The Garden: Water therapy

Water is life “Amanzi yi mpilo” that’s what my mother would say after my detox bath when I tell her how I suddenly feel so much better than I did before I took the bath. Indeed, water is very essential to our being. According to medical facts, around sixty percent of the body is made up of water and around seventy-one percent of the planet’s surface is covered by water. Water is one of the most important substances on Earth. All plants and animals must have water to survive.

If there was no water, there would be no life on earth.

Let’s look at the importance of water for us humans: The water in our bodies is essential for life. Without water we simply cannot survive because water is involved in every bodily function- from digestion and circulation to the control of body temperature and the excretion of waste products. Water helps dissolves minerals and other nutrients in the body, it lessens the burden on your kidney and liver by flushing out waste products. Apart from drinking it to survive, people have many other uses for water. Water helps your body recover from mental and physical fatigue, it carries nutrients and oxygen to cells in the brain and other parts of the body.

Let’s start with your water intake, how much water do you drink in a day? Your urine should be a clear indication of whether your water intake is substantial or not. For instance, if your urine smells strong and gives off a deep colour that should prompt you to take some more water, unless you’re on some strong meds like antibiotics which can affect your normal urine sample your urine should be odourless and clear.

Also I have observed that many of you do not know how to take your water some only take water when having a meal. While there is no official prescribed way to take your water one that I feel is beneficial is when you take at least 2litres of water per day. You can spread the 2 litres in three intakes for instance take 1litre in the morning before meals, 500ml during the day before lunch, and another 500ml in the evening preferably not before bed time to avoid the frequent toilet trips. Why take water first thing in the morning? It helps with setting the tone for your metabolism and digestive system and helps you get rid of waste from the previous day. If you adopt this way of taking water you should be able to see visible results in the way you feel physically and also how your skin appears.

Remember I said that people have many other uses for water apart from drinking it we also use it to bath ourselves. How many of you after a long day would step in the shower and immediately feel relieved from your fatigue? Yes that is what water does it is very therapeutic. Even better, you can get into the habit of running yourself a detox bath. I have mine once a week I schedule it in a day I’m not busy so that I take my time and also allow my body physical rest.

Detox baths are good because they help you relax while cleansing the body and also serve as a weight control measure. While there are many products available on the market for baths I find that for my detox baths the natural products are the best. I add a handful of Epsom salt, half a cup of baking soda and ten drops of lavender essential oil to hot running water and soak in it for 20 minutes. Otherwise the Epsom salt on its own sometimes and when I feel like really pampering myself I add my luxurious bath oil from Switzerland, the Fenjal classic (only for a luxurious spa feel).

The Epsom salt, baking soda and lavender oil is sufficient, this combo draws out toxins, lowers stress related hormones and balances your pH levels. Depending on how luxurious you want your detox bath you could then top up your ingredients whichever works for you but for me “less is more.” My 20 minutes soaks have become an essential part of my routine, detox baths are great for my skin, my body and my sanity because during that 20 minutes in the tub I meditate and focus on mental cleansing but you can choose your own routine some prefer soothing music, some a quick nap and some just scented candles and a glass of bubbles now those are spoil moments indeed.

Make water your friend it is very good for you, drink lots if it and also use it to calm your body when exhausted from all the adrenalin buzz from the streets of hustling and life. Treat yourself, pamper your body. Remember here on The Garden we encourage balance as you take care of your spirit and your mind also don’t forget your body because you are a spirit who lives in a body and has a soul, therefore to enjoy optimum health you need to get into the habit of nurturing yourself as a whole. Water therapy will surely have you going on frequent toilet trips but you’d rather those than go on hospital trips yeah.