Foot Detox
Feet reveal a lot of what is going on in the body!
May 5th, 2018
By Dr. Edward F. Group
Guest writer for Wake Up World
![](https://wakeup-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Foot-Detox-Facts-Benefits-Recipes-Reflexology.jpg)
![](https://wakeup-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/dr-edward-f-group.jpg)
Feet reveal a lot of what is going on in the body!
May 5th, 2018
By Dr. Edward F. Group
Guest writer for Wake Up World
When you think about detoxing, you
probably think about detox diets, colon cleansing, or fasting. But, in
recent years, detoxing through the feet has gained popularity.
Proponents say foot detox therapy eliminates toxins from the body,
increases energy, offers immune support, and improves overall health and
well-being. However, foot detoxes are not without controversy.
Does detoxing through your feet really
work, and are there any side effects? What different techniques exist
for a foot detox? Read on for answers to these questions and more.
What Is a Detox?
Detoxing, short for detoxification, is
intended to eliminate or neutralize toxins throughout the body. Toxins
are virtually everywhere, including in the foods we eat, the water we drink, the air we breathe, and common home products. There are approximately 85,000 chemicals regulated under the United States Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)[1] but
the Environmental Protection Agency has only banned or restricted use
of a handful of chemicals, including chlorofluorocarbons, asbestos,
radon, lead,
and hexavalent chromium. Unfortunately, many of these are persistent
organic pollutants that stay in the environment long after their use is
discontinued.[2]
Toxins accumulate in the liver and colon, and there are many detox techniques that
can neutralize and help move them out of the body. Toxins are also
removed through the body’s natural elimination routes such as sweating,
breathing, urinating, defecating, and during menses.
What is a Foot Detox?
Foot detoxes are intended to remove toxins and metals from
the body by drawing them out through the feet. There are a variety of
techniques for detoxing through the feet, including foot masks and
scrubs, detox foot pads, acupressure, and ionic foot soaks. Proponents
believe that a foot detox helps make the body’s pH level more alkaline.
It’s also thought to deactivate a variety of harmful organisms. Some
health care providers, including chiropractors and holistic health centers, offer foot detox baths and charge high prices for the service.[3] Foot detox baths are also sold in stores for at-home use.
Benefits of Doing a Foot Detox
- May remove toxins
- Reduces swelling
- Calms the body
- Boosts your immune system
- Improves mood
- Burns calories
- Encourages normal blood sugar
- Boosts cardiovascular health
Since the feet are rich with nerve
endings and sweat glands, it seems like the ideal place in the body to
detox and de-stress. There’s no denying that soaking your body or just
your feet in hot or warm water is calming. But hot detox foot baths may
also help reduce swelling, boost your immune system, and improve your overall health and mood. A recent study even found that, like exercise, hot baths can help burn calories, boost cardiovascular health, and encourage normal blood sugar.[4] People who advocate for detoxing through the feet say that it can ease mental distress while improving sleep and overall well-being.[5, 6]
Further, the manufacturers of the ionic
foot baths claim their product eliminates alcohol, acids, alkali, bleach
and chlorine, detergents, emulsifiers, synthetic dyes and fragrances,
toxic metals, pesticides, petrochemicals, preservatives, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).[5, 6]
Detoxing with the right kind of foot
pads can also have unique benefits. The best detox pads stimulate the
kidney acupressure point to release tension and support overall health.
Does Detoxing Through Your Feet Really Work?
There has been some controversy around
whether certain types of foot detox methods – specifically ionic foot
baths and detox foot pads – actually work. Certain television shows have
even looked at whether ionic foot bath detox methods did what was
claimed.[3, 7]
Most proponents of foot baths believe
that the water changes color as a result of toxins leaving the body and
accumulating in the water.
In reality, placing metal electrodes in the bath’s saltwater produce
rust in a rapid manner through electrolysis. The color the water changes
to has nothing to do with the toxins. In fact, the electrolysis will
change color even without feet being placed in the foot bath.
A 2012 study in the Journal of
Environmental and Public Health looked at urine and hair samples from
people who had used a foot detox bath and were unable to find evidence
that the bath eliminated toxins from the body.[8]
However, another study found that
regular use of ionic foot baths decreased the amount of aluminum and
arsenic present in the body.[9] One practitioner of
traditional Chinese medicine reported that ionic foot baths made the
body less acidic and more alkaline after just one use. Additionally,
this alkaline state lasted 48 hours after use.[10]
6 Different Ways To Do a Foot Detox
Ionic foot baths aren’t the only way to
do a foot detox. In fact, there are a variety of ways to detox the body
through the feet, including Korean and Chinese acupressure-based foot
soaks, detox foot pads, foot scrubs, masks, and soak recipes that use
naturally detoxifying Epsom salts, Bentonite clay, and other ingredients.
