Let Water be Thy Medicine

We are at least 60% water. Are you hydrating correctly? What if we prescribe glasses of water before pills for mild, non-complicated health issues?

Welcome to The Feel Good Life! A newsletter about health, prevention, empathy, and hope. Join me, Dr. Mariana, as I explore all sides of good health and a good life. New around here? Get started. :)

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The Greek physician Hippocrates (c. 460-370 BC), regarded as the Father of Modern Medicine, has been well known for the phrase “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” used to emphasise the importance of nutrition to prevent or cure disease. His approach to health was indeed a preventive one. He was also credited for developing the Four Humour Theory, which explains:

‘The body was a system of four fluid “humours”: black bile, yellow bile, phlegm and blood. If the humours were in balance, then the body was in health.’ (Source)

‘Each individual had a particular humoral makeup, or “constitution,” and health was defined as the proper humoral balance for that individual.’ (Source)

More interestingly, Hippocrates believed that the humours also referred to four individual psychological temperaments: melancholic, sanguine, choleric, and phlegmatic. Reflecting on how physical health and individual personality were part of the same whole.

Basically, Hippocrates quickly understood the importance of water for the good health and functioning of cells in the human body, and the connection between physical and emotional health. Simply genius for his time, if you ask me.

It is no secret that the body is made of at least 60% water, if not more. So it’s only natural that the lack of water in the body will generate malfunctioning of different kinds. Since our human biology is extremely smart and resilient, the body can adapt, but only to a certain extent. 

Did you know that a lack of proper hydration in the body accounts for at least 30% of the most common ailments people consult about? Constipation, fatigue, headaches, skin problems, muscle cramps and urinary tract infections are some of the most frequent health issues seen in primary care and emergency services. In every case, we must carry a proper medical examination and tests accordingly; and in most cases, non-complicated issues can be solved with a small round of medication and suggestions to perform at home. 

In my professional experience, an exhaustive medical history is key to helping patients. As a preventative doctor, I always ask my patients detailed questions regarding their habits, especially around sleep, physical activity, water intake, eating schedules, emotional state and stress levels. By examining all these in detail, it’s always easier to find possible root causes for many of these common ailments. More frequently than not, I end up finding that the lack of a proper daily hydration habit is usually a main culprit. 

By definition, dehydration is a condition in which the body does not have enough water and fluids as it needs to function normally. 

‘Dehydration occurs when you use or lose more fluid than you take in, and your body doesn't have enough water and other fluids to carry out its normal functions. If you don't replace lost fluids, you will get dehydrated.’ - Mayo Clinic

Everyone can get mildly dehydrated from time to time, and this will unlikely become a major health threat. A mild dehydration can be caused by heat, vomiting and diarrhoea, excessive exercise or breastfeeding without proper hydration, certain health conditions and medications, and general lack of water intake, just to mention a few.

Think about this: what is the first thing we do in hospitals and clinics when someone needs urgent or surgical medical attention? Put an intravenous line and pass fluids to hydrate. Fluids are always first.

My aim here is for you to learn that even mild dehydration, if becoming chronic, can eventually affect someone’s health in meaningful ways. As always, prevention is better than cure. And learning how to listen to your own body is key.

I failed to listen to my body for a very long time… 

I’ve suffered constipation my entire life. I never really knew what it was or that I had an issue with it. Only after I got a pretty bad health scare in my early 30s, did I discover that chronic dehydration was the reason for my endless migraines and constipation. During uni years, there was a time where migraines were so frequent (3 times per week) that I would need Dexamethasone injections almost every time to prevent me from vomiting. When migraines become aggressive, vomiting is a common symptom…and I had them almost every single time. This situation persisted for at least two to three years, and in all those years, no one told me or asked me about my water intake. Little did I know. 

Ten years later, despite having learned to better manage my constipation, I got a really bad episode lasting for more than a week. It got me worried when I noticed a large lump in my abdomen. No remedies I had learned through the years would help me after a week, and the lump just threw me into fear. I quickly got some tests done through conventional medicine. A close friend also suggested I visit her Ayurvedic doctor, whom she had trusted for a long time with her health and prevention habits. 

After thorough examination and all tests cleared, I felt relieved. But the abdominal lump was still there. I paid a visit to the Ayurvedic clinic. I had very little knowledge of Ayurvedic Medicine but it got me really interested and curious. The doctor explored me in ways quite different from what I had learned in medical training. There was a lot of observation and most importantly a lot of talk on regular daily habits. I was impressed. He explained a few things about health and digestion from the Ayurvedic perspective, which were huge eye-openers for me. He gave me calmness and prescribed a few Ayurvedic infusions and treatments to take at home until our next visit. 

