Detox is a popular complementary treatment for a number of illnesses and maladies, but exercise caution before embarking on any detox treatment. There are a number of products on the market that claim to detox, but have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration or have scientifically valid backing. Specifically, foot bath detoxes have not been tested as safe for use by the FDA as of October 2010.
Claims
Detox foot bath manufacturers claim that toxins absorbed by your body can be stimulated out of your body through the pores of your feet. Depending on the color change to the bath's water, they claim the bath can indicate where toxins are collecting in the body, such as those relating to the kidneys, the liver, the bowels and the bladder. The manufacturers claim the bath is a treatment for a range of complaints, including menstrual pain, fatigue, irritability and digestive problems.
Use and Price
According to Harvard's "HEALTHbeat" magazine, your feet are put into the bath for around 30 minutes at a time. The bath uses saltwater and and a low electrical charge, purportedly to stimulate the body to release toxins. Detox foot baths are quite an expensive treatment, with prices ranging from $40 to $50 for a single treatment in a spa; buying your own costs between $85 and $2,000.
Tests
While there have been no clinical studies to support the use of foot baths for detox, several doctors have advised against their use. Dr. Ben Goldacre, a psychiatrist and science writer for "The Guardian" newspaper, found no medically valid use for the bath. He conducted an experiment, in correlation with another doctor, Dr. Mark Atkins. They collected a sample result from a detox treatment and had it scientifically tested. The results showed none of the toxins you might expect to find in such a treatment.
Efficacy
The makers of detox foot baths claim that the color change of the water following a session is proof of the toxins released during treatment. Dr. Stephen Barrett of Device Watch disagrees. According to Dr. Barrett, this change is a common chemical reaction, caused by the iron oxide -- more commonly known as rust -- that occurs when the electrodes in the water break down. Dr. Barrett notes that the color change would occur even if a foot was absent.
Considerations
According to the Voice of Young Science, a British charitable organization of scientists and engineers that challenges poor science where it finds it, detox treatments are not value for money, and may in fact be dangerous. They say that your gut, your liver and kidneys, your lymphatic system and your skin are more than capable of dealing with everyday toxins.
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