Foot Detox

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I work with some people here (nurses, even) who buy into this "foot detox" thing. You put your feet into an electrical water bath with some salt and it "draws out toxins through your feet". Just curious, how can a nurse, who has been educated on the physiology of metabolism and excretion, believe that the body will eliminate any kind of heavy metal, or so-called "toxin" through the skin?! I asked the "believers" what kind of "toxins" are eliminated, but they couldn't tell me. Went on quackwatch.org and they had an article on it. It just bugs me that other nurses would believe this stuff. Also googled the company that makes these machines and they don't say exactly what is being "drawn out" either. Am I wrong, or does anyone know of evidence that these things actually work, because if they do, I have to go back and re-learn human physiology.

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
I work with some people here (nurses, even) who buy into this "foot detox" thing. You put your feet into an electrical water bath with some salt and it "draws out toxins through your feet". Just curious, how can a nurse, who has been educated on the physiology of metabolism and excretion, believe that the body will eliminate any kind of heavy metal, or so-called "toxin" through the skin?! I asked the "believers" what kind of "toxins" are eliminated, but they couldn't tell me. Went on quackwatch.org and they had an article on it. It just bugs me that other nurses would believe this stuff. Also googled the company that makes these machines and they don't say exactly what is being "drawn out" either. Am I wrong, or does anyone know of evidence that these things actually work, because if they do, I have to go back and re-learn human physiology.

I am not sure why it bothers you that much. I personally don't buy into those type of products either based on what I have learned about the body. However, to each their own. If someone believes that it is helping them... then let them believe that. As nurses, we should respect other types of "medicine" (whether it be acupuncture, herbal medicine, or foot detox). And just because there has been no studies done on it does not make it quackery.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.
I work with some people here (nurses, even) who buy into this "foot detox" thing. You put your feet into an electrical water bath with some salt and it "draws out toxins through your feet". Just curious, how can a nurse, who has been educated on the physiology of metabolism and excretion, believe that the body will eliminate any kind of heavy metal, or so-called "toxin" through the skin?! I asked the "believers" what kind of "toxins" are eliminated, but they couldn't tell me. Went on quackwatch.org and they had an article on it. It just bugs me that other nurses would believe this stuff. Also googled the company that makes these machines and they don't say exactly what is being "drawn out" either. Am I wrong, or does anyone know of evidence that these things actually work, because if they do, I have to go back and re-learn human physiology.

It annoys me too. It is the same with those fad diets where the people drink maple syrup and lemon juice to "detoxify." I must be really toxic because I've never ever detoxified. :D

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Specializes in Clinical Risk Management.

This thread reminded me of those "foot detox pads" that have been sold recently. They're supposedly based on chinese medicine but I wonder if they really work?

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I work with some people here (nurses, even) who buy into this "foot detox" thing. You put your feet into an electrical water bath with some salt and it "draws out toxins through your feet". Just curious, how can a nurse, who has been educated on the physiology of metabolism and excretion, believe that the body will eliminate any kind of heavy metal, or so-called "toxin" through the skin?! I asked the "believers" what kind of "toxins" are eliminated, but they couldn't tell me. Went on quackwatch.org and they had an article on it. It just bugs me that other nurses would believe this stuff. Also googled the company that makes these machines and they don't say exactly what is being "drawn out" either. Am I wrong, or does anyone know of evidence that these things actually work, because if they do, I have to go back and re-learn human physiology.

I agree with you entirely. I regularly blog about my concerns with nursing and pseudoscience-- this seems like an excellent next topic. I think that it diminishes our profession to ascribe to such cockamamie beliefs.

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Specializes in Critical Care.
I am not sure why it bothers you that much. I personally don't buy into those type of products either based on what I have learned about the body. However, to each their own. If someone believes that it is helping them... then let them believe that. As nurses, we should respect other types of "medicine" (whether it be acupuncture, herbal medicine, or foot detox). And just because there has been no studies done on it does not make it quackery.

As nurses we should base our practice on empiricism. If somebody comes up with an idea that "toxins" can be removed via some weird foot dialysis osmosis, the burden of proof belongs entirely to the person(s) making the claim.

We should keep an open mind in the rare case they do sufficiently back their burden of proof, but we should mock mercilessly those who instead hock their swill for profit without adequate or prudent empiricism.

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This thread reminded me of those "foot detox pads" that have been sold recently. They're supposedly based on chinese medicine but I wonder if they really work?

I've read some where that those foot pads are coated with a powder that turns grayish black when wet. You put the dry pads on your feet, your feet sweat, you wake up with black foot pads. Sounds like the perfect scam.

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If you wet those same foot pads and leave them out to dry they look just like they do when you wear them overnight. No "toxins" are being drawn out. I don't personally have any problems with people spending their money on these products, if they think they are getting some benefit. As long as people aren't using these products in place of medical treatment, they probably aren't doing any harm.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
I don't personally have any problems with people spending their money on these products, if they think they are getting some benefit. As long as people aren't using these products in place of medical treatment, they probably aren't doing any harm.

And how many people who willingly purchase these useless "treatments" complain about how they can't afford healthcare?

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.

Products like this do a disservice to legitimate complementary and alternative modalities. I am a believer in the benefits of therapeutic massage, nutritional therapy, naturopathic medicine, etc., as adjuncts to western medicine, but gadgets like this take advantage of people's mistrust of mainstream western medicine.

On the other hand, if a person thinks that something like this has a benefit to them, then it really might benefit them in some way. The mind is very powerful, and the placebo effect is a real phenomenon.

However, if you need open heart surgery, taking fish oil daily is not a substitute. If you have cancer, drinking Goji juice will not cure your cancer. If you need dialysis, this foot soaking machine will not dialyze you. These other therapies may have some benefit, but they will not take the place of conventional treatments.

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If a miracle can remove a tumor surely toxins can be drawn out of the feet... Something to think about.

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