Water is life

Water is a powerful life-giving element. It's cooling ... cleansing ... rejuvenating ... satisfying. water gives stamina and removes fatigue. It aids digestion and elimination. It soothes emotions and supports the heart. In the ancient ayurvedic texts, water is referred to as nectar. Its powerful properties offer effective prevention therapies for cleansing and replenishing the body inside and outside.

According to ayurveda, life is based on the five primary elements of space, air, fire, water and earth

Water is the perfect universal ingredient in all personal care products. The neutral quality is easy on the skin and compatible with other ingredients, and it offers some valuable therapies for nourishment.

Ayurveda explains the crucial role of water in supporting the skin. The skin is structured in six layers. The first layer is called udakdhara, "the layer that holds water."This layer reflects the inner radiance." Since moisture is responsible for the skin’s luster, it grows dull if the body gets dehydrated.

Therefore, ayurveda treats the skin from the inside, with internal water therapies. ayurveda emphasizes the daily habit of drinking water to clean the inner channels of the body and flush out the toxins through urination and perspiration.

Ancient texts talk about the difference in the rate of absorption of regular water vs. boiled water:

1) regular water -- takes about 6 hours if every channel is clear
2) boiled and cooled water -- takes about 3 hours to be absorbed, and helps open the channels
3) hot herbalized water -- takes about 1 1/2 hours, due to sharpness of agni and herbs and spices

Water for Your Body Type
An ayurvedic expert can design a therapeutic water recipe to give a specific benefit.

You can also choose a spice-water recipe for your body type or imbalances.

Vata Balancing Water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3 leaves mint, 1/2 t. fennel seed. Place the water in a thermos. Sip it throughout the day at a warm but not hot temperature

Pitta Balancing Water
Boil two quarts of water for 2 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 1/4 t. fennel seed, 2 rose buds, and 1 clove. Store it hot inside a thermos, but before drinking pour it into a cup and let it cool to room temperature in summer. In winter, it can be slightly warmer.

Kapha Balancing Water
Boil two quarts of water for 5 minutes. Take it off the heat and add 3 holy basil leaves, two thin slices of fresh ginger, 1/4 t. of cumin, 1/2 t. of fennel. Place the water and spices in a thermos, and sip the water at a hot or warm temperature throughout the day.

Drink warm Water, when properly absorbed by the body, has several healing qualities:
Helps to remove fatigue
Enhances glow of skin
Prevents constipation
Increases stamina
Provides satisfaction
Helps the heart by pacifying Sadhaka Pitta
Helps digestion
Cooling
Always helpful to the body
Easy to assimilate
Life-giving
Antioxidant