Preaching the Gospel of Water

So I've read three books on water in the last week: two are by Masaru Emoto (The Hidden Messages in Water and The True Power of Water), and one by F. Batmanghelidj, M.D. (Water: for Health, for Healing, for Life). And I've got some interesting things to share (I'll get back to soteriology later!).

First off, Mr. Emoto's work
Masaru Emoto (He was one of the people interviewed for the movie What The Bleep Do We Know - which was quite interesting and not really a movie . . . sort of a movi-mentary) takes pictures of water crystals that form when Petri dishes full of water are frozen. The pictures are taken with/through an electron microscope. In a nutshell, Masaru shows that when water is talked to nicely, shown beautiful pictures, immersed in beautiful music, or surrounded by written kind words, the crystals form beautifully and well. When water is talked badly too, immersed in very loud, obnoxious music, shown pictures of devastated land, or surrounded by written unkind words, the crystals do not form, or if they form they are deformed, incomplete, or very non-symmetrical. Furthermore, he thinks that it's not so much the words and music, but the thoughts and feelings that are projected onto the water that make the difference. He also shows that modern ubiquitous electronic devices (TV's, cell phone, microwaves, computers, etc.) have the same effect on water as negative thoughts/emotions: they render it incapable of producing crystals. Finally, he shows that chemicals added to water to clean it (such as in cities) also drastically reduce water's ability to form the beautiful ice crystals, but that water from natural sources (waterfalls, rivers, lakes, etc.) that have not been inundated with chemicals or sewage readily forms ice crystals.

He postulates that our thoughts & emotions resonate on particular frequencies, and that those frequencies can be transmitted to water - the water then responds to what we are projecting. I thought it was interesting that quantum string theory postulates that the basic building blocks of all matter are not atoms, but submicroscopic "strings" that are constantly vibrating - these strings form the backdrop of reality. If Masaru's research is correct, this may be an interesting way that quantum theory and metaphysics/spirituality will blend together.

It's interesting to note that one of the case studies he talks about is where a Buddhist priest said a cleansing prayer over a reservoir. Water samples were taken both before and after the prayer: before the prayer water crystals would not form, but after the prayer some of the most beautiful crystals he'd ever seen had formed.

In short, I've begun praying over the water that I drink. :-) And I'd like to think that when I pray for another person, either physically present or far away, I am influencing them both on a spiritual plane and a physical one.

Then onto F. Barmanghelidj
He postulates that many diseases and disorders suffered by people come from a lack of water - a condition of chronic dehydration that most people live with. He traces many common ailments (heartburn, fatigue, stress, headaches, lower back pain, constipation, etc.) and even major diseases (cancer, autoimmune cases, diabetes, osteoporosis, etc.) back to a lack of water flowing through the body and retained by the body. I've searched around on the internet and found sites that are both pro and against his approach to medicine . . .I think he may have something to say.

First off, he states that by the time we "feel" thirsty our bodies have already entered a mild stage of dehydration - I had heard this before: if we wait until thirst settles in to drink a glass of water our bodies already need that water there. He further states that as we age we start to lose the ability to distinguish water thirst - and that many people mistake water thirst for hunger pains and then eat more to try and quench their thirst.

He recommends drinking at least 8 ounces of water upon rising (I would add: after brushing your teeth!), 8 ounces about 30 minutes before you eat, and at least 8 ounces about an hour and a half after you eat. That works out to at least seven 8-ounce servings of water a day. He recommends cutting out all drinks with caffeine (because it is a diuretic which causes the body to lose more water then is put in), and increasing the intake of salt as the intake of water is increased (to help promote healthy water retention where needed in the body).

I like his ideas, and they're well-presented - a lay reader like me can follow along pretty well. :-)

Finally, my results
My family and I have increased our water intake. My son was taking medicine for allergies and activity-induced asthma. He's since begun drinking at least three 8-ounce servings of purified water a day. He has not taken his singular, and he has not had the sniffles or dry cough at all since we began the regimen (he had these even when taking his medication).

My wife (who had been diagnosed with asthma, allergies and chronic fatigue syndrome) has not had to use either of her inhalers at all since we started drinking more water, and she shows increased energy and vigor (though she's also doing yoga & Pilates). I've noticed that I am far less hungry then I've been and am eating less (he asserts that most people overeat because they mistake thirst for hunger), and that the irritations in my throat & nose (I've also been diagnosed with allergies) have gone away. I have also taken the habit of praying for and blessing my water (which will probably elicit strange looks if I'm ever caught doing it in public!)

Does it work for everything? I'm not sure. Has it worked for the minor (and not-so-minor) ailments my family is experiencing? Pretty darn well. Would I recommend any of the books? Undoubtedly - read them for yourselves and make up your own minds. :-)

Blessings & Peace,
Hugo