking down of tissues; tends to reduce weight.
* Diaphoretic: Produces sweating.
* Diuresis: Increases the excretion of urine.
* Eliminative: Promotes and hastens excretion from kidneys, skin and lungs.
* Derivative: Draws the blood or lymph from one part of the body by increasing the amount in another part.
* Fluxion: Greatly increases the rapidity of blood current in a particular part.
* Antipyretic: Lowers the body temperature in fever.
* Refrigerant: Relieves thirst and restores the alkalinity of blood.
Water therapy is a traditional prevention and treatment strategy. It is very effective and useful in the management of various acute and chronic disease conditions. The water applications are able to produce results as good as producible by mud, clay, or other materials with an additional advantage of having ease of application.
Today’s so-called busy and unhealthy lifestyle has compelled us to reduce the use of panchmahabhutas in our daily life, which has resulted in a shabby performance in different avenues of life. The only remedy to get rid of this is plentiful use of panchmahabhutas and living in tune with nature. Water not only helps in making us fit and healthy physically but keeps our mental health status also at par. Sufficient water intake is almost essential in the management of certain disease conditions and also necessary to make our lifestyle healthy and disease free.
Water techniques are simple and easily doable at home without any extra cost or burden. Mahatma Gandhi used to take benefits of water therapy and described it in his autobiography. Lifestyle related disorders are at a high pace nowadays. Diabetes, cardiac problems, asthma, hypertension, insomnia, obesity, arthritis, anxiety, nervousness, depression, etc., are the common manifestations, and water is helpful in the management of these conditions.
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Water bath helps in reducing depression, however, bath should be avoided immediately after taking food. Simple plain water drinking is always advised to deal with indigestion. Similarly, other water treatments like steam bath, spinal bath, spinal spray bath, hot foot bath, hot foot and arm bath, immersion bath, etc., are also helpful in the management of different non-communicable diseases. Different packs like chest pack, abdomen pack, knee pack, leg pack, neck pack, etc., used to properly strengthen the concerned system respectively. Water intake is very much related to our food habits. Usually, it is advised to take water at least 30 minutes to an hour before meals otherwise water could be taken 30 minutes to one hour after meals. It is better to go to bed maintaining a gap of 2 to 3 hours after taking food. The techniques of water therapy are simple but yield high results. Sometimes it gives faster results than others in cases of digestive disorders, indigestion, and acidity, etc. But it is to be kept in mind that one should make a schedule of daily water drinking on a regular basis. Secondly, don’t take carbonated drinks when you are thirsty. Rely only on fresh water when you are thirsty.
*The writer is Former Assistant Director (Naturopathy), CCRYN, Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi. He can be reached at rajivrastogi2018@gmail.com
