Pure Intentions: Why I Use Distilled Water for (Almost) Everything
- info organiclia
- Nov 19
- 6 min read
Updated: 5 days ago
Water is not just hydration to me. It’s chemistry, biology, and also energetics. It carries minerals, potential contaminants, and-depending on your worldview - a kind of “informational” imprint. Every time you drink, cook, bathe, cleanse, or perform an enema with water, you’re not just interacting with H₂O; you’re influencing your internal terrain.
This is why I use distilled water for almost everything in my home. Not because everyone must do this, but because for my body, my health history, and my values, it’s the cleanest and simplest choice.
Disclaimer: This blog is educational only and reflects my personal perspective and own experience. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. Always consult an appropriate health professional aligned with your values, about your own situation.
Water Wisdom: From Ancient Practices to Modern Pipes
Long before reverse osmosis systems and countertop distillers, humans took water quality seriously. Ancient cultures used surprisingly sophisticated methods to clean and “charge” their water:
Ayurvedic traditions describe storing water in copper or earthen pots, using seeds like Strychnos potatorum (“Nirmali”) to clarify water, and filtering through cloth, sand, and charcoal. These approaches weren’t only about microbes - they also considered energetics and the qualities of the vessel.
Egyptian, Greek, and Roman sources reference sand filtration, charcoal, boiling, and aqueduct systems that protected water from contamination.
Many cultures emphasised freshness and flow: avoiding stagnant water and favouring water that had been exposed to sun, earth, or certain metals.
From a functional / naturopathic lens, this fits beautifully: they weren’t just avoiding obvious toxins; they were curating the quality and “feel” of the water entering the body.
The Modern Reality: What’s Actually in Our Water?
Today, our water is facing a very different set of challenges:
Disinfection chemicals (chlorine, chloramines)
Heavy metals (lead, copper, mercury, arsenic in some areas)
Fluoride (added in some municipal supplies)
Agricultural runoff (pesticides, herbicides, nitrates)
Pharmaceutical residues and hormone disruptors
Microplastics and industrial pollutants
Yes, most municipal systems aim to meet regulatory standards. But “legally compliant” and “optimal for a healing body” are not the same thing, especially if you’re dealing with chronic illness, heavy metal load, or sensitive mucosal tissues (like the colon, sinuses, or vaginal canal).
A Quick Tour of Modern Water Systems
Here’s a simple, functional overview of the main options:
1. Distillation
Water is boiled into steam and condensed back into liquid, leaving most contaminants behind.
What it’s great at:
Removes inorganic minerals, many heavy metals, microbes, and lots of dissolved solids.
Doesn’t rely on membranes or cartridges that can fail silently.
What to know:
Strips out beneficial minerals too, which can make it taste “flat”.
Uses energy and requires regular cleaning.
As with any system, poor maintenance = poor water.
2. Carbon & Sediment Filtration
Water passes through media like activated carbon, ceramic, or sediment filters.
Strengths:
Great for taste and smell: removes chlorine, some VOCs, and visible particles.
Relatively affordable and simple.
Limitations:
Many basic filters do not reliably remove fluoride, certain heavy metals, or pharmaceuticals.
Cartridges must be replaced on schedule; old filters can even harbour bacteria.
3. Reverse Osmosis (RO)
Water is pushed through a semi-permeable membrane that removes many dissolved salts, metals, microbes and more.
Strengths:
Very thorough; often paired with carbon filters and sometimes UV.
Can come close to distillation-level purity in some respects.
Limitations:
Wastes some water as “reject”.
Produces very low-mineral water, like distillation.
Membranes and pre-filters need ongoing care.
4. UV, Ozone & Emerging Tech
UV and ozone systems are excellent for disinfection but don’t remove dissolved chemicals or metals.
Newer technologies like shock electrodialysis and advanced nanomembranes are promising but not yet standard for most homes.
Myth-Busting: Distilled vs Filtered vs “Good Enough”
Myth 1: “Distilled water leaches minerals from your body.”
There’s no strong scientific evidence that drinking distilled water, within a nutrient-rich diet, “strips” minerals from your bones or tissues. Mineral status is driven primarily by what you eat, your absorption, your hormones, and your overall health - not by whether your water is distilled or filtered.
That said, distilled water doesn’t add minerals, so you do need to be mindful that your diet (and/or supplements under guidance) covers magnesium, calcium, potassium, and trace minerals.
Myth 2: “All home filters remove fluoride, heavy metals, and pharmaceuticals.”
Most off-the-shelf jugs and tap filters are designed for:
Better taste
Less chlorine
Some sediment and basic contaminants
They often do not reliably remove fluoride, certain heavy metals, or many pharmaceutical residues unless they specifically state those capabilities and have relevant certifications. Assuming “a filter is a filter” is a common trap.
