The Water Cure

Is He a Public Health Prophet?

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press Writer
June 19, 2000
MOOSIC, Pa. (AP)
With an Editorial by Your Natural Alternatives

It's a humble appliance, the kitchen spigot. It fills drinking glasses and watering cans. It rinses dirty dishes. The only time people give it a second thought is when it's leaking.

Not Bob Butts.

He looks at the spigot and sees something entirely different: the cure to most diseases.

The auto-parts dealer believes so fervently in the healing power of simple tap water that he has spent hundreds of thousands of his company's dollars to convince you to drink more of it. Butts' six-year odyssey has come with a price: Business has suffered, and some family members say he devotes too much energy and money to such a far-out notion. To the medical community, he's all wet.

Undeterred, Butts soldiers on. He is on a single-minded mission to cure his corner of the world, northeastern Pennsylvania, of what ails it. ``If everybody in the valley was doing this today, undertakers would have to start having sales,'' he says. Butts, 65, is a devotee of what proponents call the ``water cure'' - outlined in a 1992 book, ``Your Body's Many Cries for Water.'' The author, Dr. Fereydoon Batmanghelidj, claims that degenerative diseases and other illnesses are simply the result of dehydration.

The remedy? Divide your body weight in half and drink that many ounces of water a day. Abstain from caffeine. Add a half-teaspoon of sea salt to the diet.

.Doing that, Batmanghelidj says, can prevent and cure asthma, arthritis, back pain, migraines, high blood pressure, heartburn, depression, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy and a host of other illnesses.

Although doctors have long advised drinking eight glasses of water a day, they are doubtful. ``These diseases are more complex than simple dehydration,'' says Dr. Michael Traub, vice president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians, whose members practice alternative medicine. In Butts, however, Batmanghelidj has found his staunchest ally. ``He is one of the outstanding Americans I've come across,'' Batmanghelidj says from his headquarters in Falls Church, Va. ``He's totally selfless.''

Since 1994, Butts has turned Cee Kay's One Million Auto Parts, the store he owns in Moosic, into a promotion for the water cure. The store lobby is plastered with posters touting its benefits. Employees urge sick-looking customers to drink more water. Upstairs, in a makeshift broadcast studio, Butts' associates extol water and healthy living on a daily radio show called ``Positive Press Live.'' In the last six years, Butts has blanketed local media with more than 12,000 radio, TV and newspaper ads. There probably isn't a soul in Luzerne or Lackawanna counties who hasn't heard of the water cure. In Butts' latest promotion, any customer who fails to notice health improvements after 30 days of the water cure will get $25 worth of auto parts. Butts has pledged up to $100,000. ``I'm totally addicted. I can't imagine getting a high like this from anything else,'' he says.

His store is filled with employees who claim to have been ``cured.'' Accounts payable manager Karen Simone swears she no longer has asthma. She drinks nearly three quarts of water a day. Ed Dippre, who handles deliveries at Cee Kay's, claims it rid him of muscular dystrophy. ``Doctors told me I'd be in a wheelchair in three years. That was six years ago,'' he says. (Simone says she drinks nearly three quarts of water a day, Dippre up to four. The boss? At least two.)

Butts relishes the testimonials, but doctors are skeptical. ``I think his motivation is good,'' says Dr. Robert Czwalina, a family practitioner in nearby Wilkes-Barre. ``But I don't understand the connection between him and this Iranian physician who is bordering on junk science.'' That kind of talk dismays Butts. ``Thinking is something that really isn't prevalent in medical doctors, because they're taught to memorize, memorize, memorize,'' he says.

Butts' zealotry is rooted in a financial setback that he suffered 13 years ago. A bad business deal cost him $800,000 and sent him into a depressed and angry funk that lasted three years. He woke up one day in 1990 finally ready to move on with his life. ``It was just a complete 180-degree reversal,'' Butts recalls. ``I felt totally free.'' Deciding that money would no longer drive him, Butts began looking for a worthy project that he ``couldn't make a dime on.''

In 1994, he read about Batmanghelidj in a natural health newsletter. Butts was an instant fan: The water cure seemed like common sense. After consulting a local health-system executive, Butts decided to commit most of Cee Kay's advertising budget to promoting Batmanghelidj's theories. His family wasn't happy. ``They said people won't appreciate it. Everybody's going to think you're nuts,'' Butts says. ``That didn't really bother me much.'' Butts' daughters can only roll their eyes when he begins rhapsodizing about water, which happens frequently. Three of the five work with him at Cee Kay's. ``It's a little bit ridiculous,'' says Cindy, Cee Kay's sales manager. ``I'm not the philanthropist or do-gooder he is.''

