Tamra Jalam: Health Benefits Of Drinking Water Stored In Copper Vessels For Better Digestion, Immunity And Skin Health

Tamra means copper, and jalam is water. Often, we have copper vessels and also ‘tamra parnis’ (copper ‘leaves’) or strips that are put into water containers. Whether the water is stored in a copper vessel or it is in contact with the copper sheets, water gets energised if kept for longer durations. The duration for practical purposes can be ‘overnight’. NextGen often asks where the proof exists and why it should be practised.

All dhatus or metals play a vital role in our formation and existence. Both the stock and the flow conditions are positively and negatively influenced by metals or lack (shortage) of these. We have ‘sapta dhatus’ in our body. Metals do have an impact on our physical and mental health.

For instance, most of us do know that anaemia is caused by iron deficiency. In Ayurveda the anaemic conditions are treated with ‘lohasava’, loha meaning iron. The psychological conditions that are to do with mental excitement are treated with silver. Rajata means silver, and rajata bhasma, the purified ash form of silver, is used in many healing substances in Ayurveda.

For the disease conditions of ‘bhrama’ (hallucination) and ‘unmaada’ (high delusion), silver derivatives are used. Silver is the Moon metal, copper is for Surya, and iron for Saturn. Similarly, for deep rejuvenating conditions, gold’s suvarna bhasma is used.

Copper/tamra is said to be a “dosha balancer” in terms of vata, pitta, and kapha. That vata, the air element, causes cascading disease conditions, is well known. Pitta causes acidic nature, and kapha, the phlegmatic nature. These conditions are often experienced by even healthy people during seasonal transits or in their vulnerable moments. Tamra is also a rasayana, meaning it refreshes. Water is a good carrier. Natural healing methods use copper.

Copper-based cooking often doesn’t happen due to the sensitivity of the metal. Lemon or tomato or tamarind react with copper and hence need to be kept away. Cooking is also rare in copper due to the prohibitive cost of the metal to make thick ‘patra’.

However, storing plain and simple water can safely happen, and this may be consumed regularly for holistic benefits. Thus, on an empty stomach, consumption of water stored in a copper vessel is the practice in our tradition.

About the author

Dr. S. Ainavolu is a Mumbai-based teacher of Management and Tradition. Intent is NextGen’s learning and cultural education.