Detox Foot Baths: Do They Really Work? An Evidence-Based Review

As is true with most modalities in alternative medicine, the question of whether detox foot baths work depends on who you ask. Critics claim the treatment is quackery, while adherents maintain it's a valid method to remove toxins from the body.

Identification

• The setup consists of a small tub containing salt water and two small electrodes. Your feet are placed in the water, the electrodes are activated and, supposedly, the current draws out body toxins through your feet.

Features

• After a short time, the water turns murky. Adherents say the discoloration is caused by the release of toxins from your body.

Theories and Speculation

• Critics of the process say the discoloration is a natural function of the salt water reacting with the two electrodes, and would happen even without placing your feet in the water.

Effects

• Adherents say the foot baths draw heavy metals, such as cadmium, from throughout your body.

Considerations

• Single foot bath treatments generally start at about $50. Kits can be purchased online for around $1,500 to more than $2,000.

Warning

• There are a number of conditions that can disqualify you from taking a detox foot bath, including if you have a pacemaker, are on heart-regulating drugs, are pregnant or nursing, or have undergone an organ transplant, according to www.ionicdetoxfootbaths.com.