Environmental toxins are a fact of life. Air pollution, dust and mold in your home can all introduce toxins that your body absorbs. A variety of products and diet plans on the market claim to help your body rid itself of these toxins. The ionic cleanse treatment is unique in that it claims to pull toxins out through your feet while you soak them in a specialized basin.
Theories/Speculation
Proponents of the ionic cleanse treatment claim that an imbalance between positively and negatively charged ions cause you to feel a general sense of ill health and make your body more susceptible to environmental toxins.
How It Works
Prior to your treatment, the ionic cleanse practitioner will fill a foot basin with water and add a pinch of chemical salt. He will add an electrical array and ask you to put your feet in the basin. He will turn on the array causing it to emit a small electrical pulse through the water. You may feel a slight tingling sensation in your feet. Throughout the 30 minute treatment, you will see the water change from clear to yellow to dark brown. Practitioners claim that this is a result of toxins being released through your feet.
Cost
Costs for ion cleanse treatments generally cost between $40 and $50 per treatment depending on the spa. Proponents of this treatment recommend that you have at least five treatments three days to one month apart. Total cost for ionic cleanse treatment is between $200 and $250. Some people take ionic cleanse treatments monthly on an ongoing basis. An ionic cleanse foot bath costs between $1500 and $2000 making it cost prohibitive to do at home. Costs are as of 2010.
Effectiveness
There is no scientific evidence that ionic cleanse treatments have any effect on your body. According to Kile Law, owner of Blue Water Spa in Raleigh, North Carolina, the water in the ionic cleanse foot bath changes color even if no one is soaking their feet in it. She does not offer the treatment because the manufacturer could not present any evidence that it provides any positive effects.
Safety
Ion cleanse treatments are not generally harmful, although some people should not have them. If you have a pacemaker or other device that could be affected by the electrical current in the water, or have epilepsy, do not take an ionic cleanse treatment. The manufacturer of the ionic cleanse device warns that pregnant and nursing women should not take the treatment.
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