Thanks to the advent of numerous "detox" programs and devices, the word "toxins" has transformed into a buzzword. And if you believe the infomercials and Internet pop-up ads, you might begin to assume that your body will be full of toxic material if you don't take steps to clear it out. Promoters of foot baths, or ionic foot spas, claim that you can revitalize your body by placing your feet in a specialized basin of saltwater.
Alleged Benefits
Ionic foot bath creators and supporters claim that using the product to "detoxify" the body helps the body work with more efficiency. They say the product could help treat or cure maladies ranging from headaches, fatigue and sleep trouble to cancer and AIDS. Most supporters also claim that the foot baths can boost calorie burn, aid in digestion and promote weight loss.
Method
A "detoxification" foot bath session involves immersing your feet in a saltwater-filled ionic foot bath for about 30 minutes. The foot bath contains electrodes that supply a slight electric charge. The water's positive and negative ions allegedly encourage your body's cells to release any oil, acid, heavy metals, fat and other waste that is in your body, according to SpaIndex.com. The gunky darkness that eventually fills the water is supposed to reflect the toxic sludge that has left your body.
Scientific Foundation
No evidence supports the notion that an ionic foot bath can pull toxins out of your body through your feet. The color change in the water comes from corrosion of the metal electrodes, which are made of copper, nickel and iron, according to Chem1.com. The colors in the water may change based on the quantity of salt in the water and the pH of the salt water. Columnist Ben Goldacre, who writes for The Guardian, performed a home experiment in which he used a car battery and metal nails in a bowl of salt water to mimic the effect of the ionic foot bath. He sent a sample of the clear "before" water and a sample of the gunky dark "after" liquid to a lab and compared the samples with foot bath "before" and "after" water from a formal foot detox session. The "after" samples from both contained significant amounts of iron but no true waste products.
Disadvantages
Although ionic foot baths are unlikely to cause direct ill health effects, they may cause you to avoid getting medical treatment when you are already sick. This could cause a health problem to intensify. Ionic foot baths can also be costly monetarily. An ionic foot bath session at a spa is about $40 to $50, and a device for the home ranges between $85 to $2,000, according to Harvard HEALTHbeat.
The Reality
Wait until a solid piece of evidence suggests that ionic foot baths will help cleanse your body before you try one. The best way to keep your body healthy and clean is to focus on improving your internal self-cleaning system. Drink water until your urine is light or clear, exercise every day, eat well-balanced meals, sleep at least seven to eight hours per night and visit your doctor for routine check-ups.
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