It is said, a group of doctors in Japan had confirmed the effectiveness of drinking 4 cups of warm water in the morning upon waking up followed by a 45-minute fasting period. They claimed it can treat various illnesses including a certain headache, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, arthritis, irregular heartbeats, epilepsy, high cholesterols, cough, bone pain, wheezing, gynecology issues, urination issues, stomach issues, lack of appetite, eyes/ ears/ nose/ throat problems, diabetes, and even cancers. Some illnesses may take only a month, while others could take up to 3 months to see results.

We know our body is made up of about 70% water and our blood contains about 90% water. We cannot survive without enough water. It helps delivering nutrients to our cells and getting rid of toxins and wastes. However, the above list looks too impressive to believe. No references or source of the article were given. I searched the Internet but could not find the source reference either. Although the reliability of the article is questionable, it made me think more about it.

Most American do not like drinking warm water. They are used to drinking icy cold beverages. As a Chinese Medicine practitioner, I know that is not good for us especially those lacking Yang Qi. On the other hand, drinking warm water can soothe our body and mind; enhance blood circulation; benefit metabolism in the body; warm up liver and kidneys to excrete toxins; warm up stomach and intestines to improve digestions. If we drink warm water in the morning day by day, the effect can be accumulative. Especially early in the morning when the stomach is empty, the organs are not busy doing digestion or other tasks, but focusing mainly on getting rid of toxins. Therefore, drinking 4 cups of warm water upon rising is a very good idea.

During sleep, our body loses about 450 milliliters water through breathing, evaporation, and urination. So, when we get up in the morning, we definitely need to drink water. On the other hand, our kidneys could be overloaded if we drink more than 800 – 1000 milliliter water per hour. Therefore, it is better to target about 500 milliliters. Another important reason to drink warm water in the morning is to lower the viscosity of the blood. It has been reported that the blood viscosity is typically higher for human in the morning before 10 a.m. High blood viscosity increases the possibility of getting heart attack and stroke. Therefore, drinking warm water in the morning is not just good for health, it could be a lifesaver. Drink slowly (make about 5 swallows for each mouthful of water), and enjoy the drinking. At the final swallow, you can also take a little salt using the tip of a tea-spoon to replenish electrolyte loss during sleep.

Many illnesses in our life can be prevented if we take good care of ourselves, for example, quit smoking, limit consumption of sugar, salt, and alcohol, etc. I believe drinking warm water in the morning can have similar effect. Dehydration could cause stress in the body. When the stress is accumulated day by day, it could find the weakest link of the body as an outlet, and cause various illness depending on the constitution of the individual.

On the other hand, our body has the ability to heal itself if we give it a chance. If the damages to the body could be induced by dehydration, it could also be reversed by hydration. It is possible that some of the illnesses, even a certain cancer, could be prevented if we keep our body sufficiently hydrated. There are many factors that could induce cancer: smoking, excess alcohol, contaminated food, poor eating habit, genetic, inflammation, polluted environment, physical illness, psychological illness, etc. If the weakest link in the body due to dehydration could induce cancer, then it is possible to cause cancer. Conversely, if the cancer is formed as a result of dehydration, then it could be reversed by rehydration, although probably the reversal could only take place when the cancer cells are just forming. In case the cancer is already in a later stage and the person is being treated with chemotherapy, radiation, or immunotherapy, drinking warm water in the morning can also be incorporated to give the treatment an extra boost.

Before more research on this topic is done and published, I would think anyone with the illnesses described in the claims owe it to yourself to give it a try. It is so easy to do, and costs basically nothing. The worst that could happen is it does not help reversing the disease you intend to cure. Yet, it will still be beneficial to the body. For people who do not have the listed illnesses, it is also a good idea to drink warm water upon waking up to maintain body health.