Egyptians used it for storing drinking water; the Greeks used it; the Aztecs used it in their traditional wellness practices, including gargling with copper-infused water; in India copper came to be used widely in daily life; all the way to the Roman era when physicians recommended it to support digestion. Even during the 19th century, scientists took a keen interest in this reddish-brown metal. Given copper's antimicrobial action on surfaces, more recently in the US, several medical centers decided to install copper devices on high-touch surfaces in 2015. Widely recommended in the ancient healing system of Ayurveda for its dosha balancing benefits, the use of copper is not limited to hospitals and nursing homes anymore but has made a comeback in the form of copper utensils such as copper bottles, jugs, and even copper straws. Drinking copper infused water or copper water (called Tamra Jal in Ayurveda), that is water stored in copper utensils is said to be healthier, as it is traditionally believed to support digestion and the body's natural cleansing processes, and to balance the three doshas or bio-energies. Check out this beautiful Copper collection that includes copper straws, copper jugs, copper Neti Pot & Copper tongue cleaners! (For those who wish to know, at the end of this article, we share ways to clean and maintain copper vessels.)
Copper in your body
Even as a trace metal (found or needed in very little quantity, a requirement that can be met by drinking water from copperware), copper is essential for many bodily functions. It helps produce energy; it is needed for the growth and health of connective tissues and is needed for metabolic function and the development of the brain.
How to use it?
Water stored in copper vessels overnight allows enough time for copper infusion into the water. This is called copper water which is safe for drinking or carrying around at your workplace or workout.
But what are the benefits of it?
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Anti-bacterial property
Copper, as we discussed above, has been valued for its antimicrobial properties on surfaces for centuries, and it has long been a traditional material for storing drinking water.
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Contact killing
Copper is now registered at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a solid antimicrobial material. In fact, the term that has come to be used is ‘contact killing’ since yeasts, viruses, and different bacterial strains quickly die on copper surfaces. This has made it a popular metal to be used in the healthcare setting where pathogenic risk is very high.
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Water sterilization
Copper has also been studied for water storage purposes, and research suggests that storing water in copper vessels may reduce some microbes. Copper vessels are not a substitute for proper water treatment, so always start with safe drinking water.
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Copper for immunity
Our immune system needs copper to carry several of its functions properly. “Some of the recent research showed that interleukin 2 is reduced in copper deficiency and is likely the mechanism by which T cell proliferation is reduced,” research published by scientists at Florida University showed, “These results were extended to show that even in marginal deficiency when common indexes of copper are not affected by the diet, the proliferative response and interleukin concentrations are reduced.” Interleukins are proteins that regulate the activity of white blood cells, that fight foreign pathogens.
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Balances the three doshas
Having copper-infused water first thing in the morning is said to balance all the three doshas in the body, according to Ayurveda.
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Aids digestion
Ayurveda traditionally holds that copper water supports a balanced digestive environment. It also supports the process of peristalsis, the process of breaking down and assimilation of food in the digestive tract.
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Heals wounds in a shorter time
Copper is an essential trace mineral that plays a role in the body's normal production of connective tissue, as noted in primary research in this area.
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Weight loss? Perfect digestive detox
Drinking copper water is traditionally said to support the body's natural cleansing processes and healthy metabolism. A healthy metabolism and good digestion support healthy weight management.
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Anti-aging benefits
Copper comes packed with antioxidants that help you fight off rogue radicals and maintain the production of collagen as part of healthy aging.
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Managing arthritis and inflammations
Copper has traditionally been associated with joint comfort and mobility, and it has been used in traditional wellness practices for several centuries now.
Usage
It is traditionally recommended that water be stored in copper pots or jugs for 7-8 hours. Once you have stored it for long enough, you can take it to work/school or gym, and enjoy copper-infused water.
Meeting the minimum copper needs
Our body does not make copper on its own. So even the trace amount must be had from external sources, which can be either dietary like seafood, lentils, meat, or simply drinking copper infused water can contribute copper to your diet.
How to clean and maintain copper vessels?
Now that you are convinced about making copper a part of your life, a very common question that we have pre-empted is how to clean and maintain the copper vessel. Here are a few quick ways to clean copper bottles or jars- Lemon and salt Cut a lemon into two halves, and place one half in a bowl of salt. Now with this half, start rubbing the copper jar. Squeeze the lemon while you are rubbing the insides of the jar, so it mixes with the salt. Make sure you have scrubbed the entire surface with lemon and salt. And now you can simply wash it off with a regular dishwasher. To clean a copper bottle: Let us tell you how you can clean the insides of your copper bottle with the same ingredients. Squeeze one-half of the lemon into the bottle. Pour 1 tablespoon salt into it. Pour half a cup of water. Now shake shake shake the bottle! Make sure the lid is tightly closed. And now, pour out the saltwater. You can also use vinegar instead of lemon and follow the same process above. Another decent cleansing option is replacing salt with baking soda in the above preparation. Published by Ruchira Roy
This content on the Sri Sri Tattva blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician, or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Any links to third party websites is provided as a convenience only and the Sri Sri Tattva Blog is not responsible for their content.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.