Are Your Cells Thirsty? Ayurveda & Dehydration
Have you ever felt thirsty and had dry skin, yet you drink plenty of water? If so, Ayurveda has some easy answers for you on how to quench your thirst at the root.
By the time you feel thirsty, your body is already dehydrated. The unwelcome effects of dehydration include sluggishness, a foggy head, headaches and excess acid in the body.
When you are drinking water, but still feel thirsty it means the deeper tissues of the body are not getting properly hydrated, it literally means that your cells are thirsty!
To get moisture to the deeper tissues of the body Ayurveda recommends boiling water for a few minutes to make it sharper and more penetrating. By heating water and making it sharper it can reach areas that cold water alone can’t.
According to ancient Ayurvedic texts, normal drinking water can take about six hours to be absorbed if the channels if the body are fairly clean and clear. Hot herbalized water takes about one and a half hours, and the addition of the herbs helps open the channels, clear mucous and toxins and cleanse the body as it hydrates it.
How to Make Ayurvedic Cleansing Water
Bring two quarts of water to boil in a stainless steel pan (do not use aluminium), let the water boil for 2-4 minutes, then add the following:
1/2 t. whole coriander seeds,
1/2 t. whole fennel and let steep
two 1” slices of fresh ginger root
Cover the pot for 10 minutes and let the spices soak in the water to gently release their beneficial properties.
Strain out the spices and pour the water into a thermos flask and sip throughout the day.
This recipe is thirst quenching and refreshing, it helps digestion, helps removes toxins from the body and clears micro channels that cold water along can’t reach.
For maximum benefit, sip a full glass first thing in the morning and then drink the rest at regular intervals throughout the day.
When used regularly this spiced water can help reduce headaches, sluggishness and aid digestion. It’s fine to drink regular water throughout the day when using spiced water, the two compliment each other very well. If the weather is cold you can drink the water hot straight from your flask, in warmer weather, or if your body is feeling hot, you can let it cool to room temperature first, but it will work best if it isn’t completely cold.
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