Drinking treatment with mineral waters: application, mechanism of therapeutic effect on the body, rules for admission
In fact, if all the rules are followed, the effect is so powerful that a person experiences, in addition to eliminating the symptoms of the main clogging, a surge of strength, an improvement in his condition. Effective drinking treatment with mineral waters can be organized at home, but it is much more expedient to go to a special resort in the absence of acute manifestations of the disease. So the water intake is carried out under the supervision of the attending physician. In combination with other procedures, this allows you to quickly improve your deteriorating health.
In this article we will talk about the principle of influence of the use of therapeutic mineral waters, how to use them at home for the treatment of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract.
Water groups and their chemical composition
What is drinking mineral water – they are such natural waters, the chemical composition and physical properties of which (the content of mineral and organic components, gases, microelements, the reaction of the environment, etc.) allow them to be used for the purpose of prevention and treatment. There are many resorts where patients take mineral water from springs for use. The most famous resorts with drinking mineral waters are Essentuki, Zheleznovodsk (Russia), Borjomi (Georgia), Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic), Vichy (France) and others.
Drinking mineral waters are divided into 4 groups:
- mineral drinking medical and table;
- mineral drinking medical;
- mineral canteens;
- table water.
Mineral waters contain a large number of trace elements (iodine, bromine, iron, fluorine, silicon, arsenic, boron), which have a curative effect in many diseases. When planning the use of drinking mineral waters, remember that many of them contain organic substances, in particular bitumen and humins, which, in moderate doses, have a positive effect on diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and biliary tract. In medicinal waters, the amount of organic substances should not exceed 30 mg/l, and in medicinal table waters – more than 10 mg/l. The content of carbon dioxide depends on the type of mineral waters.
What is the secret of the healing action?
Let's see what is the secret of the mechanism of action of mineral water on human health. Carbon dioxide, getting into the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates the secretory and motor activity of the stomach and intestines, increases the secretion of gastric juice. Waters containing carbon dioxide increase appetite, better quench thirst. The appointment of a course of treatment with drinking mineral water has a significant impact on the course of tissue repair processes.
Mineral water affects the mechanism of regulation of nutritional processes. At the same time, it changes the activity of various redox processes, reduces the excessive process of cell destruction in the gastric mucosa. Under the action of mineral water on the body in the liver, when it is damaged, intracellular recovery improves
Under the therapeutic effect of mineral waters, the activity of internal gastric hormones, as well as insulin, changes. The intake of mineral water increases the pH of gastric juice, which entails the release of a substance that stimulates acid formation, duodenal motility, increases blood flow in the stomach, intestines, pancreas, and liver. This improves the function of liver cells, increases the secretion of bile, improves its composition, increases the amount of pancreatic juice and the content of enzymes in it. There are positive changes in the composition of bile, an increase in its outflow, an increase in the concentration of bile acids, an improvement in pigment, protein, lipid metabolism, and the digestive function of the liver. The most pronounced increase in bile formation, bile secretion is expressed when sulfate mineral waters are prescribed.
In the process of ingestion of mineral waters, nerve endings located in the mucous membrane of the initial sections of the gastrointestinal tract are irritated. The first reflex to the accepted water occurs in the oral cavity, when water has not yet entered the stomach. By irritating the nerve endings of the oral mucosa, mineral waters increase the amount of saliva and change the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. The effect of water on the mucous membrane of the posterior part of the oral cavity and the root of the tongue, and from there on the intestines, was noted.
With a longer retention of mineral water in the oral cavity, its effect is more pronounced. Therefore, in order to increase irritation and thereby have a greater effect on the secretory and motor functions of the gastrointestinal tract, mineral water should be drunk slowly, in separate small sips. On the contrary, with an excess of secretory and motor functions of the stomach in order to reduce the irritating effect, water must be drunk in one gulp, in large sips.
How to use mineral water correctly
There are certain rules for taking mineral water, which help to get the correct and maximum therapeutic effect. Read about how to properly use this natural remedy.
Warm water reduces gastrointestinal overmotility, pyloric spasm and activity. On the contrary, cold water increases the motor activity of the stomach and intestines, stimulates the secretion of gastric juice.
