6 Amazing Hot Water Benefits for Health and Body

Hot water benefits our body and health in many ways.

By hot water, I mean boiling water or water heated to less than the boiling point. But not just warm water. In most cases, Lukewarm water is not that useful.

Some of the major areas include

1. Combating cold
2. Treatment of rectal fissures or piles
3. Minimizing body pains
4. To relieve inflammation
5. To combat cough
6. Gargling.
7. Cleaning of ears.

Hot Water Benefits

Hot water is useful for the treatment of many health problems.

For Common Cold and Pheglm accumulation

• When you have symptoms of a cold, you would be given some anti-histamine tablets besides paracetamol.

• But, you will find it a surprise that inhaling hot water steam would instantly give a sense of relief from cold. Adding some menthol or eucalyptus oil would provide more relief.

• This hot steam gets into your respiratory tract and helps it dilate and shrink the swellings giving you freedom from congestion and difficulty in breathing.

• If you do this twice a day, you will most likely overcome flu symptoms in just two days. For this, I would advise taking bresol tablets to overcome any associated infection and throat pain.

Besides, drink warm or slightly hot water when you have a common cold. The nasal congestion and stuffy nose go off, making you more comfortable.

You can even have hot water bottles to carry to the workplace. They retain heat for longer times.

Even having a hot water bath helps overcome colds regarding body pains, headaches, etc.

In old people who have phlegm accumulation, breathing steam would loosen it and help in easy expulsion when used along with some phlegm breakers (mucolytics)

For Piles and fissures

• Hot water is a magical remedy for piles.

• Sitting in hot water for 10 minutes twice a day will help one overcome the sense of pain due to piles.

• It leads to a quicker recovery due to reduced inflammation and enhanced blood circulation to the region. It also relieves constipation pain due to bowel movements.

• Even if you undergo surgery for piles or fistula, sitting in hot water will quickly help you overcome the intense pain. Ask your doctor about it, as they mail forget to inform you.

• I have seen people take pilex medication for piles but are unaware of sitting in hot water exposing their bums. So, try it if you have piles using the large tub with a pinch of salt and hot water.

For body pains and skin.

• One can develop body pains due to rigorous exercises or in the gym.

• Sometimes due to physical injury due to falling or being hit by something. In such cases, your skin will be bruised and suffer from intense pain.

• You can overcome these body pains with hot water.

• For this, one needs to soak a cloth in hot water and apply the cloth to the painful area after squeezing.

• You will notice that pain disappears instantly.

• Another way is to heat the cloth on a pan and then put the hot cloth over the painful area on the skin.

• But this is not comfortable as the hot cloth can injure your skin with burns. It also loses heat faster than the cloth dipped in hot water.

To relieve inflammation

• Due to severe physical work or being beaten up, there are chances to develop inflammation in the whole body.

• In such a condition, a hot water bath gives immense relief.

To combat cough

• If you have a cough, drinking hot water relieves nose, throat, and lung congestion.

• The number of coughs will reduce as the throat is relieved of the urge to cough.

• You can carry hot water to the workplace and drink a small amount at infrequent intervals to relieve cold and cough if you are working.

Gargling for throat pain and infection

• When you have a sore throat, the way to get relief from it is by gargling with hot water.

• You can even add lemon or salt to this water.

• Even there are marketed formulations with antiseptic ingredients. But in most cases, hot water gargling is sufficient.

Stomach and Gas

Hot water helps to relieve gas, and it is more effective if taken along with a spoonful of baking soda and sugar.

Hot water has an anti-inflammatory effect and also can irritate the stomach leading to the removal of pain and any gas accumulation.

Cleaning of ears.

• A hot water flush is done if you have pain in the ear due to wax accumulation.

• Initially, you can use some wax-loosening liquids as an ear drop for a few days.

• Once you feel the wax is removable, splash the hot water into the ear.

• I would advise taking the help of a nurse or doctor for this.

• A rush of hot water into the ear removes the wax in a flush. You will be relieved of ear pain once the irritable wax is removed.

Frequently asked questions and answers.

References:

• Detecting cold, feeling pain: Study reveals why menthol feels fresh.