Drinks

Energetics: Fresh spring or well is best. Tap water is chlorinated and devitalized; causes disease and áma aggravation. Vata—warm or hot, better with milk or spiced due to its lightness Pitta—taken a little cool or at room temperature Kapha—warm or hot, not in excess Cold—astringent—stops bleeding, relieve burning sensation Warm—stimulant, laxative, promotes sweating, relieves cold sensation Distilled—devitalized, depletes práòa, V++, drains toxins from system Excess—(especially distilled) leaches nutrients and dilutes plasma Spring—water is preferred over distilled water.

Áyurveda suggests that liquids are best taken in a form other than plain water as water leeches the body of its minerals and nutrients. For example, herbal teas are preferred over plain water.

Vata: Drink between Pitta and Kapha, sweet, sour, fruit, vegetable juices, and herb teas
Pitta: More, sweet, bitter, astringent fruit or vegetable juices, herb teas
Kapha: Drink less, bitter, astringent, diuretic, pungent herbal teas

Meals: 1/2 to 1 cup with meals is ok (lassi is recommended) to wash and clear taste buds more than this dilutes digestive juices

Season: General—drink 3 to 5 cups warm (as tea) [summer—more; winter—less]

Water is the great healer described in the Atharva Veda. It should be obtained from clean sources: wells, rivers, etc. Áyurveda says that our bodies are mostly made up of plasma. Drinking too much plain water will deplete the minerals and nutrients. Autumn and summer are the two seasons that are best for healthy people to drink plain water (and drink less plain water in the other seasons). Therefore, drinking teas, and fruit and vegetable juice is advised. Some water is acceptable to drink at the beginning, the middle and end of the meal. Drinking water at the end of the meal will have no adverse effects on the person

Precautions: Do not drink water with a low digestive fire, abdominal tumors, or enlarged abdomen; anemia, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, duodenum diseases, pulmonary TB, or edema. Do not drink water at the beginning of the meal (causes stoutness), or at the end of the meal (causes emaciation)

Cold water: Relieves alcoholic intoxication, exhaustion, fainting, vomiting, debility, giddiness, thirst, sun heat causing burning sensations, Pitta excesses, blood problems, and poisoning.

Hot or warm water: Stimulates hunger, helps digestion and the throat, easily digested, cleanses the urinary bladder, relieves hiccup, gas, Váyu and Kapha imbalances.

Boiled water: Does not overly increase the body’s inner moisture content. It is good for Pitta dosha. Do not drink boiled water kept overnight; it becomes stale and aggravates all three doshas.

Coconut water: Relieves Vata and Pitta dosha concerns

Benefits of Drinking Water
Boiled Water: Tridoshic. It is light, a digestive stimulant; dispels gas, heals pain in the rib area; rhinitis, and hiccup. Boiled and reduced to 3/4 relieves Vata; reduced to 1/2—balances Pitta. It is useful in early and late winter, spring, and rainy season. When water is boiled and reduced to 1/4 it relieves Kapha (but it is also constipative). It is helpful in the summer and fall. When water is cooled after boiling it heals all doshas, and is wholesome. Boiled water is not to be kept overnight; it becomes stale and impure. Hot Water: VK↓ Light. It stimulates digestive power, heals pains in the rib area; rhinitis, gas, hiccup, and cleanses the urinary tract. Taken before bed, it cleanses Kapha sticking to the inner body; eliminates Vata, and removes indigestion. Warm Water: This is not advised for exhaustion, mental fatigue, convulsions, hunger, and bleeding in the upper body areas.

Water Digestion: Unboiled water takes three hours to digest. Water that is boiled and allowed to cool down is digested in 1 1/2 hours. Water that is boiled and drunk when warm is digested in 48 minutes.

Less Water Quantity: For certain diseases, it is advised to drink less water: anorexia, coryza, salivation, edema, consumption, poor digestion, obstinate abdominal diseases, fever, eye diseases, ulcers, and diabetes mellitus.