Ionic foot baths, also called ionic foot spas or detoxifying foot baths, have become more popular within the past few years, thanks to an increased publicity given by several celebrities expressing the benefits of various methods of detoxification. The process involves soaking your feet in a warm bath of ion-filled water for 30 minutes, while the toxins are said to be release from your body. After soaking your feet, the color of the water changes, which is said to indicate the release of toxins from your body.
Purpose
The purpose of ionic foot baths is to use positively and negatively changed ions to draw toxins and impurities out of the body from the skin on the bottom of your feet. The toxins which ionic foot detoxification bath companies claim to purge your body of include heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cobalt. They are also said to give your body electrolytes like calcium and potassium and help increase your energy levels.
Colors
The makers of ionic foot baths claim that during and after using an ionic foot bath, the color of the water in the bath will change, indicating what type of toxins were released from your body. Black water is said to indicate toxins that were released from the liver, brown may indicate toxins from the liver or tobacco use and orange water may indicate toxins released from joints. Red flecks are said to be blood clot material, white specks are said to be yeast and green water is said to be toxins released from the bladder.
Effectiveness
Ionic foot baths have not been evaluated for safety or effectiveness by the FDA therefore the companies may make almost any health claim regarding their effects and not be changed for false advertising if it is untrue. According to the website Spa Index, which reviews spa treatments, there is not one single independent study done on the effectiveness of ionic spa foot baths. BBC's watchdog group found that the water in ionic foot bath changes color to a green color and then to brown even when it is run without a person's feet in it. They speculate that the electrodes in the machine simply cause the water to turn brown and that the bath does not take toxins out of the human body.
Safety
Though ionic foot bath treatments are generally regarded as safe, there are several categories of people which may have safety concerns indicating that they not use ionic foot baths. Ionic foot baths should not be used by any person who has a pacemaker for their heart or by anyone who takes medication for a heart condition. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should also avoid ionic foot baths, according to one ionic foot bath company. People with any metal implants in their joints, people who take medications and people with diabetes or low blood sugar are also warned against its use.
Cost
Prices for ionic foot spa treatments vary depending on where you go and whether or not you purchase treatments singly or in a package. The prices also vary based on whether you rent the machine and do the foot baths at home or go to a day spa to have it done. Prices generally vary anywhere from $20 to $50 per treatment.
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