WATER

"And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink." Prov. 25:21.

"Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well." Prov. 5:15.

And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward." Mat. 10:42.

Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." Heb. 10:22.

"But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14.

"... and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean." Lev. 15:13.

"In health and in sickness, pure water is one of heaven’s choicest blessings. Its proper use promotes health. It is the beverage which God provided to quench the thirst of animals and man. Drunk freely, it helps to supply the necessities of the system and assists nature to resist disease. The external application of water is one of the easiest and most satisfactory ways of regulating the circulation of the blood. A cold or cool bath is an excellent tonic. Warm baths open the pores and thus aid in the elimination of impurities. Both warm and neutral baths soothe the nerves and equalize the circulation.

"But many have never learned by experience the beneficial effects of the proper use of water, and they are afraid of it. Water treatments are not appreciated as they should be, and to apply them skilfully requires work that many are unwilling to perform. But none should feel excused for ignorance or indifference on this subject. There are many ways in which water can be applied to relieve pain and check disease. All should become intelligent in its use in simple home treatments. Mothers, especially should know how to care for their families in both health and sickness." M.H. ¹ page 237.

God uses water in different forms to symbolize His manner of dealing with man.

"I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions and as a cloud, thy sins." Isa. 44:22.

Steam carries waste products from the body just as forgiveness lifts the burden of sin and guilt.

Hail is a part of God’s weaponry.

Water flowing through body tissues wash away their impurities. Water that flowed from the pierced side of the Lord has the ability to dissolve the hardest heart and remove sin from the life.

When God created the earth He made the water for man’s use before He made man. Provision for the cleansing from sin was made before there was a need by "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8.

Just as the rain falls, cleansing the air and refreshing the earth, Jesus promises, "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Eze. 35:25.

We bath to wash our bodies and David prayed, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sins." Ps. 51:2.

Many people become insensitive to the body’s need for water because the organs of elimination (skin, kidneys, bowel) have become inactive. Many people have become insensitive to the "Water of Life" because their consciences have become inactive. They do not "thirst after righteousness." Matt. 5:6.

When we do not replace the water loss of our bodies we loose our stamina. It concentrates the blood and reduces the cleansing ability of the body. When we don’t keep up on our relationship to God we loose our spiritual stamina and ability to resist temptation - our Christian experience stagnates when we don’t drink freely of the "Water of Life."

Man 150 lbs	= 68 Kg
120 lbs	= 54 kg
If he drinks 1 pt (1 lb) 600 mls (600gms) of water daily it will take 120 days to renew all the water in his body. If he drinks 1200 mls daily, it will take 60 days. Like using the same wash water for 60 days.

Water is the best blood purifier known.

Water is used by the body’s cooling system to maintain correct body temperature. The blood transfers the heat to an area near the surface of the skin. The sweat glands release the water to evaporate and cool the body.

God is concerned about our spiritual temperature. "I know thy works...I would that thou wert cold or hot...because thou art lukewarm...I will spue thee out of my mouth." Rev. 3:15,16. Lukewarm is spiritual indifference, being comfortable with our spiritual condition and not knowing that we are "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Rev. 3:17.

• Water is the most important thing (2nd to air) for the health of the body
  
  
• Up to 70% of body weight is water
  
  
• Proper amount of water both inside and outside body cells is essential
  
  
• Health and happiness directly related to amount of water that you drink
  
  
• If you lose about 20% of the body’s water, you die.
  
  
• When the body starts to lose water you get thirsty. You are ALREADY SHORT OF WATER. You should drink before you get thirsty.
  
  
• Often thirst is mistaken for hunger and food taken instead of water. This causes weight gain.
  
  
• 6-8 large glasses of water a day. More is better than less. Keep URINE PALE.
  
  
• Forcing the body to work with limited amounts of water is like trying to wash dishes in a cupful of water. The body must eliminate its wastes in a much more concentrated form - this causes body odour, bad breath, dark, smelly urine, and puts strain on the body organs.
  
  
• Water helps prevent and relieve fatigue, relieves headaches, depression and irritability.
  
  
• Tired cranky children need water and rest - NOT food, unless its meal time.
  
  
• Water keeps your brain wide awake and alert. Insufficient water causes brain to get dry.
  
  This effects behaviour and may resemble mental illness.
  
  
• Water aids in weight control and regulation.
  
  
• When the water level is low, the kidneys are unable to clean the blood sufficiently and the liver must help. This causes it to get overworked and cannot metabolize food properly. The kidneys filter about 50 gallons (240 Lt) of water daily.
  
  
• Water flushes out excess salt - don’t overuse salt.
  
  
• Fat people need more water- 1 glass extra for every 25 lbs extra.
  
  
• Helps the body fight infections, keeps clean inside and out - bladder infections etc.
  
  
• Helps keep body temperature cool.
  
  
• Helps prevent constipation
  
  
• Make sure water is clean and germ free and take with you when travelling.
  
  
• Drink ½ hour before meals and one hour after meals.
  
  
• Don’t drink very cold water.
  
  
• Consuming caffeine and nicotine cause the kidneys to eliminate water unnaturally - they are diuretics.
  
  
• Water keeps the outside of the body clean. The skin removes waste from the body in perspiration and this needs to be regularly washed so that it does not harbor germs that may make us sick. Also regularly change and wash our clothing and keep our homes clean with plenty of soap and water. Clean living is very important to good health.
  
  
• You would not knowingly operate your car without water. - You know what would happen! Give your body at least that much respect.

"He shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water and he shall be clean." Lev. 14:9.

Increased Need for Water

Increased salt consumption - need extra water to dilute. If we don’t drink it the body will borrow it from the cells and dehydrate them.

Hot weather - heavy perspiration - extra water is lost from the skin to keep the body cool and maintain correct body temperature.

Fever - the body raises temperature to kill bacteria. Fever causes perspiration and we need to replace the water lost.

The "fiery trials of life" increase the need to drink "of the fountain of the water of life freely." Rev. 21:6.

HYDROTHERAPY

1. Hot foot bath - Relieves congestion in the body - colds, migraine and pelvic cramps.
   
   
2. Steam inhalation - For URTI, helps to free up thick mucus; also drink lots of water.
   
   
3. Hot fomentation - Increase blood supply to underlying organs. Good for joint pains, arthritis, sprains and chest colds.
   
   
4. Ice packs - Sprains, strains, bruises and inflammation of joints.
   
   
5. Heating compress - Moist cold application increases circulation to warm up the area and increase temperature of area and bring more white cells to area - throat, ear ache.
   
   
6. Sitz Baths - Pelvic problems: male and female. Alternate hot and cold.
   
   
7. Hot and cold shower - Stimulating, wake up. Increases body immune activity.
   
   
8. Neutral bath - Relaxes - tension, stress, emotional distress; body temperature is the correct temperature of water.
   
   
9. Wet sheet pack - Powerful sedative - alcoholics and mental agitation - calm and relax.

   Done in 3 stages:
   

   a) Cooling (10 minutes) due to evaporation- fever is lowered
   b) Neutral (1/2 hour) for insomnia, restlessness, mania and delirium
   c) Heating and sweating (up to 2 hours) - for alcoholism, nicotine poisoning, chronic nephritis and gout. Children with bronchitis, colds and flu.

   Method:-
   

   • Dip folded sheet in cold water and wring dry.
   • Wrap warm patient in wet sheet.
   • Wrap blanket around patient.

   Discontinue at any three stages. If perspiring after five minutes, sponge face and remove some of the covers around the neck etc. May continue for several hours.

References

1. M.H. - Ministry of Healing by Ellen G. White.

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