In
William Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth,
Lady Macbeth compulsively washes her hands after the murder of the king,
telling herself repeatedly how a little water washes away the deed. There is a
similar blind spot in the modern psyche which believes that water will cleanse
the polluting lifestyle that we lead. Consequently our rivers and seas are a
dumping ground for huge quantities of industrial pollution and otherwise
intelligent people flush toxic chemicals down their drains.
Water is the blood of the earth. Its activity
and its importance are more subtle than is commonly understood. When water’s
complex irrigation of the soil is disturbed, ill health follows in the land.
Water’s
needs are subtle. If water is to fully vitalise us, it needs to ripen, to spend time underground at cool
temperatures, to collect microscopic nutrients, to be filtered through rock, to
be aerated as it moves above ground. Those who have tasted fresh water from a
mountain stream will know how sweet it tastes and how refreshing it feels. The
most vibrant water looks glossy and bluish. It is very high in dissolved
carbons and minerals and these fine deposits are part of its vibrancy. This
water has had the longest maturity cycle. Our domestic water is normally
surface water which also contains some mineral deposits, but due to lack of
underground filtration, is relatively immature.
From
an organic point of view, the vitality of water is also linked to its movement
and aeration. Water naturally moves in a spiral pattern with a centripetal
motion that concentrates its energy; it is purified through filtration and
movement. In nature, water carries the ‘memory’ of its movement and ripening.
Water
has always been recognised as a healer. The landscape of the earth is crowded with
sites of holy wells and healing springs. Within energy medicine, water is seen
as a message carrier (a principle used by homeopaths). In homeopathy, water is
infused with the properties of various plants or substances in such a way that
the subtle message of the original substance is impregnated with the water’s ‘memory’.
It
is easy to overlook the body’s simple need for water. Many health problems are
actually due in part to local dehydration of the body. We mistakenly believe
that we are drinking adequate fluids when a simple glass of water hardly passes
our lips. Caffeinated drinks, sugary drinks and concentrated juices, though
mostly water in composition, will not properly irrigate our bodies. In fact,
the diuretic properties of caffeinated drinks and colas disturb the body’s
water balance and set up patterns of dehydration. The result of overuse of
these drinks at the expense of simple water is constriction of the vascular
system, tiring of the heart muscle and lowered physical and mental energy. This
means that nourishment will be restricted and blood pressure will increase.
As
with all aspects of diet, individual water consumption will vary according to
constitution and condition, to season and to climate. Thirst is generally the
best indicator of how much each person should drink, although we may not be
able to read our bodies’ signs clearly: sometimes water cravings are misread as
the desire for sugar, stimulants or foods.
It
is generally good to drink something on rising in the morning to rehydrate the
body before eating. Most fluid consumption is best kept away from meal times so
as not to over-dilute the digestive juices.
David Foley
MNIMH, MRCHM
Medical Herbalist