The main thing he prescribed me, however, was to drink more water on a regular basis. Just a few glasses at first, slowly increasing quantity until I could reach a proper 2 litres a day after a few weeks, depending on my physical activities and amount/quality of sleep. Turns out that the to reach an adequate hydration level, the body needs time. Gulping down a massive amount of water in one go is most likely not going to be well absorbed. Hence why habits take time, not just for our brain to learn but for our body to adapt.

After 2 weeks of taking his prescription, I noticed some improvements in my body. My bowel movements and pooping habits reached a daily schedule like I had never experienced before. I started feeling so much lighter, my belly felt tender again, and my brain seemed to be calmer and clearer. Not ever in my 32 years of life at the time had I felt like this. There was something here to explore further. Ayurvedic medicine is based on natural treatments and focuses entirely on improving daily habits. I had suddenly found the perfect preventive medicine to combine with my western medical education and incorporate in my practice in safe and effective ways.

Hippocrates was right. And so was Ayurveda. Their main goal being to balance fluids in the body, which would then allow the proper functioning of tissues and cells in every organ. The science was there all along, still today.

What happens in Dehydration?

Tissues in the body (meaning muscles, digestive tract cells, skin cells, brain cells, heart cells and so on) depend on essential minerals, nutrients and water. Without these, the body can’t do its job properly. Thankfully, we get the most essential nutrients and minerals through a good, balanced diet. But the right amount of water needs to come from a conscious water intake. It’s as simple as that. 

When water lacks, the adaptable tissues can still do their work but with limitations. If the situation continues for longer periods of time, tissues will have to drastically change the way they perform. When limited resources like water lack for too long, the entire body will have to prioritise functions to keep it going. This is when simple health issues like constipation and headaches kick in or worsen up. The cells will keep their most vital work, but other functions will be compromised as a result.

In severe cases of dehydration, just to give you an overview, the body’s organs will be deeply compromised. The kidneys won’t be able to filter properly, resulting in a possible accumulation of toxins in the body and into the bloodstream. This can cause further malfunction in other places around the body, including the brain. A severe state of dehydration can lead to complex health issues like low blood volume shock (hypovolemic shock), seizures, heat strokes or kidney failure.

For these many reasons, it matters big time that you learn the basics on how you are hydrating your body according to your individual needs.

The 3-Glasses-Of-Water Rule

I have established one rule for myself, patients and loved ones: whenever they mention having a mild headache on the way, I ask them a few basic questions and then proceed to prescribe 3 glasses of water followed, if possible, by a short rest or nap. Every single time, after 30 minutes or less, their headache has improved, if not gone. 

Water is a fundamental resource for every single living being. Without water, plants and trees dry out, animals die, nature suffers. We are nature too. Our human biology is dependent on water. Water is the main resource replenishing our organs and letting them function normally. If the tissues are well hydrated, minerals and nutrients can be absorbed in the body and chemical compounds can produced as they should. When this happens, every organ and system in the body can communicate with each other normally, doing their jobs and sustaining your health. 

A good hydration won’t change genetics in your body, but it will keep you in your healthiest for as long and as best as possible. Each person will have different hydration requirements depending on many factors, like medical diagnoses, medications, physical activity, geographical location, nutrition habits, emotional state, stress levels and more. What we can all agree on is that every single human needs water to stay healthy, no matter what. 

So, how about this. Next time you feel a mild headache:

Grab a glass of water and dedicate 20 minutes to drink at least 3 glasses of room-temperature water (sipping it slowly, not in one go). Take a small rest right afterwards if possible, and simply observe how you feel after half an hour. Has the headache changed? Is it gone? Do you feel lighter? Has the pressure in your head diminished?

You could always consider just taking an anti-inflammatory pill, yes. But why not give this experiment a try? It is safe, as long as you feel comfortable with it and it doesn’t signify a risk to your health. Hence the importance of recommending this only for mild symptoms that we are most likely used to and have experienced before. 

It’s all about awareness, my people. I might know the theory, but you know your body. And together, we can be the dream team. There’s no one like you to notice what your body feels. And with the right knowledge and guidance, there’s so much we can prevent together.

Try this water trick next time and see how it goes! I’d love to know.

Much love,
Dr. Mariana

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PS: If you want to know how much water you’re/should be drinking, here’s a really good hydration calculator.

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As always, here are some reliable resources for further knowledge and information:

Hydration: General Facts

Cleveland Clinic on Dehydration Basics

Dehydration in Numbers

Adult Dehydration Scientific Study

Thanks again for being here! For taking care of yourself and learning about your body. It means everything, for you and for me. 😊

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Image Credits: Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash