Proponents of detox foot treatments swear by their effectiveness at drawing heavy metals and other environmental poisons out through the bottoms of your feet. According to podiatrist Stephen M. Pribut, "The soles of the feet alone have between 250,000 to 300,000 sweat glands in total," meaning that you do sweat through them. While studies of detox foot baths and detox foot pads have not proven them to work, many people do find them soothing.
Herbal Foot Soaks
Soaking your feet in warm water perfumed with herbs will probably not draw any toxins out of you, but it can definitely relax you and soften the skin of your feet. Peppermint oil is said to be energizing, while a sprinkle of lavender is believed to be calming. Adherents suggest that you fill a clean basin with warm water and a selection of foot-soaking herbs, oils or Epsom salts and soak your feet for 30 minutes.
Detox Foot Pads
Detox foot pads are self-adhesive pads infused with wood vinegar and herbs. They are designed to be stuck to the bottoms or arches of clean feet at bedtime, and peeled off again when you wake up. Most manufacturers suggest that you repeat this for 30 days, and then apply them two to four times per month. There is no scientific evidence that the discoloration on the pads is anything more than your sweat reacting to the wood vinegar, but many people report feeling more energized after using them.
Ionic Detox Foot Baths
Ionic foot baths work on the principle that a neutral electric charge will draw the toxins out through the bottoms of your feet, staining the water in the foot bath with their residue. The manufacturer usually provides a color chart for you to compare to the water, in order to see what toxins have been eliminated from your body. Studies such as the ones reported by Devicewatch.org have proven that the ionic foot bath water will change color whether you put your feet in it or not, and is the result of a reaction between the provided salts and the ionic array in the machine, itself. On the plus side, no harmful effects have been reported from the use of these foot baths, and soaking your feet in warm, swirling water is known to be relaxing.
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