Does the water therapy method really work? Social media is spreading information about a supposed Japanese study that claims drinking four glasses of water on an empty stomach can cure and prevent various diseases. We conducted a search to verify the existence of such a study and to determine whether scientists have actually arrived at such findings.
Firstly, we should note that we could not find any relevant studies by using various combinations of keywords in reputable scientific publication databases such as PubMed or Google Scholar. Fact-checkers from the American myth-busting project Snopes were also unable to locate the study that supports the claims in the newsletter. All that is known is that the newsletter was circulating in English as far back as 2010.
The newsletter enumerates diseases caused by various pathogen groups, including tuberculosis caused by bacteria, dysentery caused by bacteria or protozoa, and meningitis and angina caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The list also includes diseases with a genetic component, such as diabetes and asthma. Additionally, the newsletter mentions cancer, without specifying the type of tumor or its location. It is worth noting that oncological diseases can have a genetic predisposition, develop from the accumulation of carcinogens, or result from exposure to radiation.
Furthermore, it should be noted that some of the diseases for which water is recommended as a treatment are currently deemed incurable. Diseases like diabetes, asthma, gout, and epilepsy are not referred to as “recoverable,” and medical professionals typically only discuss the possibility of entering a long-term non-pharmacological remission when the disease is not presenting symptoms.
The newsletter is particularly dangerous because it proposes using this method even for illnesses that require urgent medical attention in a hospital setting. For instance, the World Health Organization warns that meningitis can result in fatal outcomes for half of the patients without proper treatment. Although the mortality rate is still high with treatment, approximately one in ten individuals die from bacterial meningitis, and every fifth patient experiences severe complications. Amoebic dysentery is also highly perilous, as it is the second leading cause of mortality from parasitic diseases worldwide, following only malaria.
An issue regarding the newsletter’s logic arises when it claims that drinking water for 15 days can cure an irregular menstrual cycle. In a regular cycle, the length can range from 24 to 38 days, and in most instances, it is impossible to determine whether the cycle has become regular or not within just 15 days of increased water consumption.
The newsletter only mentions one condition where increased water consumption may be beneficial, which is constipation. An article published in the Clinical Surgery of the Large and Small Intestines journal suggests that water and physical exercise can be helpful in preventing this condition. However, there is no scientific evidence to suggest that increased water consumption is an effective treatment for chronic constipation unless it is caused by dehydration.
It is also important to note that water poisoning can occur. This condition, known as hyperhydration, has even resulted in fatal outcomes. While drinking four glasses of water will not lead to this condition, excessive fluid intake can decrease blood sodium concentration, which can cause brain and lung swelling.
The newsletter poses a significant public danger as it promotes pseudo-scientific, esoteric, or “folk” methods for treating diseases, which can lead people to forego proper medical treatment. This is particularly concerning in the case of cancer, where delaying proper medical treatment can significantly decrease the chances of survival. The high mortality rate from cancer is partially due to individuals turning to alternative treatments instead of following medical protocols. By doing so, patients waste valuable time, allowing the disease to progress, and making significant improvements increasingly difficult. Therefore, the newsletter is not only irrelevant and useless, but also dangerous.
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