Ayurvedic Concepts of Water: Types, Seasons and Forms for Healthy Living with Scientific Evidence

Abstract

Water is the most limited resource in the world and additional water resources must be found to provide clean and safe water for the growing population. Aim of this study is to analyze the ancient Ayurveda knowledge and to integrate with modern science to achieve global water need. Extensive literature survey was done on water based on ancient Ayurveda texts including Charaka Samhita, Susruta Samhita, Bhavaprakasha as well as published journal articles across the databases of google scholar, PubMed and Science Direct to justify the purpose of the study. Ayurveda classifies water as Divya jala (water from sky) and Bhauma jala (terrestrial water) and has extensively indicated their health benefits. Bhavaprakasha and Susruta samhita both have recommended specific types of water to be used for domestic purposes during specific seasons depending on their qualities and therapeutic actions to the body. Accordingly, lake and tank water is recommended during early winter, water from wells and waterfalls or springs during spring and summer seasons. All types of water are suitable to be consumed during autumn season due to natural purification by the Agastya nakshatra (star Canopus) because water collected during the Star Canopus scientifically proved of reduced levels of pH, total alkalinity, chlorides, CaCO3, biological oxygen demand and microbiological bacterial count. Ayurveda text also explains the suitable forms of water for consumption for adults and children, storage of water in different types of vessels and their health benefits. Therefore, the traditional knowledge of Ayurveda on water is valuable information at the present scientific context, to provide safe and clean water for the growing population for healthy living.