Water and Hydration Background and Facts

HMPT Level One

Lesson 2, Part 5

Water and Hydration Background and Facts

Water makes up around 60-65% of the body (more according to some experts). It is not technically a macronutrient but for Hompes Method’s purposes it’s important to consider it so.

Some of water’s important functions, as listed by Dr. F. Batmanghelidj are:

•No water, no life

•Main source of energy

•Lubricates joints

•Prevents DNA damage

•Used in digestion

•Carries all substances in and round the body

•Supports spinal discs

•Clears toxic waste

•Helps deliver oxygen to cells

•Increases immune efficiency

•Prevents clogging of arteries

•Needed for hormone production

Even a very small decrease in hydration status can result in significant physiological challenges.

The Water Management System

The central nervous system (including brain) are the most important parts of the body because without proper function, nothing else works.

When the body is dehydrated, it has a rationing system that diverts water away from less important areas, such as the gut, joints, muscles, organs and spinal discs, in order to keep the CNS happy at all costs.

Understanding this rationing system makes it easy to see how and why chronic symptoms often improve when clients start drinking more clean water.

I use a very simple statement to communicate this concept with my clients – feel free to use it with your own client:

“Your central nervous system requires a constant level of hydration – you cannot survive if your brain and CNS fail. In states of dehydration, less important areas of your body such as spinal discs, joints, skin, digestive system and other organs receive less water. Your nervous system cleverly redistributes water (and other resources) to its highest priority areas. This is why dehydration can cause symptoms in the Seven Areas of Health.”

Thirst Signals

According to Batmanghelidj, the body has three levels of thirst signals, which it will send to the conscious mind as dehydration gradually becomes more pronounced:

Level 1: General Perceptive Feelings

–Feeling tired

–Feeling flushed

–Irritability and anxiety

–Depression and dejection

–Feeling heavy-headed

–Irresistible cravings

–Fear of crowds / leaving the house

Level 2: Five Distinct Drought Management Programs

–Asthma

–Allergies

–Hypertension (high blood pressure)

–Constipation

–Type II diabetes

Level 3: Drastic Emergency Indicators:

–Heartburn and dyspeptic pain

–Angina pain

–Lower back pain

–Rheumatoid joint pain

–Migraine headaches

–Colitis pain

–Fibromyalgia

–Bulimia

–Morning sickness during pregnancy

I am not saying that all these signals and symptoms are alwayscaused by dehydration, because they are not.

However it’s prudent to look at the simple reasons first before doing complex assessments and putting people on pharmaceuticals as the medical system does.

Remember, my father was experiencing some joint and muscle stiffness and thought he may be developing an arthritic condition.

A single glass of water before bed removed his symptoms within just a couple of days and he was able to throw away the painkillers prescribed by his doctor.

Don’t always assume that symptoms have complex causes!