For the first few years, Butts also committed most of his time - about 50 or 60 hours a week - to the cause. Lately he logs only 35 hours a week and spends more time on Cee Kay's. ``We're not anywhere near as profitable as we were,'' Butts says. ``My heart is in this, but I've got to run a business.''

Divorced since his crusade began, Butts is now engaged to the host of ``Positive Press Live.'' Genial but stubborn, he has no plans to stop doing what he loves. ``This is the biggest story in the last 100 years.''

On the Net:

Butts' site: http://www.watercure2.com

Batmanghelidj's site: http://www.watercure.com

American Medical Association site: http://www.ama-assn.org/consumer.htm

~~~~~

YOUR NATURAL ALTERNATIVES WATER CURE EDITORIAL

Mr. Butts may sound overly enthusiastic to some of us, indeed, most of us. However, the basic message that he and Dr. Batmanghelidj are touting is undoubtedly positive! Water is wonderful for all of us -- the more we drink, the more hydrated our systems become. Keeping in mind that our body consists mostly of water (about 70%) its not hard to understand why water is essential to good health.

Water flushes the system by transporting nutrients and waste, helps maintain healthy bacterial balance in the intestines and is essential for regular bowel movements, replaces electrolytes and is involved in every bodily process in some way. Drinking 1 gallon of water a day may sound like a lot, but one gallon of water only equals approximately six and one/half large( 20 ounce) glasses of water. The breakdown is simple: if you drink 2 quarts of water daily - it equals approximately three and one/half large glasses of water, or 8 eight ounce glasses of water. Drinking at least 2 quarts a day is putting you on the right track to better health!

What Kind Of Water To Drink

Tap water, Bottled Water, Demineralized Water, Mineral Water, Spring Water, Sparkling Water, Distilled Water ...... all of the different types of water can be so confusing. Just what is good for us? Let's look at each one separately:

Tap Water:

Depending upon where you live, water from your kitchen faucet will come from a well or a city supply (reservoir). If you have well water, you might also have a water purifier/softener/conditioner. City water generally is pre-conditioned, softened and is hopefully, pure. But, what if your tap water is suspect? Here are some things you can do to make tap water more tasty and healthful:

1. Boil your water. This will remove parasites and certain bacteria.

2. Aerate your water by running it through a blender. This will help dissipate chlorine quickly.

3. Let it sit. Sediment will settle and chlorine will naturally dissipate.

4. Refrigerate it. By doing so, sediments will settle and the chlorine will naturally dissipate.. And it will taste refreshingly clean!

5. Purchase a water purifier system, if you are so inclined, such as Britta or Magnetic Water Filtration System (click for more info).

Bottled Water:

Not all bottled water is the same. Some bottled water is merely purified public system water. Read the label carefully and make sure that the source of the water is identified to your satisfaction.

Demineralized Water:

Water that has been deionized or demineralized has had nitrates and minerals, such as calcium and magnesium removed. Also, some heavy metals may have been removed, as well, such as cadmium, barium, lead and radium, by the deionization process.

Mineral Water:

Mineral water is by regulation, one of the most natural sources of water because in order for water to be classified as Mineral Water, it must pass strict criteria. To be so classified, besides containing naturally occurring minerals, water must flow freely from its source and must be bottled directly at the source.

Natural Spring Water:

Natural spring water emanates from springs that rise up from subterranean reservoirs. It is unprocessed, unfiltered, and untreated. Most bottling companies list the location of the spring where the water is bottled.

Sparkling Water:

Water that has been carbonated is commonly called Sparkling Water. It has become a popular alternative to soda pop and can be more healthful. However, be cautious of the contents. Many carbonated waters contain fructose, corn syrup or other sweeteners that you may not want to ingest. And some contain sugarless sweeteners, caffeine, and other additives. Read the label before you purchase Sparkling Water to make certain it is what you expect. Naturally sparkling water is water that is carbonated from the source of the water. Carbonated natural water means that the water is carbonated from a different source than that of the water.

Distilled Water:

Water that is produced by steam vapor and condensed is distilled water. Distilled water is free of bacteria, viruses, chemicals, minerals and pollutants. Many folks consider distilled water to be the best water for personal consumption because of its ability to trap and pass inorganic materials from the body. Because distilled water may have a flat taste, raw Apple Cider Vinegar, lemon juice and/or minerals can be added to enhance its qualities and flavor.

Disclaimer: The information presented is for information purposes only. It is based on scientific studies or traditional usage. Consult a health care professional before using supplements or making any changes in prescription medications. The information and statements contained herein are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any dis-ease.