Ionic Foot Bath
Ionic foot baths operate by sending an
electrical current through a tub of water, which causes the water
molecules to divide and create negative oxygen ions. Once enough are
present in the water, the body absorbs them through osmosis, which is
the movement of compounds from higher to lower concentration. Some newer
devices also produce positive ions.
The foot bath process is quick and
simple. You soak both feet in the bath which is filled with warm salt
water. An electronic array is also placed in the foot bath, which sends a
direct current into the water. The combination of the water, salt, and
the array are meant to generate negative ions by separating oxygen and
hydrogen from the water, neutralizing charged particles in the body and
drawing toxins with the opposite charges out.[5, 6]
Don’t be fooled by infomercials claiming
that the dark water that comes out of the ionic foot bath water is
toxins from your body, or that different toxins create different colors.
The color of the water is caused by a reaction of the salt water and
the electrolysis array, which creates rust.[7] The ability of
these ionic foot baths to detox the body through the feet has come
under scrutiny, and there are conflicting reports on whether they work.
Acupressure-Based Foot Soaks, Foot Massage, and Foot Spas
Korean and Chinese foot spas have been
around for thousands of years, and these unique therapy experiences are
expanding in popularity across the U.S. The feet are like roots of a
tree, and the sole or bottom of the foot contains hundreds of nerve
endings and acupressure points that can be massaged to help certain
parts of the body.
During a session at a foot spa, feet are
soaked in a hot bath solution, followed by a foot and leg massage. The
foot massage is the focus and stimulates acupressure points in the feet
that correspond to different organs in the body to release tension,
improve circulation, and support overall health and vitality.
Acupressure and reflexology help balance the chi or energy in the body,
encouraging better circulation, restful sleep, and normalization of
health ailments ranging from head pain to digestion. And of course, soaking one’s feet in a warm bath and massaging the pressure points on the feet promotes relaxation.
Do-It-Yourself Foot Soak
You can also create a do-it-yourself
detox foot bath at home using warm or hot water, Epsom salt, and a few
drops of your favorite essential oil. Have a partner massage your feet
at the reflexology points in the diagram that corresponds to any issues
you deal with, or do the foot massage yourself.
![](https://wakeup-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Foot-Detox-Facts-Benefits-Recipes-Reflexology.jpg)
When selecting essential oils,
lavender is a great choice. Not only is it calming, but animal studies
have shown it to normalize liver and kidney disruptions caused by
exposure to certain pesticides.[11] Another option is tea tree oil, which is powerful against germs.[12] If the aroma of tea tree is too potent for your tastes, mix it with lavender for a mild, pleasant scent.
Foot Masks
One simple way to do a foot detox is to use a clay foot mask to clean and detoxify the feet. It relieves stress at
the end of a long day, too. Foot masks can soften skin and tackle
toenail fungus, surface fungus, odor, and athlete’s foot. I recommend
do-it-yourself recipes because they are completely free of any chemical
additives, which defeat the purpose of a detox.
Bentonite clay offers benefits as a detox agent and is safe for both internal and external use.[13] Bentonite
clay has naturally occurring positively charged ions that draw out
negatively charged toxins, including those in pesticides and toxic
metals. Other studies have found that Bentonite clay has properties that
fight against mycotoxins and aflatoxins from mold.
Here is my favorite DIY clay foot mask recipe:
Clay Foot Mask
- 3 tablespoons bentonite clay
- 3 tablespoons raw, organic apple cider vinegar
- 3 drops of lavender
- 3 drops of tea tree essential oil (or peppermint oil)
Combine these ingredients in a small
bowl. Add the apple cider vinegar one tablespoon at a time, until the
clay mask becomes a thick paste. You may not need all of the apple cider
vinegar, so add it slowly and gradually until the mask is the
consistency you desire. Add more clay as needed. Once the ingredients
are combined to a thick paste, spread it on both feet and allow it to
fully dry. Recline in a comfortable chair during this process. After 30
minutes, wash off the foot mask and dry your feet.
Foot Scrubs
Like a foot mask, a foot scrub can also
clean and detoxify the feet, reducing odor and preventing fungal
infections if you use essential oils with antifungal and antibacterial
properties. Foot scrubs also exfoliate dead skin from the feet.
Here is my favorite DIY clay foot scrub recipe:
Detox Foot Scrub
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4-5 drops of lemon, lemongrass, or juniper essential oil (or combine them!)