Myth 3: “Filtered water is always just as good as distilled.”
High-quality, multi-stage filtration (e.g. sediment + carbon + RO) can get you close, and for many people that’s absolutely adequate. But if you want maximal reduction of unknowns, especially for internal therapies (like enemas), distillation still has a clear edge in simplicity and predictability.
Reality Check: Science is nuanced
Long-term studies comparing distilled vs mineral-rich water in healthy humans are limited. The evidence is not black-and-white. That’s why I frame this as a personal and functional choice, not an absolute rule for everyone.
Why I Use a Distiller for Almost Everything
Here’s how I think about it through a functional / naturopathic lens.
1. Mucosal Purity Matters
When water comes into contact with mucous membranes (colon, nasal passages, vaginal tissue), absorption is more direct than through digestion. For things like:
Enemas
Nasal rinses
Vaginal steams or irrigations
I want the cleanest possible water: no chlorine, no heavy metals, minimal microbial or chemical residue. Distilled gives me that baseline.
(If you’re doing any of these therapies, please only do so under professional guidance.)
2. Reducing Toxic Load
Every sip of contaminated water is a mini “toxin delivery system” to the liver, kidneys, lymph, and microbiome. Distillation removes some of the most persistent and problematic contaminants, so for me it’s an easy way to lower my overall burden - especially when I’m already navigating other environmental exposures.
3. Simplicity & Certainty
Using distilled water for everything simplifies my life:
I don’t need different filters for drinking, cooking, and enemas.
I’m not constantly wondering if a cartridge is overdue, or if a membrane is compromised.
I know my baseline: ultra-low in contaminants, every time.
4. Healing Terrain Mindset
A lot of functional and naturopathic medicine comes back to terrain: the internal environment in which cells, microbes, hormones, and immune signals live.
Clean inputs =less inflammation, fewer triggers, calmer detox pathways.
For me, distilled water is a foundational input that supports that terrain: fewer variables, less noise, more clarity.
How I Make Distilled Water Work for My Body
Because distilled water is so pure, there are a few things I’m intentional about.
1. I’m deliberate about minerals
I don’t rely on water for my mineral intake. Instead I focus on:
Sea vegetables (kelp, nori, dulse)
Algae
Mineral-rich broths
High-quality salt in cooking (NOT table salt)
Plenty of whole foods with magnesium, calcium, potassium, and trace minerals
Some people also add trace-mineral drops to distilled water for taste and electrolyte support - this is individual and ideally guided by a practitioner.
2. I keep my equipment clean
Distillers can accumulate:
Scale (mineral residue) in the boiling chamber
Biofilm or microbial growth in poorly cleaned collection areas
So I:
Clean the unit regularly as per manufacturer instructions
Pay attention to seals, spouts, and collection containers
Use glass or stainless steel for storage instead of plastic
3. I store it wisely
Ultra-pure water is a bit like a sponge, it can pick up whatever it touches. I store mine in:
Glass Jug and portable glass bottles
Stainless steel containers
to minimise plasticisers and microplastic contamination.
When a Good Filter Might Be Enough
I’m not dogmatic about this. There are situations where a distiller-for-everything approach may not be necessary or realistic.
You might be perfectly well served by a high-quality filtration system if:
Your tap water tests relatively clean
You don’t have major chronic illness or heavy metal burden
You’re mainly using water for drinking and cooking (not enemas or internal therapies)
You want to reduce plastic, waste, and energy use
Hybrid approaches also exist, for example:
A good under-sink filter or RO system for everyday drinking and cooking
Distilled water reserved for more sensitive uses (babies, enemas, nasal rinses, acute detox protocols under guidance)
It’s about context, not perfection.
Practical Steps If You’re Curious
If you’re feeling drawn to upgrade your water, here’s a simple framework:
Test your water. Use a reputable lab or testing kit. Know what you’re starting with: chlorine, metals, fluoride, etc.
Clarify your health context. Chronic illness? Autoimmunity? Gut issues? Heavy metal exposure? Work with a practitioner to understand your body burden and priorities.
Choose your approach.
High-quality filter only
Filter + occasional distilled
Full distilled-for-everything strategy
Support your minerals. Regardless of your system, make sure your diet supports mineral balance and hydration.
Respect mucosal therapies. If you’re using enemas or other internal water-based therapies, take water quality very seriously and always work with professional guidance.
Closing Thoughts
Water is foundational medicine. It interacts with every cell, every organ, every detox pathway. For me, distilled water is not about fear; it’s about clarity, simplicity, and alignment with a root-cause, terrain-focused approach to health.
It doesn’t fix everything. It doesn’t replace nutrition, movement, nervous-system work, or emotional healing. But it removes one major source of hidden stress from my system - and that, for my body, is worth the effort.
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