Foot detox is an alternative health practice aimed at removing toxins from the body by soaking the feet in water with an ionizing device for about 30 minutes. Some people wear foot detox pads, or use baking soda recipes or vinegar home remedies, but there's no firm scientific evidence to support claims that these treatments remove toxins as a health benefit.
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What Is the Theory of Foot Detox?
The theory behind a foot detox is that it can improve overall health and wellness by pulling toxins in the body out through the feet. The main approaches include the following:
- Ionic foot baths rely on salt water and a device to generate ions through a low-voltage electrical current. It's thought to affect the nervous system and aid in toxin removal.
- Pads or patches are typically worn on the feet at night. They contain tourmaline crystals that allegedly release infrared rays to then generate ions.
- Home remedies, including foot soaks, use Epsom salt, baking soda, or vinegar.
Color changes are promoted as evidence that the foot detox is working. Water in the ionic foot soak will become brown, yellow-green, or flecked with red, black, or other colors by the end of the detox. Some experts say the color changes are really due to corrosion of the electrodes, not toxins.
With pads, advocates of foot detox say they turn a dark color when the process is working, but they actually contain wood vinegar that will change color anyway, even if simply wet down with tap water.
Proponents of foot detoxes say changes in color are caused by toxins pulled from the body. These colors, they say, reflect the toxins expelled and the related organs, with claims that 70% of the material that appears in a foot bath comes from the body.
What the Science Says on Foot Detox
Most reports surrounding the benefits of foot detoxes are anecdotal and not backed by research. There are some studies with mixed results on the benefits linked to foot detox:
- A 2025 study found Epsom salt foot baths could limit the impacts of chemotherapy-related neurotoxins. This could reduce the difficult-to-treat impacts due to nerve damage.
- A 2024 report suggests detox with the ionic foot bath may improve urinary pH levels in people with underlying health conditions. It did not show a benefit in healthy college-age students, though.
- A 2022 study found no significant health benefit when ionic foot baths were used in a group of teachers.
Other studies have claimed that foot detox offers benefits in treating or improving:
- Immune function
- Fatigue
- Food allergies
- Asthma
- Arthritis
- Cancer
- Sleep disruptions
- Liver function
- Kidney function
- Colon health
Proponents also claim general wellness benefits, such as improving stress and managing weight. While there's little risk of using foot detox therapies, there's also not enough evidence-based support to recommend the use of foot detox in treating health conditions.
People often say they feel calm, relaxed, and focused after a foot detox. These reports are largely anecdotal, and there's no legitimate reason to believe the soothing effects are related to detox itself. It's more likely the relaxing nature of the treatment, especially in the context of a spa experience.
What Detox Color Changes Mean
Over the course of an ionizing foot bath, the color of the water will change from clear to another color—often brown. Foot detox practictioners claim that the color change is caused by toxins drawn out of the body and into the water, but none of these claims are backed by scientific evidence.
Different hues are thought to indicate the presence of expelled toxins. For example, water that turns brown is said to indicate liver toxins, while black flecks in the water point to lead and other heavy metals.
For example:
| Water Color | Areas Detoxed | Associated Symptoms |
| Yellow-green | Kidneys, bladder, urinary tract, female prostate area | Gynecological or prostate disorder |
| Orange | Joints, arteries | Arthritis, rheumatism, gout, neuropathy, pleurisy |
| Brown | Liver, lungs, tobacco, cellular debris | Smoking, secondhand smoke, air pollution |
| White cheese-like particles | Yeast, GI tract, vagina | Insomnia, migraine, candida (yeast) infection |
| Dark green to black | Gallbladder, liver | Gallstones, acid reflux, weak immune system, nausea |
| Red flecks | Blood clot material | Arterial blockage, bruising, hypertension, cold hands/feet |
| White foam | Lymphatic system, lymph nodes | Menstrual disorder, tender lymph nodes, skin allergy |
| Black flecks | Heavy metals | Fibromyalgia, brain fog, chronic fatigue, memory problems |
It's important to note that the color changes in the water are not scientifically proven to indicate detoxification. Most of these changes are due to metal electrodes in the ionizing device rusting as the current passes through water.
Foot Detox Risks
There are no limits to how often you can do a foot detox, although it's generally recommended to wait at least one to three days between sessions. Most sessions last 30 to 45 minutes at a time.
That said, a foot detox is not for everyone. You should not do a foot detox if you:
- Wear a pacemaker or have any kind of battery-operated or electrical implant
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Are on heartbeat regulating medications
- Are on blood thinners
- Have had an organ transplant
- Are taking a medication that the absence of would lead to psychotic episodes, seizures, or other incapacitating symptoms
- Have open sores on your feet that could be irritated by salt and other foot bath ingredients
Also, you should consult a healthcare provider before doing a foot detox if you:
- Are on blood pressure-regulating medications
- Have low blood sugar
- Are on dialysis
- Take insulin
- Have congestive heart failure
- Have a metal joint implant
Since the effects of foot detoxes are not well established, it's important to check with a healthcare provider to determine if the therapy is safe for you.
Foot Detox Options
If you want to try foot detox, the options include:
- Single-use foot pads or patches
- Foot baths experienced as a spa service
- Detox therapy machines
Homemade Foot Detox Alternatives
Some of the most commonly used natural foot detox recipes include the following:
- Epsom salt: Soaking your feet in warm water with Epsom salts for 20 to 30 minutes can promote relaxation. While there's no evidence that Epsom salts remove toxins, they may help reduce pain from diabetic neuropathy and fatigue from chemotherapy.
- Apple cider vinegar: To make an apple cider vinegar foot bath, dilute 1 cup of vinegar in warm water and soak your feet for 20 to 30 minutes. While some anecdotal evidence supports its use, research suggests it can irritate the skin and may not provide health benefits.
- Baking soda and sea salt: Mix sea salt and baking soda in a foot bath and soak your feet for up to 30 minutes. Limited research suggests that sea salt baths may help hydrate the skin, improve its barrier function, and reduce inflammation in conditions like atopic dermatitis.
While foot detoxes may not remove toxins from your body, they can be an enjoyable experience. They are also generally safe for most people. Even if they don’t do what many claim they do, they could still be an excellent addition to your self-care routine.
It's not really necessary to detox your body because your liver and other organs work together to removed toxins naturally. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about how your organs are functioning and discuss any detox options you're considering.
Key Takeaways
- Foot detox is promoted as a way to access health benefits, but there's limited evidence that ionic foot baths or pads will pull toxins from the body through your feet.
- Your body has natural mechanisms for removing toxins, so a foot detox isn't needed. A good soak with a home remedy like Epsom salt is generally safe, though, and may offer stress or pain relief.
Read more:
- Health A-Z
- Foot Health
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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By Angelica Bottaro
Bottaro has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an Advanced Diploma in Journalism. She is based in Canada.
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