Wasser - Lebensquelle und Heilmittel

Water has always been regarded as a basic element of life. Nutrition-physiological aspects of water will be discussed in relation to regulation of water balance. Water will be highlighted with respect to its diverse availability, ranging from spring water to tap water up to mineral and healing waters used for drinking and medicinal purposes. Food-technologic and toxicological criteria determine quality and benefits of water used in household, health, and for healing. Historical and modern pharmacologic effects of drinking cures and healing waters demonstrate the broad spectrum of activity of various compositions of water. Rather than being regarded as a mere drink, in Chinese medicine water is considered the fundamental basis of human life. This idea is expressed as water element Shui, component of the concept of the five Converting Phases. Chinese dietetics and western nutritional medicine differently rate the sense of thirst and recommendations for drinking.