STRESS AND WATER: DR. SHRINIWAS KASHALIKAR

In Total Stress Management, we often have to deal with apparently unrelated topics such as this!

Superficially looking; it appears that stress has nothing to do with water. But actually stress and water are very much interrelated and they interact on each other! According to some authorities; the stress (which is often not noticed); causes subconscious deficiency of water; called dehydration (which also is not noticed); and this dehydration leads to bad effects (one of which is stress)!

This underlines the importance of drinking water; especially in morning!

But apart from this; water is involved in many activities of body as is explained below; and hence plays; significant; though indirect role in our well being; though this is not described adequately; in the textbooks of mainstream medical curriculums.

Let us see how water is involved in various vital activities in the body.

Right in the beginning; we must know that about 66 % of the body weight (about 70 kg) is constituted by water. Out of this 66 % i.e. about 42 liters, about 66 % i.e. about 28 liters is in the cells called intracellular; and about 34 % i.e. about 14 liters is outside the cells called extra cellular fluid. The reason we call it fluid; is because it contains many substances in it.

It is in the water that various chemical reactions take place; so as to generate energy; and also to build different body tissues, from the nutrients consumed. Thus water is extremely important as medium for thousands of reactions taking place in body; essential for homeostasis and health.

Water is essential for the formation saliva; and gives us amongst other things; the ability to taste. Formation of saliva would be tremendously compromised if there is inadequate availability of water. It is common experience that drying of mouth is associated with sensation of thirst as well as speechlessness; besides developing bad odor to breath; called halitosis, oral infections and caries of teeth.

Water is required for the formation of gastric, pancreatic, intestinal, bile juices and many secretions; such as tears, aqueous humor, cerebrospinal fluid, mucus and sweat.

Water is required amongst other things for temperature regulation through formation of sweat.

It is by getting dissolved in water that the nutrients can reach to different parts of body.

The water is also required for dissolving and carrying away the waste material from the body cells; and for removal of waste products through the rectum and urinary bladder.

The dry and hard feces can be extremely painful and harmful and dry urine (oliguria, anuria) can be fatal.

This does not require further elaboration as most of us have experienced the burning micturition and dry feces during fever and/or due to even mild deficiency of water; due to one reason or another.

But in addition; water is also required for removal of toxic gases like CO2 by forming (CO2 + H2O = H2CO3 = HCO3- + H+).
NaOH+ H2CO3 = NaHCO3 + H2O.

In fact, it is required for dissolving, neutralizing and detoxifying several substances from all the body cells as well as specialized cells like those of liver. It is worth noting that sometimes we develop allergy to some substances including some drugs, when drinking large quantities of water is found to be beneficial, by diluting and washing away the allergens.

It is also important to note that many of those who get head ache due to hangover resulting from alcohol; can get relief by drinking water. This is because; lot of water is consumed for metabolism of alcohol causing varying degrees of dehydration.

It is interesting to note that the gastrointestinal tract is nothing else but the internalized skin! It is therefore natural that this tract has lot of sensory receptors; in as much as; it has various glands and muscles. Therefore apart from everything else, mentioned above, the first thing that happens after we drink water is that we feel fresh; due to stimulation of these sensory receptors! Hence drinking water; is refreshing like internal bath with all the advantages described above.

Drinking water in morning on empty stomach; stimulates movements of the stomach, intestine, small intestine etc. as a result of which there is facilitation of movement of feces towards the anus; useful in relieving constipation. In view of all the above, the custom of drinking water in morning USHAHPANA (Ushaa means the time before the sunrise and paana means to drink); is very beneficial.

Drinking of water can be beneficially used for many of those; who wish to control habits such as tea, coffee or tobacco, alcohol etc. Since water has the paramount quenching effect; it does allay the anxiety and restlessness which is developed because of the abstinence of these substances and helps overcome these habits (though other measures may also be required depending on the severity of habituation and addiction).

Water is life giving. Hence water itself is called JEEVANA (life).

It is very interesting to note that in India there is a custom of offering jaggery and water to the visitors. Water is served right in the beginning even in restaurants. The Hindu Brahmins used to practice a ritual called SANDYA that included drinking of water in bits called ACHAMANA. It is worth studying the specific and distinctive effects of drinking water periodically in this manner i.e. in bits; other than drinking water as is practiced presently.

We can also study the detailed effects of washing face, washing eyes, gargling, wiping body, washing feet, washing anus and surrounding area after defecation; and taking bath with warm or cold water! It is also worth studying; if water consumption can be useful in cases of borderline changes in acidity and alkalinity of blood; and if so; to what extent.

Such massive involvement of water in vital activities of body underlines the direct role of water in homeostasis.

However we should avoid ICE COLD water!

A common experience of drinking ice cold water is catching cold and start begin with sneezing.

Pain in sensitive teeth may be due to stimulating the exposed nerve endings and further making them sensitive.

There is possibility direct correlation of drinking ice cold water with the incidence and severity of infections. But theoretically; it can reduce the blood supply of the surfaces of mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and stomach, which may; in the long run; contribute to infections.

The joint pains seem to considerably reduce without pain killers or any other treatment or change in the life style or any other factors, but by avoiding ice cold water.

It is said that drinking ice cold water can contribute to joint pains by virtue of increasing what is called VATA and KAFA principles in body in a variable manner depending upon one's constitution. KAFA principle is a tendency to be heavy, aggregated, solidified, gravitated etc. and its aggravation manifests into diarrhea, increase in urine, dullness, stiffness, expectoration (sputum) formation, running of nose, lack of appetite and indigestion etc. VATA principle if aggravated; causes asthmatic problems, constipation, joint pain, neural problems etc.

Whether ice cold water as such can reduce normal and useful acidity or not; is not clear. But it seems likely that it can reduce the useful secretions of the surface with which it comes in contact.

It is thought by some that drinking ice cold water can reduce the dissolution of ingested food particles and thus lead to:
a. Reduction in digestion.
b. Absorption of partly or completely undigested material [probably akin to what is called AAMA in Ayurveda], which may be responsible for allergy, joint pains and other harmful effects of what is called AAMA in Ayurveda.

Whether drinking of ice cold water can cause "cold pressor effect" i.e. increase in sympathetic nervous stimulation and increase in blood pressure, is not clear. But cold as such is known to have "cold pressor effect" i.e. increased sympathetic activation and blood pressure.

But, one thing is certain. Avoiding ice cold water has no bad effects at all! It is absolutely safe to drink water of room temperature. Further; avoiding ice cold water; counters the antisocial hype, vogue or fashion of installing ice coolers in every establishment; endangering the health of billions, wastage and misuse of electricity; and killing the health promoting home industry of pot making.

At the end; it is worth noting that; we get the necessary motivation and empowerment for breaking this vicious cycle of stress and dehydration; from NAMASMARAN.