The Right Way to Bathe: Are You Using Hot and Cold Water Correctly?

How should we bathe? Should we use cold water or hot water? It’s a simple question, but I believe that if you get the answer wrong, it can lead to a host of health problems like dandruff, headaches, migraines, and even more serious issues like prostate enlargement and piles.

In my view, all these ailments are caused by what I call "abnormal body temperature," and the way we bathe is directly connected to this.

The Fundamental Rule of Bathing with Cold Water

Let's start with cold water. When you bathe with cold water, there is a very specific rule you must follow: you must always pour the water on your head first.

Why is this so important? Let me explain the science behind it. If you pour cold water on your feet first, your feet will become cold. As I’ve explained before, your body is an intelligent system that is always trying to maintain balance. When one part of your body becomes cold, another part will heat up to protect it.

So, when your feet get cold, your head will immediately become overheated to send warmth down to your feet. This sudden rush of heat to the head can cause headaches, dandruff, and migraines.

Therefore, the correct way to take a cold shower is to start with the head. This allows your body to adjust to the temperature from the top down, maintaining a perfect balance.

The Correct Way to Bathe with Hot Water

Now, let's talk about hot water. When you bathe with hot water, the rule is the exact opposite: you must always start from your feet and work your way up.

You should pour the hot water on your feet first, then your knees, then your hips, then your shoulders, and finally, your head.

Why? The logic is the same. If you pour hot water directly on your head, your body’s temperature regulation system gets thrown into chaos. It can cause a sudden spike in blood pressure and lead to feelings of tension, anger, and fear.

The Ancient Wisdom of Bathing in Rivers

At this point, you might be thinking, "But what about our ancestors who bathed in rivers? They stepped in with their feet first." That’s a great question, and our ancestors had a brilliant solution for this.

They considered the rivers and lakes to be sacred. Before entering the water, they would perform a ritual. They would take a handful of water and sprinkle it on their head three times. This simple act of putting cold water on the head first was a way of signaling to the body to prepare for the change in temperature. It's a beautiful example of how they integrated scientific principles into their daily rituals. By doing this, they prevented the head from overheating when they stepped into the cool river.

The Big Question: Hot Water or Cold Water?

So, which is better for your health? In my opinion, bathing in cold water is always superior.

Actually, I believe bathing in hot water is bad for you. Why? When you boil water, its prana, or life force, is destroyed. It becomes dead water.

Here’s a fascinating principle of energy: when two objects touch, one with life force and one without, the energy will always flow from the living to the dead.

I am a living being, full of prana. Boiled water is a dead substance, with no prana. If I pour this dead, hot water on my living body, what happens? My body's precious life force will be drawn out of me and into the water, and it will flow right down the drain. You will feel weaker after a hot shower.

Conversely, when you bathe in cold, living water, your body can actually absorb prana from it. Even if you are feeling weak, a cold shower can energize and strengthen you. You will feel refreshed and alive.

The Perfect Compromise: How to Take a Healthy Warm Bath

I understand that in cold climates like Ooty or France, a cold shower might not be practical. For this, our ancestors also had a solution: the velavi kuliyal, or the mixed-water bath.

It’s simple. You take a bucket and fill it halfway with cold, living water (with prana). Then, you fill the other half with hot, boiled water (without prana). When you mix them together, you create lukewarm water that has both warmth and life force. This is the perfect compromise.

So, here are the final rules I live by:

1. Cold Water: Always pour it on your head first.

2. Hot Water: Always pour it on your feet first, and ideally, use lukewarm mixed water.

3. Bathing Just the Body: I believe it's not healthy to bathe only your body without washing your head. If you must do this, for instance if you have long hair, I suggest this trick: before your bath, soak a towel in cold water, wring it out, and wrap it around your head. This will keep your head cool and prevent it from overheating while you wash your body.

By following these simple, ancient principles, you can turn your daily bath from a simple cleansing routine into a powerful act of healing and energy balancing.