Many people worry about environmental toxins from sources such as outdoor pollutants, household chemicals, cookware, food, water and other sources. There are various methods that claim to remove toxins from the body. One of these is the detox foot soak, which is said to draw toxic substances out through the soles of the feet during a 30 minute soak in a special tub. There is anecdotal evidence that it can help some people, but there is also some skepticism.
Procedure
A detox foot soak is a procedure in which a person immerses her feet in a foot bath filled with saltwater for about 30 minutes. According to Device Watch, a low-voltage current is run through the water in the foot bath. This is supposed to produce a frequency of positive and negative ions that affect the body's cells during the soak.
Benefits
According to DeviceWatch, foot soak practitioners and foot bath marketers says that toxins are drawn out through your feet during the soak. They say the water will change color, based on your specific problem areas. For example, yellow is supposed to indicate that toxins from the bladder and kidneys have been drawn out, while orange and brown result from joint toxins and green or black water means that the liver has been detoxified. Removal of these toxins is said to support proper organ functioning, relieve fatigue and improve metabolism. Some companies say that detox foot soaks can improve certain conditions, such as arthritis, headaches, pain or poor circulation.
Time Frame
Practitioners generally recommend that a person should do six detox foot soaks over a four- to six-week period. After this initial period, the frequency of the soaks can be adjusted, based on the person's needs and preferences. Foot soaks can be done at spas, clinics and some natural supplement stores, or you can purchase in-home unit.
Research
Benefit claims for detox foot soaks are mostly anecdotal. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any foot baths for detoxification or treatment of specific conditions. However, Aundrea Adams of the International Institute of Holistic Healing says that one study showed increased oxygen levels in the blood after a detox foot soak. A study by the Alternative Health Research Foundation found that detox foot soaks combined with relaxation techniques found a reduction in certain toxic substances, such as aluminum and arsenic. However, no control group was used for this study.
Warning
According to Ben Goldacre of the "Guardian Unlimited" online newspaper, the color changes in the water are due to an increased iron count from the electrodes, not from toxins. Goldacre reproduced the same color change by sending voltage through two metal nails that were immersed in saltwater. He then had a colleague take a foot soak and tested samples of the water before and after the soak. The color change was similar, as was the iron content of the water after the soak.
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