Thirst is a cue initiated by the body -- prompting a person to drink liquids -- usually to satiate a dry feeling in the throat or mouth. Sweating, urination and vomiting are among things that can cause you to eliminate more water and salt than you take in. This results in dehydration and thirst. Drinking water is typically healthy, but persistent excessive thirst can indicate an underlying physical or emotional problem. Excessive thirst, experienced without any notable reason, is referred to as Polydipsia. Simple at-home solutions can alleviate the annoyance of an occasional episode of excessive thirst.
Determine if an activity is responsible for the feeling of excessive thirst. Consuming spicy or hot foods, exposure to warm temperatures and physical activity, can all increase your thirst.
Notice how much water you're consuming daily. As of 2010, the Mayo Clinic reports that, in general, doctors recommend drinking eight or nine glasses of water daily. Actively consume that amount to hydrate your body.
Adjust your fluid intake according to your physical activity and surroundings. If you are in warm, dry surroundings, or participating in more physical activity than you normally do, increase your fluid intake.
Consider natural remedies, if excessive thirst persists. Chinese food therapy suggests at-home options for excessive thirst.
For a one-time at-home remedy, wash two raw mangoes and cut them into chunks. Add half a cup of sugar to the fruit then mix, and then boil them in water until they turn soft. Add a teaspoon of mint leaf paste, half a teaspoon of cumin seed powder and salt as desired. Chill before drinking. Mangoes help prevent loss of water from the body, and aid with excessive thirst and even heat stroke.
You can also mix juice from half of a cut lemon into lukewarm water, which can aid in excessive thirst. Add a pinch of rock salt to the mixture and drink it slowly. Sour foods, including lemons, consolidate and stop loss of body fluid, thus allowing your body to retain liquid and halt excessive thirst.
Submerge an uncut sour green apple in boiling water. Remove the water and apple from heat and allow the apple to bathe overnight. The next morning, remove the apple and discard the water. Extract the juice from the fruit. This can be done by crushing the apple. Drink the extract and repeat the process daily, for five to seven days.
Another option is to add honey or sugar to tomato juice made with fresh tomatoes. Drink the juice daily for five to seven consecutive days to satiate thirst.
Consult a doctor if the excessive thirst persists, and cannot be quenched. Diabetes can cause thirst, so it's important to rule out medical conditions. In some cases, a very strong urge to drink may also indicate a psychological problem -- so seek the advice of your doctor.
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Writer Bio
Based in Phoenix, Kimberly Dedes began writing professionally in 2000. She worked in the breaking news and sports departments of "The Arizona Republic," contributing to print and online publications. She was also associate editor of "The Moon Valley Tattler," a local newspaper. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University.