Some people think the soles of your feet are a good place for toxins to exit. However, this idea isn’t widely accepted in the mainstream medical community.
When was the last time your regular physician talked about foot detox? Probably never.
However, holistic healers may give different advice. They often recommend ways to detox your body, through your feet.
Years ago I visited a really good naturopath. One of her treatment modalities was ionic foot baths. She swore by them.
There’s not a lot of scientific information on ionic foot baths. The little information I did find seemed to discredit them. This was published in the mainstream Journal of Environmental Public Health. This study found that ionic foot machines do not result in toxins being excreted through the feet.
How To Detox Your Body Through Your Feet
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I’ve used various methods to try to detox my body through my feet. Of course, I have no way to measure the amount of toxins leaving my body. So I can’t claim this is actually happening. Nor can I assure anyone else that their body will release toxins with any of the methods I describe.
All I can say is that some natural healers often recommend foot detox. I believe it’s helped me. But I’ve tried so many things to control my chronic nerve pain. (Thankfully I can do this without drugs.) So it’s hard to say what’s worked and what hasn’t.
One of the easiest ways to detox your feet is by soaking them in an Epsom salt foot bath. I like to add baking soda to the mix because it softens my feet. (Another benefit.) This makes it easier to use a pumice bar on softened skin, for smoother feet.
I typically add a few drops of lavender essential oil to my foot detox mix. Some people use Epsom salt, baking soda and essential oils in a tub soak. But it’s easier just to bathe your feet.
Detoxing Your Body Through the Feet
I’ve also used organic mustard powder to detoxify my body. I learned about this on an Indian Ayurveda medical site. It warned against keeping your feet in a mustard powder mixture for too long. I can see why. After about 20 minutes I began to feel a little light headed.
That’s why people with any sort of chronic health problem must first check with a doctor before trying foot detox. Especially mustard foot baths. They are very powerful.
But whether the mustard powder helped pull toxins out of my body is something I don’t have the ability to measure. I suffer from chronic nerve pain. During the worst of my illness I soaked my feet in warm water. (I think it’s preferable to use organic mustard powder. That’s because regular spices may contain pesticides. Plus, they are often irradiated.)
I added a tablespoon of organic mustard power to a pan of very warm (but not hot) water. Then I soaked my feet for up to a half hour. If you try this, though, stop immediately if you feel light headed.
Detox Foot Pads Benefits
If there’s anything the mainstream medical profession hates, it’s foot detox pads. These are typically imported from Asia. The contain a mix of herbs and they stick to your feet with adhesive.
You put them on before going to bed. When you wake up, the pads, along with the bottoms of your feet, are covered with a sticky gunk. The gunk is disgusting.
First you need to peel the pad off. Then you need to wipe the sticky black film from your feet.
Foot detox pads operate on the theory that toxins are drawn out of your bloodstream while you sleep. The pads are supposed to stimulate points in your feet to release toxins.
But do they work? I think they might have helped me. I used them when I was very sick. They were one of many many different types of remedies I used to get well again. However, it’s impossible for me to say definitely that foot detox pads made a huge difference.
Do Foot Detox Pads Work?
Anyway, the mainstream medical profession takes a dim view of foot detox pads. According to the Mayo Clinic, “There’s no reliable evidence that detox foot pads work.”
The Mayo website article notes that no studies exist that demonstrate foot detox pads work. Nor is there any evidence that these pads are safe, it adds.
Do Bentonite Clay Foot Baths Work?
Another foot detox method is soaking your feet in Bentonite clay. It’s sort of like a mud bath. Only just for your feet.
Mud baths have a long history in natural medicine. Actually stretching back to antiquity. Various types of mud baths and soaking in thermal springs is something that’s been done been for thousands of years. It’s believed that soaking in warm earth helps pull toxins out of the body.
This time-tested healing method is also backed up by science. One study published in the Rheumatology International journal found that arthritis patients undergoing mud therapy reported significantly less pain, compared to a control group.
Bentonite Clay Foot Soak
I don’t know if soaking your feet in mud has the same benefits as soaking your body. But it’s infinitely easier. Another option is to pain the bottoms of your feet with natural clay powder and wait for it to dry. Then wash it off, and, in theory, the toxins will be washed off as well.
I’m not sure anyone knows why clay may help you feet better. One theory is that clay is negatively charged. So it binds with positively charged toxins and free radicals. At home, I have no way of knowing if this actually happens. I wasn’t able to find any studies that it does.
But, in this case, I look to the historical use. Clay has long played a role in traditional healing. It’s cheap and it’s safe. (As long as you don’t take it internally. Consuming clay in an effort to detox can lead to intestinal blockage.)
Clay is something I always have in the house. Sometimes, I use it to make DIY mineralizing toothpaste. I also use it on my face. For me, it’s like having a professional facial, for a tiny fraction of the cost. Below you can see the brand that I use.
Apple Cider Vinegar Foot Soak
Most kitchens contain a wide range of natural medicines. Instead, of mustard powder, some people use apple cider vinegar to soak their feet. This is something I haven’t tried. But if I did, I’d use it exactly as I would mustard powder.
I’d add 1/2 cup to a basin of warm but not piping hot water. Then I’d soak my feet until the water cooled. Once again, I’d stop if I became light headed. If I suffered from chronic health problems or low blood pressure, I’d check with my physician first.
Also, I’d use only organic apple cider vinegar that contains what’s known as “the mother.” This is the filmy substance that sinks to the bottom of the bottle.
Earthing To Detoxify Your Body
There’s yet another method of detox you may want to consider. It goes by the name of grounding or earthing. All it means is walking barefoot on the earth. Or putting your feet in direct contact with the ground.
Earthing will help your metabolism because negative ions in the earth will help neutralize positively charged toxins, according to one of the most prevalent earthing theories. Previous generations have had ample opportunity to touch the earth. Our modern lifestyle prevents that. Also, wearing shoes with plastic soles stops the constant flow of earth energy we’d normally receive.
Believe it or not, earthing is now backed by some research. One study in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health concluded that, “The research done to date supports the concept that grounding or earthing the human body may be an essential element in the health equation along with sunshine, clean air and water, nutritious food, and physical activity.”
Earthing is free. And it’s easy to do. But I’ve read warnings that people with chronic illness must start slowly. (And also check with their doctor.) That’s because it appears that earthing is powerful and it works. As in any healing method, there’s the potential for a strong detox reaction called the Herxheimer effect.
For More Reading
You may also be interested in reading about Natural Home Remedies for Liver Detox and How To Detox Your Body Gently. Harsh detox regimens, such as chelation, may be dangerous. Given the right tools, the body will start to detoxify itself. Going forward, it’s important to avoid exposure to additional toxins.
Mayo Clinic Article on Foot Detox Pads
History of Baths and Thermal Healing Study