Structured Water: The Missing Link to Your Vitality?

Living organisms, including humans, are about 60-70% water. In our cells, however, water is not just a passive ‘filler’ or solvent. Dr Gerald Pollack says that the water in our bodies, especially in our cells, tends to be more structured than the water we usually drink. His research into ‘exclusion zone water’, also known as the ‘fourth phase of water’, in addition to the three known phases of solid (ice), liquid and vapour (steam), suggests that structured water may exist naturally in biological systems. This structured water may play an active role in cellular communication, energy transfer and biochemical reactions.

Some researchers and proponents of structured water suggest that water has the capacity to store and transmit information, much like a liquid crystal. This idea is connected to the controversial but intriguing studies of Masaru Emoto, who photographed water crystals after exposing the water to different words, music, or intentions — claiming that positive emotions or intentions led to more harmonious, beautiful crystal formations.

When water is exposed to heavy industrial processing, long periods of stagnation, microwave radiation, or certain types of chemical treatments, the natural ordering of its molecules can be disrupted. According to structured water proponents, drinking such disordered water may still hydrate your body to some degree, but may not support optimal cellular function as effectively as structured water.

In nature, water often flows in spirals, curves and vortices, whether it’s in rivers, streams or underground aquifers. This movement seems to be very important for the organisation of water’s molecular structure. When water is stagnant (in pipes, tanks or bottles) or heavily processed (chlorinated, microwaved, etc.), this natural structure can break down. Many people interested in structured water believe that water molecules can be reorganised or ‘revitalised’ using specific methods that copy the forces and patterns found in nature.

Spinning water creates a vortex that mimics the flow of rivers and streams. Some devices are designed to swirl the water mechanically, while others suggest simply stirring the water vigorously one way and then the other.

Certain stones such as quartz, shungite or tourmaline are believed to promote molecular organisation. Special ceramics or bioresonance materials are also used in some water structuring devices.

Applying magnetic fields to water is thought to affect the hydrogen bonds between water molecules, promoting a more ordered state.

Sounds, including mantras, singing bowls, tuning forks, or certain music (especially harmonic or classical), can affect the vibrational state of water and promote structure.

Leaving water in glass containers (sometimes blue bottles) under natural sunlight is another traditional method believed to energise and structure water.

There are now a variety of systems available on the market that claim to restructure water using combinations of the above methods — vortexing, magnetism, crystals, or ceramics.

The idea behind structured water suggests that hydration is not just about drinking enough water — it’s about how well that water integrates into your body’s systems.

The idea of structured water fits really well with the whole functional medicine approach, which is all about treating the root causes of health problems rather than just the symptoms. Functional medicine practitioners often look at hydration not just as a matter of fluid intake, but as part of a complex web of systems:

When it comes to water and health, the conversation is moving on from just “drink eight glasses a day.” So, the question is, what kind of water are you putting into your body? Whether it’s the natural structure of plant-based hydration or methods that mimic nature’s own processes, structured water makes us think differently about this everyday substance — not just as hydration, but as a potential carrier of life energy itself.