Footbaths- A Gentle Detox
Footbaths are a gentle detox practice in use today. You may have seen infomercials about footbaths that pull toxins out of your body through your feet, leaving you with a bath full of brown liquid (aka the toxins). There are many false companies who claim the color of the water produced in the bath indicate the toxins that are being removed. The important thing to look at in this short video is the debris that forms in & on the water that are the actual toxins.
The main point of a detoxifying footbath is to make the body’s pH more alkaline. An alkaline body is crucial to a person’s health. Diseases thrive in an acidic environment. So basically, the less acidic your body is and the more alkaline, the less prone you are to contracting a disease, such as osteoporosis or cancer. The CDC reports that up to 85% of all illness are caused by toxins and pollutants in our bodies. The human body functions best when the ions are balanced at 80% negative (alkaline) and 20% positive (acid).
How electrolysis happens in your foot bath.
The Ionic Detox system produces positive and negative ions in the foot bath water. It produces a low current, low voltage signal and sends it through the array submerged in the foot bath water. The current in the array creates ionization through a process known as electrolysis. Electrolysis breaks down the water molecule and produces a negative hydrogen ion. These negative ions are absorbed through the feet by osmosis.
Once the negative hydrogen ions are introduced to the body, they essentially act as an antioxidant. Antioxidants, like Vitamin C, lose electrons easily. It is this process that neutralizes free radicals. Negative hydrogen ions act as supercharged free radical scavengers. Once a free radical is neutralized, the body’s natural detoxification process can easily eliminate it.
How Do Free Radicals Cause Cellular Damage?
Free radical damage on the cellular level.
Free radical damage in action.
Toxins result from free radicals which are extremely unstable and reactive. Free radicals disrupt & damage body systems at the cellular level causing oxidative stress. A free radical steals an electron from an atom & leaves the atom missing an electron. This creates a chain reaction that multiplies free radicals causing ruptured chromosomes and cell membranes.
How Do We Achieve pH Balance?
The food we eat is either acidic or alkaline. The more alkaline foods you eat the better you will be. A footbath helps to remove “free radicals” that are high in acid from the body. Detoxification continues in the body for up to 48 hours after the footbath through urination & sweating. It’s best to avoid high acidic foods/drinks after a treatment, to help the detox process. This type of detox can help to lower blood sugar & cholesterol levels.
Eating alkaline foods coupled with a footbath will help support a healthy body pH.
Doing a footbath 2 times a year is a proactive & relaxing way to take ownership of your health. Using a footbath & coupling it with an alkaline food chart is beneficial. Eating 80% of alkaline type foods helps maintain body pH which supports a strong immune system. Use it to make up your weekly shopping list & downloading it on your cell phone as a quick reference when grocery shopping will help you purchase alkalizing foods.
Are Footbaths Good For Anybody?
Most people can benefit from an ionic detox. It is especially good for those suffering from GI disorders, skin condition & fungal/yeast infections. Who should NOT participate in a footbath without consulting with their healthcare provider.
- People with a Pacemaker or any other battery-operated or electrical implant.
- Women who are pregnant or nursing.
- People with transplanted organs. (Gallbladder or hysterectomies ok)
- Anyone who is on heartbeat regulating medications or blood thinners.
- People with Type 1 Diabetes.
- People who suffer from epilepsy or hemophilia.
- People currently undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.
- People who have low blood sugar, should eat before using the footbath.
- Children under the age of 5 years old.
The Benefits
A footbath is it’s, “gentle and safe, & does not complicate the GI tract because it bypasses the digestive system. It works well when accompanied with acupuncture & stimulates blood flow in treating peripheral neuropathy. The best time to detox for people who do not have underlying conditions is during the transitional seasons of Spring and Fall.