Simply stated, dehydration is a considerable reduction in the amount of water in the body which interferes with its normal functioning. It can happen to anyone.

Water, occupying at least two-thirds of our body, is a life-giving nutrient essential for health. It plays a major role in facilitating our normal functions. It carries nutrients to cells, regulates temperature, aids proper digestion, lubricates our joints and eyes, keeps our skin healthy by eliminating toxins and also acts as a shock absorber.

Our Body loses water and also some salts in the natural course of physiological processes like breathing, excretions, every day activities and climatic conditions. The body also has a sophisticated water management system and adjusts itself by shifting water to the needy cells. But the human body does not have a water storage system as it does for fat. Dehydration occurs when the threshold is crossed and the water balance is disturbed resulting in inadequate water for our cells and for the proper functioning of our organs.

Thirst, an invaluable inbuilt mechanism, is the body’s signal to replenish itself when it loses 1 to 2% of its normal water content.

2. How does one reach the dehydration stage³

Dehydration does not always happen suddenly or due to illness. It may happen if one’s daily intake is habitually inadequate. If one fails to heed thirst or does not register thirst due to repeated indifference, dehydration results. Gradual dehydration over a period of time may lead to various chronic illnesses.

There may be other factors or medical conditions. Dehydration happens with drinking less than the amount of water one loses, not only in the natural course but also due to excessive work or exercise, exposure to heat or stress, or any illness like vomiting, diarrhoea, high fever, frequent urination, or injury etc. Regular intake of cold drinks and beverages, like coke or coffee, or dry food items actually drain water from the body, thus causing dehydration. Some of these factors or their combination may silently lead the body to dehydration levels that actually result in sudden onset of sickness.

No other fluid can exactly replace the important role of water in keeping the body hydrated, not even milk and juices!

3. Symptoms/indicators of dehydration to be heeded^1-4

Increased or sudden bouts of thirst, dry mouth, swollen tongue, lethargy, lack of alertness, weakness, dizziness, palpitations, confusion, sluggishness, fainting, concentrated/decreased urine output, headaches, abdominal pains, low B.P, shrivelled or dry skin, deep yellow to reddish coloured urine (the normal colour of the urine should be colourless to light yellow). One should observe oneself to be aware of the body condition and one’s hydration needs. Increasing water intake reverses dehydration, but in severe or complex cases one should seek medical care immediately, without delay!

It can be injurious to attempt silencing the body’s different signal systems of water shortage with medication or chemical products. This in the long term can be detrimental to the body’s cells.

4. Special care for infants and elders^1-2

Perception of thirst may diminish as we grow older. Without timely attention to drinking adequate water infants, children, the elderly, athletes and those with chronic ailments are more prone to dehydration. Parents and caregivers in homecare must pay attention to this aspect when they tend to their infants, children, elders or patients at home.

5. Prevention is best: Be hydrated appropriately!^1-2

It is important to be aware of one’s bodily needs, to decide how much water to drink, when to drink, and how to drink to be appropriately hydrated and to remain disease free! It will vary for each individual based on age, gender, health condition, climate, place, etc. Those who have health problems and/or are on medication or treatment should exercise caution and may consult their physician.

6. Suggested water intake regime/schedule by a renowned doctor from Iran, who treated his patients with water instead of drugs, is being highlighted here as a broad basic guide³

• The body uses around 1.5 to 2 litres (6-8 glasses) of water daily to carry on with its essential functions. Drinking 1 or 2 glasses spaced throughout the day is generally ideal. It is best to drink water before one starts to feel dehydrated.

• Water should be taken first thing in the morning to correct dehydration during long sleep. One could start the morning regime with one glass of water and reach up to 3 glasses gradually over a month or so, taking one’s own time. As the day’s first input, water is the most effective laxative to flush toxins and keep the body clean from the inside. Care should be taken not to take any beverage like tea or coffee for at least an hour.

• Water intake is important before exercising to provide for perspiration.

• Drinking water before a shower is advisable for those who feel dizzy after a shower.

• Water should be drunk half an hour before every meal to prepare the digestive tract, especially for those who suffer from any kind of gastric or digestive disorder or discomfort.

• Water should be taken two to two and a half hours after a meal when the process of digestion in the stomach is complete. This will correct the dehydration caused by the breakdown of food.
• Water should be taken whenever one is thirsty—even during meals though in limited quantity just enough to quench the thirst.

• A glass of water should also be taken at night before going to bed to avoid risk of heart attack.

7. Food with 70-80% water content important for hydration⁵

There is a view that one should avoid sipping water throughout the day as it can cause imbalances in the system due to excessive absorption. Whenever thirsty, one should drink enough to quench the thirst plus 10-15% more.

