One of the classic Ayurvedic hydration, detox, and rejuvenation therapies is called Ushnodaka, where one regularly consumes warm or hot water (1).
Ayurvedic Benefits of Ushnodaka (1)
- cleanses and hydrates the digestive tract
- stimulates and scrubs the lymphatic system
- enhances the quality of ahara rasa, the first nutrient fluid in the digestive tract
- strengthens the digestive fire, or agni, in the stomach (pachaka) and digestive enzymes (ranjaka) in the liver
- acts as a carminative and a digestive
- promotes breakdown and assimilation of nutrients and the removal of toxic material (ama-undigested food, metabolic waste)
- promotes daily elimination (2)
- alleviates symptoms of cramping, bloating (3)
- supports opening of srotas, blood vessels, and circulation enhancing removal of cellular ama
- supports respiratory health (4)
- helps to alleviate sore throat symptoms (5)
Hot water for the doshas
Hot water calms Vata dosha and Kapha dosha, and increases Pitta dosha. In hot weather, drink room temperature water. (6)
- Vata Hot Water to balance cold, dry, light qualities: Add Lemon to water after it has boiled
- Pitta Hot Water to balance, sharp, oily, dry qualities: Add Fennel Seeds , 1 tsp per 8 oz of boiled water, steep for 10 min. Note: When balancing Pitta dosha during hot weather, or with fever, drink room temperature water and not hot water
- Kapha Hot Water to balance stagnant, heavy,sticky qualities: Add fresh ginger, add ½ tsp ginger root per 8 oz after boiling
- To promote detoxification: Take sips every 15-20 minutes for a few weeks
- To hydrate daily: Sip hot water with meals and every couple of hours throughout the day (5)
The Ayurveda Way of Drinking Water (6):
- sit down and have a drink (just as you should sit down when you eat).
- takes sips, and do not drink the whole glass. Sip, swallow, breathe. Repeat.
- water temperature should be at least room temperature on warm and hot days. Cold and icy waters dampens one’s digestive fire.
- during the meal, drink a sip of water. Allow space in your stomach for digestive action to take place. A guide: fill your stomach 50% food, 25% water and leave 25% empty space.
- for the similar reason, do not drink a lot of water before or after meals, take sips.
How much water should you drink?
- Everyone is unique and requires different amounts of water.
- Listen to your body’s cues to when you need to drink and hydrate.
- Drink when you are thirsty, listening to your body’s cue to hydrate.
- Check your urine. It should be quite clear and straw-colored. If it is dark yellow, you need to drink more.
- Note the condition of your skin and lips. Do they feel moist or dry, flaky and chapped?
Research Study:
A small study of 60 participants from the IT field having a sedentary lifestyle, aged 25 to 50 was done using Ushnodaka to address digestive symptoms. This study showed that the people with a sedentary lifestyle and working with computers, who had complaints of constipation, flatulence, poor appetite, belching, malodor, and heaviness after meals, showed improvements in these symptoms after taking USHNODAKA for 7 days.
GAdhe, Sheetal & Rasane, Shital & Pachpute, Sheetal & Kakodkar, Pradnya. (2020). Assessing the effect of “Ushnodaka Pana”(Warm Water Consumption) on the Overall well being of IT Professionals in Pune-A Clinical Study.. Indian Journal of Public Health Research and Development. 11. 871-875.
References:
(1) Arun, C H, et al. “A REVIEW: ROLE of USHNODAKA in AYURVEDA.” Journal of Biological & Scientific Opinion, vol. 3, no. 6, 5 Jan. 2016, pp. 290–292, https://doi.org/10.7897/2321-6328.03662. Accessed 9 Dec. 2021. https://www.jbsoweb.com/admin/php/uploads/246_pdf.pdf
(2) Çalişkan, N., Bulut, H., & Konan, A. (2016). The Effect of Warm Water Intake on Bowel Movements in the Early Postoperative Stage of Patients Having Undergone Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Gastroenterology nursing : the official journal of the Society of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates, 39(5), 340–347. https://doi.org/10.1097/SGA.0000000000000181
(3) Lee, H., Kim, J. J., Min, B. H., Lee, J. H., Kim, Y. H., Chang, D. K., Kim, J. Y., Rhee, P. L., & Rhee, J. C. (2009). Effectiveness of warm water consumption to reduce patient discomfort during colonoscopy: a randomized controlled trial. The American journal of gastroenterology, 104(12), 2935–2941. https://doi.org/10.1038/ajg.2009.429
(4) Saketkhoo, K., Januszkiewicz, A., & Sackner, M. A. (1978). Effects of drinking hot water, cold water, and chicken soup on nasal mucus velocity and nasal airflow resistance. Chest, 74(4), 408–410. https://doi.org/10.1378/chest.74.4.408 ,https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/359266/
(5) Ren, Y., Ke, M., Fang, X., Zhu, L., Sun, X., Wang, Z., Wang, R., Wei, Z., Wen, P., Xin, H., & Chang, M. (2012). Response of esophagus to high and low temperatures in patients with achalasia. Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility, 18(4), 391–398. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm.2012.18.4.391
(6) MD(Ayu), D. J. V. H. (2022, May 17). Benefits of drinking hot water, Contra indications. Easy Ayurveda Hospital. https://www.easyayurveda.com/2010/08/19/drinking-hot-water-benefits-what-ayurveda-says/
(7) An ayurvedic take on daily water intake –. The Art of Living – Making Life A Celebration. (2024, February 23). https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/ayurveda/tips/daily-water-intake U