The importance of water cannot be underestimated. Water has a powerful potential for healing. Falling water, whether from a waterfall, a creek, or from a rain shower, gives off negative ions. A hot bath can help us sleep better.

In a German study conducted in Bavaria, researchers explored the positive effects of water treatment on immunity. A hydrotherapy regimen was followed for some subjects. They experienced significant increases in lymphocytes, and a significant decrease in their cortisol (a stress hormone).

Hydrotherapy is an alternative practice that is used to treat almost every condition, chronic or acute. It can do amazing things to stimulate our immune system and help us feel good. Hydrotherapy applications include hot and cold compresses, and wet sheet wraps and baths, among other procedures that use the body’s own immune function to fight disease.

Many people do not have enough fluid in their systems for optimal health. Often they don’t drink enough water, and regularly consume drinks containing caffeine which removes fluids through its effects on the kidneys.

Dehydration makes the blood thicker and more likely to clot, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks. One epidemiological study demonstrated that heart attack risk decreased about 50% in people who drank at least five cups of water a day (this does not apply to sodas, fruit juice, and milk products).

Water is necessary for waste removal through the kidneys. In fact, chronic dehydration may cause damage to the kidneys. A glass of water can ease or eliminate a tension headache.  Keeping our body hydrated helps to keep our system healthy.

If a person lives in a hot or dry environment or is doing a lot of heavy work or exercise that induces sweating, they will need more than the recommended eight glasses a day.

Water is absorbed fastest when taken on an empty stomach. Food and sugar slow down the absorption; thus commercial sports drinks or even fruit juices are not as good as plain water.

If a person is exercising at least a couple of hours after a meal, cool water will absorb faster than warm water. A well-hydrated athlete or worker has much better endurance than a dehydrated one.