HOW THE TEMPERATURE OF WATER AFFECTS US ACCORDING TO AYURVEDA
World Water Day (celebrated annually on 22nd March) is where we recognise the importance of water. We all know the basics - that water is essential to life but did you know that how and when we drink water has the ability to promote health or stall it?
Water is a prime example in Ayurveda of how the qualities of something impact us. Whether ice or steam, on paper, it’s all H₂O… but how these extreme characteristics affect the body is so very different. Meanwhile, even the more subtle changes in temperature have an impact.
According to Ayurveda, while the average internal body temperature for humans is around 37°C, different ‘doshas types’ or constitutions need different temperatures of water when it comes to drinking or bathing for optimal health.
While we might well look forward to a steaming hot shower or bath to end our day, this can damage our scalp, dry our skin and dehydrate us. It can also raise our internal body temperature causing our body to work much harder to maintain homeostasis - a stress on the body that while it might feel like it’s relaxing the body, could actually be exhausting you. Lukewarm water (think body temperature or slightly higher at 38°C - as recommended for babies), is much more gentle on the skin and scalp and our entire system and recommended for Vata and Kapha types. If you are Pitta, cooler water can help to balance your dosha better. As we are all three doshas and very much affected by our environment, Ayurveda also recommends different water temperatures according to the seasons; lukewarm bathing for winter and autumn time and a cooler bath during the spring and summertime.
When it comes to consuming water, Ayurveda recommends that the water you drink (or high water content foods you eat - eg. soup and smoothies) range from between room temperature to comfortably hot as opposed to cold or iced which can put out your ‘agni’ aka your digestive fire and therefore negatively impact the digestive system.
The temperature of the water affects how well it hydrates our bodies, according to Ayurvedic Doctor Nidi Pandya Bhanshali (read her Myurveda interview here). She explains that when warm water enters our bodies, it opens up the micro-channels (shrotas) allowing the water to travel further than cold water would reach. Warm water is lighter and therefore more easily travels around the body helping to support the internal organs and the excretion of metabolic waste. “While cold water may be tempting on a warm day,” she explains, “it's just going to please your gullet - leaving the farthest corners of your body parched.”
In order to cleanse the channels and enhance moisture absorption, Ayurvedic texts recommend boiling the water for various lengths of time, creating a therapeutic water called Ushnodaka. Boiling water introduces the fire element into the water which supports its digestion and helps to open up the channels of the body. Medical studies show that hot water improves metabolism, helps the body absorb nutrients and flush out waste. According to Ayurveda, boiling water until it is reduced to half the amount before allowing it to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature is said to help with obesity.
Another method is to add spices or herbs to the water after boiling AKA herbal tea. Ingredients that can be added to make water more detoxifying include lemon, ginger and mint, as well as various herbal tisane concoctions all of which offer various benefits.
Here is an overview showing the different rates of absorption of regular water vs. boiled water as written in the Ancient texts:
Regular water — takes about 6 hours to be absorbed if every channel is clear.
Boiled water - once cooled to an appropriate drinking temperature - opens up the channels and takes about 3 hours to be absorbed.
Hot herbalized water - once cooled to an appropriate drinking temperature, takes about 1½ hours to be absorbed.
While herbalized water may be quicker to hydrate you due to the sharpness of agni, we need to make sure that we mostly sip plain water throughout the day regularly as overdoing herbal teas can also upset digestion and confuse the body. Also, be sure to choose herbs and herbal blends suitable for the time of day and your constitution eg. my Sleepy Thyme Tea.
So after you have boiled your water, what is an appropriate drinking temperature for you?
Vata types should stick to warm water - avoiding extremes - in order to support their at times variable agni.
Pitta types should allow their boiled water to cool right down to lukewarm or room temperature. Anyone suffering with excessive pitta like hyperacidity or ulcers should avoid hot drinks at all times.
Hot water can be sipped by Kapha types who benefit from the sharpness of hot water which aids metabolism.
One of my favourite ways to ensure the water we drink at home is safe and clear of any excess toxins is to use a Berkey water filter. The filters inside remove 99.9% of any toxins, pesticides, and pollutants without damaging the water quality.
Once you become familiar with what suits you for bathing and drinking, these conscious tweaks can become a practical and powerful way to support your health. The general rule of thumb is listen to your body, particularly when we are eating and drinking because this is when our body will give us the signals of what it truly needs in the moment and post digestively, and never ignore thirst.
For a more detailed look at ‘how’ to drink water stay tuned for more blog posts on the wonders of water and how the water element in Ayurveda can be used in different ways to soothe the mind-body…
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