Function

• Ionic foot baths create a spa experience, cleansing the body of impurities such as toxins, wastes and metals to improve the immune system and allow the body to absorb vitamins better. Many users claim that they have improved skin tone, cured health conditions and aided weight loss efforts by regularly using an ionic foot bath. Users with arthritis or joint pain say that ionic foot baths helped them by eliminating pain and increasing their mobility and range of motion.

Theories

• The body needs at least 36 to 48 ounces of water a day for its digestion, elimination and hydration needs. One theory suggests that the water is never safe or clean enough for the body, even if it's distilled, because the purification process removes the harmonizing and beneficial properties of water. Only after water enters the body and exchanges the vital life force properties can the detoxification process occur. Ionic foot baths promote detoxification and improve the body's use of water, proponents say.

Body Chemistry

• Ionic foot baths have a high concentration of negative ions that attract positively charged ions such as metals and toxins in the body. The foot bath purports to bring the body to an alkaline state, in which cancer and other illnesses cannot thrive. Those who have a high concentration of toxins and impurities have an acidic body, a good environment for cancer.

Considerations

• The chemicals in the foot bath change colors as properties react with the toxins eliminated through the skin, but independent tests show that the color change occurs naturally during the electrolysis process, even without the presence of toxins such as bile, fats and cholesterol. Bubbles, temperature and other changes in water composition can make a solution change colors, depending on the properties in the foot bath. In addition, chemicals on the feet can impose unauthentic results, such as feet with nail polish, foot treatments, dye from shoes and natural substances such as fungi, potassium and other remnants.