Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTheoriesPossible BenefitsColor MeaningsProposed EffectsWho It’s Not ForDIY Alternatives
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Theories
Possible Benefits
Color Meanings
Proposed Effects
Who It’s Not For
DIY Alternatives
ThamKC / Getty Images
What Is the Theory of Foot Detox?
Ionic foot baths use an ionizing device to create an electrical current in the water. Proponents believe the device generates ions that interact with the body’s energy field. This is thought to relax thenervous systemand aid in toxin removal.
What Does a Foot Detox Do for You?
There are many alleged health benefits associated with a foot detox, including:
That said, other research surrounding foot baths and massages shows that they could help reduce symptoms of mood disorders such asschizophreniabecause of the relaxing effect they have.
What Do the Colors Mean?
Practitioners will make various interpretations of the change in water color. Their interpretations often include information about the body area where the toxins came from, and the conditions or symptoms those toxins may be linked to.
For example:
It’s important to note that the color changes in the water are not scientifically proven to indicate detoxification. Most of these changes are due to metal electrodes in the ionizing device rusting as the current passes through water.
How Does It Affect the Body?
After a foot detox session, many people claim to feel calm, relaxed, and focused.Some proponents say that the detoxification process fatigues the body and can be initially tiring. Others claim that the foot detox is energizing due to the increase of negative ions in the body.
These reports are largely anecdotal; There’s no legitimate reason to believe these symptoms are related to actual detoxification. During the foot detox, your body’s liver and kidneys, which are critical components of the body’s natural detox system, continue to function as usual.
As far as the science is concerned, it’s more likely that any sensations one feels after a foot detox are due to the relaxing nature of the treatment and overall spa experience.
How Often Should You Do a Foot Detox?There are no limits to how often you can do a foot detox, although it’s generally recommended to wait at least one to three days between sessions.Most sessions last 30 to 45 minutes at a time.
How Often Should You Do a Foot Detox?
There are no limits to how often you can do a foot detox, although it’s generally recommended to wait at least one to three days between sessions.Most sessions last 30 to 45 minutes at a time.
Who Should Not Do a Foot Detox?
You should not do a foot detox if you:
Also, you should consult a healthcare provider before doing a foot detox if you:
Since the effects of foot detoxes are not well established, it’s important to check with a healthcare provider to determine if the therapy is safe for you.
Homemade Foot Detox Alternatives
Some of the most commonly used natural foot detox recipes include the following:
While foot detoxes may not remove toxins from your body, they can be an enjoyable experience that can help soften your feet, be relaxing, and offer relief for certain foot ailments.
They are also generally safe for most people, so even if they don’t do what many claim they do, they could still be an excellent addition to yourself-careroutine.
Summary
A foot detox bath may sound like a good idea. However, the limited evidence suggests that it does not work in the way that many people claim. Your body has organs and other systems in place to help filter out toxins, and there is currently no evidence to support that they can be pulled from your feet using an ionic foot bath.