- 2 drops of peppermint oil
Combine the ingredients in a bowl,
stirring well to spread the essential oil throughout the mixture. Apply
to each foot, rubbing the grainy salt mixture gently along the sole, in
between the toes, on the top of the foot, and around the ankles for at
least five minutes per foot. Spend extra time on the sole, applying
pressure to the reflexology points that correspond to any areas where
you need improvement. This coarse mixture exfoliates the skin as well as
provides detoxification from the essential oils you choose.
Peppermint oil supports the gallbladder and overall digestive system.
It’s an important part of the foot scrub because it leaves a tingly
clean feeling. You can add any essential oil, but lemon, lemongrass, and
juniper have particularly helpful detoxification properties. Lemon oil
supports the immune system and helps detoxify the liver. Lemongrass is
an anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant powerhouse. Juniper oil supports liver function and detoxes the liver, colon, skin, and lungs. Pick your favorite!
Detox Foot Pads
Detox foot pads cause the feet to sweat
and draw circulating toxins out of the feet. However, not all foot pads
are created equally.
Like foot massages that focus on ancient
acupressure or reflexology points, effective foot pads tap into the
ancient science of reflexology. In addition to being very relaxing,
reflexology stimulates areas on the feet that correspond to different
organs and muscles in the body. This helps to release tension, improve
circulation and support overall health and vitality.
Unlike other brands, Global Healing Center’s 100% organic Detox Foot Pads use
carbon-titanium adhesive to boost both bioelectricity and blood flow
through the feet and body. The foot pads specifically stimulate the
kidney acupressure point to encourage detoxification. Our detox foot
pads are made with organic, all-natural ingredients like bamboo
extracts, herbs, and tourmaline. Tourmaline is
a gemstone that emits far infrared radiation (FIR). Studies have found
that FIR – specifically from ground tourmaline – promotes cell repair
and helps defend cells against damage from X-rays, and normalizes joint
swelling and other issues.[14]
Are There Any Side Effects?
Therapists who offer foot detoxes –
particularly the ionic foot spa and foot soaks – caution that some
people should exercise caution and seek advice from their healthcare
provider before using these therapies, including:
- Children under age 5
- Pregnant and lactating women
- People who have pacemakers, electrical implants, and organ transplants
- People who have diabetes, congestive heart failure, or who are on dialysis
- People with open sores on their feet
You can experience a “healing crisis”
from any detox, including a foot detox. When the body releases
accumulated toxins, you may experience fatigue, headache, nausea,
dizziness, vomiting and flu symptoms. A healing crisis doesn’t usually
last longer than three days. If you have symptoms for longer or the
symptoms are especially disruptive, consult a healthcare provider
immediately.
In contrast, our detox foot pads contain
organic, natural ingredients, and can safely be used by people of all
ages. The only side effect might be a slight chance of allergic reaction
by certain individuals, as with any product.
What’s Your Story?
Have you tried any of the foot detox
methods described here? What was your experience? Leave a comment below
and share your thoughts with us, or join the conversation on Facebook.
Recommended articles by Dr. Edward Group:- The 9 Best Fermented Foods for Your Gut
- 14 Foods that Cleanse the Liver
- Top 5 Foods for the Pineal Gland
- The Importance of a Kidney Cleansing Diet
- The 9 Best Herbs for Lung Cleansing and Respiratory Support
- 7 Best Foods to Support Kidney Function
- Lung Cleansing With Peppermint Oil
- 20 Health Benefits of Fasting for Whole Body Wellness
- How Fluoride Damages Pineal Gland Health
- Toxin Cleanse: Which Toxins Are Disrupting Your Health?
- 10 Uses for Organic Oregano Oil
![](https://wakeup-world.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/dr-edward-f-group.jpg)
Dr. Edward F. Group III (DC, ND, DACBN,
DCBCN, DABFM) founded Global Healing Center in 1998 with the goal of
providing the highest quality natural health information and products.
He is world-renowned for his research on the root cause of disease.
Under his leadership, Global Healing Center earned recognition as one of
the largest natural and organic health resources in the world. Dr.
Group is a veteran of the United States Army and has attended both
Harvard and MIT business schools. He is a best-selling author and a frequent guest on radio and television programs, documentary films, and in major publications.
Dr. Group centers his philosophy around
the understanding that the root cause of disease stems from the
accumulation of toxins in the body and is exacerbated by daily exposure
to a toxic living environment. He believes it is his personal mission to
teach and promote philosophies that produce good health, a clean
environment, and positive thinking. This, he believes, can restore
happiness and love to the world.
For more, please visit Global Healing Center.
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