Body Thirst
From Your Body’s Many Cries for Water

by Dr.F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.

A dry mouth is not the only or even the main indicator of the body’s thirst for water. Dyspeptic pain is the most important thirst signal of the body. It denotes dehydration. Chronic and persistently increasing dehydration is the root cause of almost all currently encountered major diseases of the human body.

“Of the dyspeptic pains, that of gastritis, duodenitis, and heartburn... Should be treated with an increase in water intake alone. When there is the associated ulceration(s), attention to the daily diet to enhance the rate of repair of the ulcer site becomes necessary.”

How does Dr. B Make such claims? “I have treated with only water well over 3000 persons with dyspeptic pain who had other distinguishing characteristics to classify them according to those jargons. They all responded to an increase in their water intake, and their clinical problems associated with the pain disappeared. Even if there is an associated ulcer, if water is taken and it relieves the pain, with adequate food intake the ulcer is bound to repair itself in due time.”

“It is now said that ulcers are the result of infections. My researched opinion is that the variety of bacteria blamed for causing ulcerations, naturally dwells in the intestines... In any case, not all ulcers sites show the presence of “helicobacter.” Also, an infinite number of people may have helicobacter in their intestines and not suffer from ulcers.

“Antacids that contain aluminum are dangerous. They should not be freely used for a condition that will respond to an increase in water intake. Excessive aluminum in circulation has been very strongly implicated as a precipitating factor on top of other considerations in Alzheimer-type disease. Most antacids contain between 150-600 Mg of aluminum in every spoonful or tablet. In my opinion, brain cell dehydration is the primary cause of Alzheimer Disease. Aluminum toxicity is a secondary complication of dehydration. In prolonged dehydration the brain cells begin to shrink. One of my medical friends took this information to heart and started treating his brother who has Alzheimer’s disease by forcing him to take more water every day. His brother has begun to recover his memory, so much so that he can now follow conversations and not frequently repeat himself. The improvement became noticeable in a matter of weeks.”

 THE SIMPLEST OF TREATMENTS IN MEDICINE

• Drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water daily. (150 lb = 75 oz = about 9 glasses of water daily. Your urine should be almost colorless. Drink the water first thing in the morning, last thing at night and 2 glasses ½ hour before each meal.)
• Take 1/4 tsp. of sea salt for every quart of water you drink, preferably dissolved in a cup of water and taken all at once.
• Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic drinks. They are diuretics and will need an additional 10 to 12 oz. of water for every 6 oz. of caffeinated or alcoholic drink.

Dr. B. recommends that you always consult your doctor before making changes, especially where congestive heart failure and renal problems (related to liver and kidneys) may be a factor.

Dr. F. Batmanghelidj is a medical doctor and the crusading author of “Your Body’s Many Cries for Water,” "Water: Rx for a Healthier Pain-Free Life," “How to Deal With Back Pain and Rheumatoid Joint Pain” and “ABC of Asthma, Allergies and Lupus.” Visit his website: www.watercure.com. (See also “Stop Asthma with Water”, New ConneXion, July/August 2001)