The rate at which water moves from the stomach to the intestines depends on the temperature of the water. Cold water, increasing the motility of the stomach and intestines, passes through the gastrointestinal tract much faster than warm water. Influencing the nerve endings of the gastric mucosa in the upper intestines, mineral water has a significant impact on its contractile work. If cold water, enhancing the motor function of the small and large intestines, has a laxative effect, then warm and hot water, relaxing the muscles of the intestines, contributes to the retention of stool. Therefore, cold water is prescribed for patients with a tendency to constipation, and hot and warm water for diarrhea.
Mineral waters with their composition and the presence of gases stimulate the secretion of the stomach, intestines, pancreas. The stimulating effect of mineral water on gastric secretion, associated with irritation of the stomach itself, is called a stimulating effect. This action occurs 10-15 minutes after taking water, when it does not have time to pass into the duodenum, but mainly irritates only the gastric mucosa. When mineral water enters the duodenum, it (primarily hydrocarbonate) causes the opposite effect. By irritating the nerve endings of the duodenal mucosa, mineral water suppresses gastric secretion, thereby affecting the bile ducts. This effect most often occurs when taking mineral water after 1-1.5 hours.
Usually mineral water is drunk on an empty stomach, because in this case it has a direct effect on the gastric mucosa and its apparatus. For most diseases, water is drunk 3-4 times a day before meals. The amount of water taken at one time varies considerably depending on the nature of the disease. In diseases of the digestive system, drinking from 1/3 cup (70 ml) is most often prescribed and gradually a single dose is increased to 1 cup (200 ml). The course of drinking treatment at the resort is 24-30 days.
With individual diseases or even one disease of a different course, the method of taking water is significantly different.
Mineral water for gastritis
For patients with chronic gastritis with increased excretory activity, mineral waters are prescribed 3-4 times a day 1-1.5 hours before meals. Start with 50-70 ml and within 2-3 days a single dose is adjusted to 200 ml. The optimum water temperature is 34-45 °C. When heated, excess carbon dioxide is released from water. In addition, heated water less irritates the nerve endings of the gastric mucosa. Drink water quickly, in large sips. At the same time, the main part of mineral water passes into the intestines even before eating, and therefore the effect of water on the duodenum is mainly manifested, associated with inhibition of the secretion of gastric juice.
In chronic gastritis with normal excretory activity of the stomach, it is recommended, as in chronic gastritis with increased acid secretion, carbonate bicarbonate sulfate sodium calcium, magnesium sodium bicarbonate chloride calcium sodium, bicarbonate sodium low mineralization (2-6 g / l) mineral water. They also start drinking water from 50-70 ml and gradually bring it up to 200 ml. The water temperature should be 28-35 °C. Mineral water is consumed 3-4 times a day 35-45 minutes before meals. Drink water slowly, in small sips. With this method of taking, part of the water passes into the duodenum, and part remains in the stomach. Therefore, mineral water has a positive effect on the stomach and duodenum.
In chronic gastritis with reduced activity of the stomach, mineral water is drunk 3-4 times a day 15-20 minutes before a meal. They start drinking from 50-70 ml and within 2-3 days the dose is adjusted to 200 ml. The water temperature should be 20-25 °C. Drink water slowly, in small sips. This intake of water has mainly a gastric effect, which helps to stimulate the activity of the stomach. In chronic gastritis with excretory insufficiency, hydrocarbonate and sulfate waters are used, mineralization is 3-10 g / l.
Reception for gastric and duodenal ulcers
With gastric and duodenal ulcers, increased excretory activity of the stomach is more often observed. In some cases, gastric ulcer occurs with normal or reduced excretory function of the stomach. Depending on the nature of the activity of the stomach, the method of ingestion of mineral water will be different. With increased function of the stomach, the method of taking mineral water, the temperature of the water, its type will be the same as in chronic gastritis with increased activity of the stomach. In case of gastric or duodenal ulcer with normal or reduced function of acid secretion, the method of water intake and its type will be prescribed as in chronic gastritis corresponding to the function of the stomach.