- During an ionic foot detox, a user places her feet in a small foot bath filled with water and sea salt. The detoxifying appliance, a small plastic device that is electrically powered, is positioned under the water level where it releases a small electrical current. This current is meant to excite the particles in the water, creating positively and negatively charged ions. These ions are drawn into the body through the pores in the feet and proceed to bind with toxic particles in the blood, organs, and muscles. Once the ions have bonded they become neutrally charged, and are naturally pulled back to the feet and out of the body through gravitational pull and the process of osmosis.
- Ionic foot detoxes produce visible results during the course of the treatment session, as the water in the bath changes from clear to a color, such as yellow, blue, or brown. The specific color the water turns is indicative of what area of the body is releasing toxins or what type of material is being removed. For example, water that turns brown indicates that tobacco and carcinogenic material is being removed from the body, while orange water shows that joints are being cleansed.
- Regular users of ionic foot detoxes have reported a vast number of benefits, which include everything from an increased sense of well being to the remission of cancer. Common reported benefits from long term use are increased immune function, better sleep, increased metabolism, joint pain and allergy relief, and increased energy.
- Some side effects of ionic foot detox use have been reported, but they are typically mild and subside shortly after the treatment session has ended. These include feelings of fatigue, headache, lightheadedness, nausea, and loss of energy. Most users report that these side effects go away quickly after they drink a glass of water.
- A typical ionic foot detox session is 30 minutes long, and should be performed once every two to three days. Alternative treatment experts recommend that an individual complete 12 to 14 sessions consecutively to experience the completed benefits of the technique. One session at a spa or chiropractic office can cost between $25 and $45, and a home unit can range between $89 and $500.
