The Ayurvedic ritual of Usha Pāna — "morning water drinking"

From time to time I get asked whether one should drink morning water before brushing one's teeth, or after. And why one needs to drink water first thing in the morning at all.

In Ayurveda, the practice of drinking water first thing in the morning, called Usha Pāna — "morning drinking" — is one of the key rituals for cleansing the body and maintaining its balance. The reasons behind it are both physiological and energetic.

During the night, the body carries out digestive and detoxifying processes. Toxins (the so-called ama) accumulate on the tongue, in the mouth, and in the digestive tract. Drinking warm water in the morning helps flush out these residues, stimulates the intestines, and supports morning elimination. In addition, according to Ayurveda, the digestive fire is the foundation of health. Warm water gently activates Agni, preparing the digestive system for breakfast. As a result, the feeling of heaviness, bloating, and sluggishness after waking is reduced.

After 6–8 hours of sleep, the body is dehydrated. Those two glasses of water in the morning restore fluids, hydrate the brain and tissues, and improve circulation. Water drunk at dawn — especially before sunrise, during Brahma Muhurta — cleanses not only the body but also the subtle energy channels (nadis). It prepares us for the practices of yoga, pranayama, and meditation.

In many traditional Indian households, Ayurvedic physicians pass on this principle as part of Dinacharya (the daily routine)

And if we look at it from the perspective of the doshas:

Vata: warm water moistens and grounds, counteracting dryness.

Pitta: warm (but not hot) water soothes the excess of fire and supports the cleansing of the liver.

Kapha: morning water (which can be very warm, even as hot as tea) reduces mucus, counteracts heaviness, and stimulates metabolism

Why before brushing your teeth?

In Ayurveda, it is recommended to drink water right after waking, even before rinsing the mouth and brushing the teeth, because:

1. Saliva as medicine

– During the night, saliva with special properties collects in the mouth — it is considered a natural remedy.

– Drinking water before brushing causes part of this saliva to pass into the digestive tract, which supports digestive processes and strengthens immunity.

2. Stimulation of the intestines

– Water mixed with saliva stimulates peristalsis and prepares the intestines for morning elimination.

3. Traditional practice (Usha Pāna)

– Classical Ayurvedic texts, such as the Charaka Samhita (Sutrasthana 5.15–16), mention that drinking water in the morning cleanses and strengthens the body.

– In the commentaries and in the practice of Ayurvedic physicians, this guidance appears as a further elaboration, especially in the teaching of Vaidya Balendu Prakash and other contemporary teachers in India.

Charaka Samhita, Sutrasthana 5.15–16

"Ushah pānaṃ jalaṃ śītaṃ prātaḥ kāle piban naraḥ,

śuddha-deho bhavet kṣipram jarā-mṛtyu-vivarjitaḥ."

Literal translation:

"The man who drinks water in the morning (ushaḥ pānam) attains swift purification of the body, along with freedom from premature old age and disease."

As for the teaching of Ayurveda adapted to modern times, authorities I trust — such as Dr. Vasant Lad and Partap Chauhan — hold the following views:

Dr. Vasant Lad (a well-known teacher of Ayurveda, author of "The Complete Book of Ayurvedic Home Remedies") writes about Usha Pāna Chikitsa, the morning water therapy, and notes that it is best drunk on an empty stomach, before beginning one's morning hygiene routine.

Dr. Partap Chauhan (Jiva Ayurveda, India) explicitly emphasizes that water should be drunk before brushing the teeth, in order to absorb the healing properties of the saliva.

Why morning saliva is so valuable — the traditional Ayurvedic view and modern science

The Ayurvedic view:

In Ayurveda, morning saliva (the so-called rasāyana — a rejuvenating substance) is regarded as a natural medicine. It is believed to carry cleansing energy, to support digestion, and, when it reaches the stomach together with the day's first water, to strengthen the digestive fire (Agni) and the intestines. Hence the recommendation to drink water before brushing the teeth — so that part of the saliva is swallowed rather than removed.

The modern perspective — morning saliva is rich in:

digestive enzymes (e.g., salivary amylase, which begins breaking down starch already in the mouth),

trace hormones (cortisol, melatonin), whose concentrations are highest in the morning,

growth factors (e.g., EGF — Epidermal Growth Factor), which support tissue regeneration,

immunoglobulins (IgA) — a natural defense against bacteria and viruses,

lactoferrin and lysozyme — substances with antibacterial and antiviral action.

Studies show that the enzymes and immunoglobulins in saliva support gut immunity and the bacterial flora. Swallowing part of the morning saliva may stimulate the gut microbiome, which in turn influences immunity, mood, and metabolism.

In India and China (and elsewhere), there are also traditions of using saliva in self-treatment (for example, healing wounds, mouth ulcers, or skin problems). Science confirms that the EGF and lysozyme contained in saliva do indeed support wound healing and have an anti-inflammatory effect.

One more question arises: doesn't drinking water before brushing the teeth mean swallowing bacteria from the mouth?

How Ayurveda sees this:

Ayurveda holds that morning saliva is medicinal, and that water drunk immediately upon waking (Ushapāna) helps "flush out" the toxins (ama) that have accumulated in the intestines and stomach.

Brushing the teeth and cleaning the tongue, on the other hand, form the next stage of the morning routine (dinacharya), carried out after drinking the water.

Ayurveda distinguishes between:

– śuddha rasa — pure, medicinal saliva, produced more deeply, during rest,

– mala — the toxic coating on the tongue and teeth, which genuinely does need to be removed.

In other words: it's worth swallowing some of the saliva, but not the entire coating and its bacteria — which is why the mouth must be cleaned after drinking the water.

The science of oral bacteria:

It is a fact that bacteria multiply intensively during the night — which is why we have "morning breath."

Most bacteria are found in dental plaque, in the coating on the tongue, and in the spaces between the teeth.

Drinking water in the morning can indeed result in swallowing a certain amount of bacteria.

But:

for healthy people with normal immunity, this is not a problem — the bacteria are neutralized by stomach acid. In fact, there is research showing that contact with one's own microbiome (such as through saliva) can support immunity and the balance of the gut microflora.

The practical conclusions, from my point of view, are these:

If someone has healthy gums and teeth → drinking water before brushing is safe and can be beneficial.

If someone has cavities, bleeding gums, or inflammation → then there are a great many pathogenic bacteria in the mouth.

In such a case:

one can limit oneself to rinsing the mouth with water (without swallowing) and only afterward drink a glass of water once the teeth have been brushed, or make use of Ayurvedic hygiene practices such as tongue scraping (jihva nirlekhana) or oil pulling (gandusha or kavala).

If for no other reason than to avoid a conflict in your own mind

Piyush Mittal

Nirmala Institute of Yoga and Ayurveda