Detox Aqua Spa
Today, one of the major trends in the health, fitness and beauty industries is detoxification. Everyone is looking for a way to "detox," whether its through exercise, fasting, herbal cleanses or a variety of other methods. A relatively new method if detoxification developed from research done as early as the 1900s is known as the Aqua Detox Spa System. Does this Spark an idea?
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What It Is
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The Aqua Detox Spa System is meant to work on a principle of ionic exchange. The patient's feet, which manufacturers claim are the main withdrawal source of toxins, are immersed into a salty foot bath for 30 minutes while the water is charged with a very low-voltage of electricity.
The Claims
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The Aqua Detox Spa System claims that after 30 minutes, toxins will be removed from the body, evidence of which will be apparent in the water. By the end of the treatment, the once clear water will range anywhere from a murky brown to a metallic color and the toxins in your body will be removed.
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Arguments For It
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Dr. Sanjay Chaudhury, a scientist studying the Aqua Detox System, found that in a group study using the detox treatment and a placebo treatment, the detox treatment "was seen to contribute to negative red cell surface charge which in turn heightens the body's ability to maintain free-flowing blood cells." He did not find these changes in the placebo group.
Arguments Against It
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Stephen Barrett, M.D, a renowned, retired psychiatrist who heads QuackWatch and is the vice president of the National Council Against Health Fraud vehemently argues against the Aqua Detox Spa, claiming that the skin cannot excrete toxins, as the "real detoxification of foreign substances takes place in the liver, which modifies their chemical structure so they can be excreted by the kidneys which filter them from the blood into the urine."
The Bottom Line
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There are strong opinions from both sides regarding the effectiveness of the Aqua Detox Spa System. If you just have to try this form of a detox, no harm will be done, yet it will serve you well to keep your opinion neutral and remember the power of the placebo effect.
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References
- Photo Credit marigold herbal tea image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
