Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Are Ionic Footbaths Detoxifying?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Feet

Are Ionic Footbaths Detoxifying?

I just heard about ionic detox footbaths and wondered if you had any comments regarding them.

Andrew Weil, M.D. |February 20, 2007

Feet spa treatment
1 min

Ionic detoxification footbaths are being widely promoted on the Internet and elsewhere as a means of removing toxins from the body and balancing cellular energy. They make use of an electrically powered device that is said to produce positive and negative ions. Supposedly, the ions stimulate cells in the body. As a result, promoters claim that toxins are excreted from the body via pores in your feet. During the foot bath, the water changes color, going from clear to reddish brown to black – this is billed as “proof” that toxins are being removed.

Promoters claim that ionic detox footbaths can relieve all manner of physical complaints – from arthritis and joint pain to headaches, fatigue, skin problems, poor digestion, and liver and kidney disorders.

This is all complete nonsense. The Guardian Unlimited, an online British newspaper, sent a doctor to have an ionic detox footbath. He took water samples before and after and sent them to a lab for analysis. Neither sample contained any toxins. And when a Guardian Unlimited reporter suspected that the discolored water might be due to rust, he tried an experiment: he rigged up a bowl of salt water with two metal nails attached to a car battery (to simulate the metal electrodes used in the ionic detox footbaths). That water turned brown with some sludge on top = the same type seen on the footbaths. The change in color was due to iron from the nails. Analysis of the “after” sample of water from the detox footbath showed that the change in water color was a result of its iron content.

A footbath, ionic or not, can’t detox your body or rebalance cellular energy. If you buy one of the devices (which cost in the neighborhood of $1,200) the only rebalancing you’re likely to notice will be in your bank account.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Feet spa treatment
Feet

Are Ionic Footbaths Detoxifying?

are your feet burning
Feet

Are Your Feet Burning?

| Foot Health | Andrew Weil, M.D.
Feet

Athlete's Foot

Footcare and handcare at the spa
Feet

Best Steps for Foot Care?

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Feet spa treatment
Feet

Are Ionic Footbaths Detoxifying?

are your feet burning
Feet

Are Your Feet Burning?

Daily Tips
Minimize Sore Throat Pain
Health Tips

4 Ways To Minimize Sore Throat Pain

Getting Enough Vitamin C
Health Tips

3 Reasons Why The Body Needs Vitamin C

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright2023 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com