One can set the body right by drinking adequate water appropriately every day, and by consuming foods with high water content like fresh vegetables and fruits especially in hot weather conditions. The water content of the food that we eat should be 70 to 80% so that it is in tune with the proportion of water in the body.

8. Vibrionics remedies to prevent and cure dehydration

The most appropriate remedy in vibrionics to maintain an adequate level of water in the body is NM34 Water Balance.

When using the 108CC box, depending upon the condition and the organ affected, one may appropriately choose one or more of the following combos: CC3.1 Heart tonic, CC4.1 Digestion tonic, CC4.6 Diarrhoea, CC5.3 Meniere’s disease, CC7.3 Eye infections, CC12.1 Adult tonic, CC13.1 Kidney & Bladder tonic, CC18.1 Brain disabilities, CC19.6 Cough chronic, and CC21.1 Skin tonic. 

If using an SRHVP machine, choose from: NM2 Blood, NM5 Brain Tissue Salts, NM18 General Fever, NM34 Water Balance, NM63 Back-up and NM75 Debility, depending upon the symptoms.

One should seek medical help without delay in acute and life threatening situations.

References and Links

1. https://www.google.co.in/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=What+is+dehydration
2. http://articles.mercola.com/dehydration-symptoms.aspx
3. “You’re Not Sick ,You’re Thirsty” by Dr F. Batmanghelidj MD, based on his pioneering research into the role of water in the body and how it can relieve a stunning range of medical conditions by his experience of curing patients (Warner Books 2003 edⁿ).
4. http://cci-coral-club.okis.ru/file/cci-coral-club/knigi/FereydoonBatmanghelidj_Your_Bodys_Many_Cries_for_Water_eng.pdf
5. http://www.ishafoundation.org/us/blog/the-power-of-water/

Content is based on and inspired by data from various sites and books referred and does not purport to suggest or substitute or replace medical attention and care.

4. Sadhana camp for practitioners, Kerala 

Practitioners from Kerala organized the first ever Sadhana camp conducted on the new year’s day of 2017 by Dr Anandamohan, state coordinator of the medical wing of SSSSO and care taker of Shormnur Sai Hospital owned by Kerala trust. He addressed the vibro team consisting of 32 practitioners and stressed the importance of spirituality and personal sadhana in their healing practice. He distinguished between healing (refers to a person) and curing (refers to a disease), noting that the spiritual dimension must be present for complete healing to take place. That implies each practitioner is responsible for their own spiritual development. The vibrionics system has been initiated and blessed by Sathya Sai Baba, ensuring its purity and beneficence. Each practitioner therefore must strive to be a pure and loving instrument in His hands, thus augmenting the effectiveness of the remedies. We must do our best to spiritualize our day to day life which of course benefits each one of us as well as those who come to us for help. He spoke in detail about the following aspects:

1.     Body-mind-spirit relationship and its effect on health: Spiritually we are connected to the whole universe and the omnipresent Divine healer within everyone, the Master healer who is the basis and keystone of health and health care. Harmonizing and integrating body, mind, soul and spirit through counseling helps us connect with the Divine healer.                                                                              

2.     Spiritual care as an integral complementary therapy: It can be provided to all patients as tertiary care. Based on integrating the five human values into daily life, the program promotes a calm mind and relaxed body by encouraging introspection. This leads to a changed perception and consequentially to a higher level of consciousness and expanded awareness.

3.     Spirituality in palliative care: Spiritual support reduces the burden of illness for everyone, especially during the critical and terminal stages. A clear spiritual understanding based on Bhagawan Baba’s guidance and His teachings of universal values is required and should be understood by every health practitioner irrespective of their area of working (allopathy, ayurveda, homoeopathy or any other therapy).

4.     Spiritual care as part of preventive medical care: A healthy mind is best for prevention, and spiritual knowledge is the foundation for such a mind. Mental power based in sound spirituality promotes and enhances the immune system which naturally augments overall health and the effectiveness of preventative healthcare.

Earlier the chairman (also the state vibro coordinator ⁰²⁰⁹⁰) in his opening remarks quoted Swami’s words on Sadhana and pointed out that our mind and intellect should always be filled with pure thoughts and selfless love. This in turn equips practitioners to do healing work more effectively. In his short valedictory skype address, Dr Aggarwal gave a summary of new developments in vibrionics and also applauded the new initiative. Confident of enhanced results, he stressed the importance of this new emphasis on the spiritual nature of all healing. Finally, the participants expressed their huge appreciation of what they just learnt, and expressed their hope that such sadhana camps will be held frequently in times to come.