The (early) hours in the morning are the ‘’golden hours’’. A lot can be done before starting the day. Oil pulling, drinking lemon water, dry brushing, meditation/praying and squeezing in a quick work out are all examples of how to start your day healthy and set the tone for the rest of the day. According to the Japanese we should add one more very healthy habit, the Japanese water therapy. For decades the Japanese have been drinking water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
Drinking water is of course generally good for our health. Water is a great source of life and it is a necessary element for every cell and function in our body. There is no life without water. There have been scientific studies on the effects of drinking water for years.
What is the Japanese water therapy?
Japanese traditional medicine recommends drinking water just after awakening because of its natural health benefits.
For decades, it is a well-known habit in Japan to drink water immediately after waking up every morning (on a empty stomach) although I couldn’t find any studies on this.
For serious diseases as well as minor illnesses the water treatment has been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a natural remedy in cases of:
headache
body ache
heart problems
arthritis
fast heart beat
epilepsy
obesity
bronchitis asthma
meningitis
urine and diseases
vomiting
gastritis
diarrhea
piles
diabetes
constipation
all eye diseases
menstrual disorders
ear-, nose-, and throat diseases
The Japanese Water Therapy Steps
What are the correct steps to follow the Japanese water therapy? If you have kidney problem or severe health issues, ask your doctor before starting the Japanese Water Therapy. Here are the steps you need to follow to carry out this therapy.
- After you wake up drink 4 x 160ml (22 ounces) glasses of water (not cold) before you do anything else, including brushing your teeth.
- After you finish your water, you can brush your teeth, but don’t eat or drink for 45 minutes.
- After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.
- After every meal or snack, don’t eat or drink anything for 2 hours.
- If you are sick, elderly, or not used to this, you can start this process gradually that eventually equals 22 ounces per day.
It is recommended to continue this therapy and to make this procedure a routine in our life. The Chinese and Japanese tend to drink hot water with their meals, not cold water. Maybe it’s time we adopt their drinking habits? Also in Ayurveda they are very sensitive to the temperature of their drinks. They believe drinking liquids too cold or too hold can cause many diseases.
Why should we believe the Japanese?
There are some remarkable facts why we should adopt some of the Japanese healthy habits. Japanese have the most longevity life as nation and there are quite some Japanese older than 100 years.
The Japanese Water Therapy, similar to the water therapy in Ayurveda, has been around for a very long time. In fact, the Japanese Water Therapy is extremely popular not just in Japan, but throughout the world. As you know, our bodies are made up of 60-70% water. Hence, when the amount of water in our body reduces, we face health problems since our organs can’t function without water.
Disclaimer
Don’t ever overdo this water therapy. Drinking excess water in a short time can lead to what is known as “fatal water poisoning”. What can be considered as excessive water depends on factors like age, person’s fitness level, weight, climatic conditions etc. Too much of a good thing is not good either, and this certainly goes for Japanese Water Therapy as well.
The information provided here is not intended to form the basis of regular medical treatment or function as a replacement for the advice provided by your general practitioner or a medical specialist.
Have you ever heard of the Japanese water therapy?