Because of that, performing these types of foot baths will not remove toxins. That said, they can provide other benefits, such as relaxation and lower stress levels, enhancing the health and hydration of the skin, and reducing inflammation in people with skin disorders. Foot detoxes generally are safe, although there are some people who should avoid them. Always speak to your healthcare provider before trying anything new.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Advance Detox Center.What do colors in your water mean?.Kennedy DA, Cooley K, Einarson TR, Seely D.Objective assessment of an ionic footbath (IonCleanse): Testing its ability to remove potentially toxic elements from the body.J Environ Public Health.2012;2012:258968. doi:10.1155/2012/258968Kito K, Suzuki K.Research on the Effect of the Foot Bath and Foot Massage on Residual Schizophrenia Patients.Arch Psychiatr Nurs.2016 Jun;30(3):375-81. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.01.002Massage Bliss.Detox foot bath questions and answers.Breiner.Ionic foot bath.Akyuz Ozdemir F, Can G.The effect of warm salt water foot bath on the management of chemotherapy-induced fatigue.Eur J Oncol Nurs.2021 Jun;52:101954. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101954Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, Mohammadbeigi A, Bitarafan B, Etripoor G, Asghari M.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med.2020 Mar;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, Zeichner S, Preston DC, Zlotoff BJ, Wisniewski JA.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol.2019 Sep;36(5):634-639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888Proksch E, Nissen HP, Bremgartner M, Urquhart C.Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin.Int J Dermatol.2005 Feb;44(2):151-7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Advance Detox Center.What do colors in your water mean?.Kennedy DA, Cooley K, Einarson TR, Seely D.Objective assessment of an ionic footbath (IonCleanse): Testing its ability to remove potentially toxic elements from the body.J Environ Public Health.2012;2012:258968. doi:10.1155/2012/258968Kito K, Suzuki K.Research on the Effect of the Foot Bath and Foot Massage on Residual Schizophrenia Patients.Arch Psychiatr Nurs.2016 Jun;30(3):375-81. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.01.002Massage Bliss.Detox foot bath questions and answers.Breiner.Ionic foot bath.Akyuz Ozdemir F, Can G.The effect of warm salt water foot bath on the management of chemotherapy-induced fatigue.Eur J Oncol Nurs.2021 Jun;52:101954. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101954Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, Mohammadbeigi A, Bitarafan B, Etripoor G, Asghari M.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med.2020 Mar;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, Zeichner S, Preston DC, Zlotoff BJ, Wisniewski JA.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol.2019 Sep;36(5):634-639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888Proksch E, Nissen HP, Bremgartner M, Urquhart C.Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin.Int J Dermatol.2005 Feb;44(2):151-7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Advance Detox Center.What do colors in your water mean?.Kennedy DA, Cooley K, Einarson TR, Seely D.Objective assessment of an ionic footbath (IonCleanse): Testing its ability to remove potentially toxic elements from the body.J Environ Public Health.2012;2012:258968. doi:10.1155/2012/258968Kito K, Suzuki K.Research on the Effect of the Foot Bath and Foot Massage on Residual Schizophrenia Patients.Arch Psychiatr Nurs.2016 Jun;30(3):375-81. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.01.002Massage Bliss.Detox foot bath questions and answers.Breiner.Ionic foot bath.Akyuz Ozdemir F, Can G.The effect of warm salt water foot bath on the management of chemotherapy-induced fatigue.Eur J Oncol Nurs.2021 Jun;52:101954. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101954Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, Mohammadbeigi A, Bitarafan B, Etripoor G, Asghari M.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med.2020 Mar;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, Zeichner S, Preston DC, Zlotoff BJ, Wisniewski JA.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol.2019 Sep;36(5):634-639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888Proksch E, Nissen HP, Bremgartner M, Urquhart C.Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin.Int J Dermatol.2005 Feb;44(2):151-7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x
Advance Detox Center.What do colors in your water mean?.
Kennedy DA, Cooley K, Einarson TR, Seely D.Objective assessment of an ionic footbath (IonCleanse): Testing its ability to remove potentially toxic elements from the body.J Environ Public Health.2012;2012:258968. doi:10.1155/2012/258968
Kito K, Suzuki K.Research on the Effect of the Foot Bath and Foot Massage on Residual Schizophrenia Patients.Arch Psychiatr Nurs.2016 Jun;30(3):375-81. doi:10.1016/j.apnu.2016.01.002
Massage Bliss.Detox foot bath questions and answers.
Breiner.Ionic foot bath.
Akyuz Ozdemir F, Can G.The effect of warm salt water foot bath on the management of chemotherapy-induced fatigue.Eur J Oncol Nurs.2021 Jun;52:101954. doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101954
Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, Mohammadbeigi A, Bitarafan B, Etripoor G, Asghari M.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med.2020 Mar;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325
Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, Zeichner S, Preston DC, Zlotoff BJ, Wisniewski JA.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatr Dermatol.2019 Sep;36(5):634-639. doi:10.1111/pde.13888
Proksch E, Nissen HP, Bremgartner M, Urquhart C.Bathing in a magnesium-rich Dead Sea salt solution improves skin barrier function, enhances skin hydration, and reduces inflammation in atopic dry skin.Int J Dermatol.2005 Feb;44(2):151-7. doi:10.1111/j.1365-4632.2005.02079.x
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