Foot Detox

Published

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.

If you believe in miracles...

I'd still like to know what kind of "toxins" are being eliminated with these food pads.

Colon cleansing seems like another pseudoscience. What kind of "toxins" are eliminated here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, ICU, PACU.

So funny you brought this up. My husband came home with a box of those detox foot pads all happy that he was taking an active interest in our health. I turned to him and told him that we aren't trees (pertaining to having a root system in our feet). Of course, he was upset that I didn't praise him for his effort.

now, after reading through this thread, maybe I should let him get the psychological satisfaction of thinking he was right by letting the pads turn black to prove me wrong. After that I probably could convince him to stick his feet in dirt with some miracle grow.... Wait, maybe I should try to market that one :chuckle

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.

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.

That the placebo effect is very real and in some cases quite powerful doesn't excuse or justify lying and scamming gullible or naively hopeful people out of their money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
That the placebo effect is very real and in some cases quite powerful doesn't excuse or justify lying and scamming gullible or naively hopeful people out of their money.

Fools and their money are soon parted...

Don't blame the person that takes advantage of the fool... :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care.
Fools and their money are soon parted...

Don't blame the person that takes advantage of the fool... :)

There's legitimate foolery and then there's illegitimate foolery.

Example:

legitimate foolery: Buying a frozen dinner because the cover shows a glorious meal when in reality the contents look like your typical frozen meal slop.

illegitimate foolery: Buying a frozen dinner because the cover shows a glorious meal when in reality the contents are rocks added for weight.

Foot detoxification is the latter.

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

Lots of truth in that!

I wonder how many people with autistic kids are using those foot pads to "detoxify" their kids, instead of getting legitimate therapies for them?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Colon cleansing seems like another pseudoscience. What kind of "toxins" are eliminated here?

Poop?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MICU, SICU, PACU, Travel nursing.
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

You know, I have never fasted to detoxify either........but I have read some literature that states if you are in the proper age and state of health there can be some benefits from these types of fasts. I dont know about maple syrup or lemon juice:rolleyes:, but I read something about drinking nothing but certain types of fruit juice for a day, or green tea. Something about the antioxidant action plus "cleaning" the digestive system. I think in certain cases for certain people, its not necessarily a fad diet per say and could be beneficial. :)

{Would also like to add that I was researching a paper for my MSN at the time and it was considered scientific evidence that I read. They were unable to find any ill effects from this type of fast, but participants were thoroughly screened. I dont advocate watching an infomercial on fasting and just trying it by any means.}

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

I know a lot of nurses who believe in "psychics" too. I went to see one of these once and was gullible enough to get a little scared at something she told me was going to happen.

She wasn't right and I realized I'd been had.

There are no psychics.

Live and learn.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

If you believe in miracles...

I'd still like to know what kind of "toxins" are being eliminated with these food pads.

Colon cleansing seems like another pseudoscience. What kind of "toxins" are eliminated here?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
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.

If you're a Type 2 diabetic, blatantly disregarding your diet and not taking your meds will cure you of your disease (or so far too many of them think! :banghead: )

Those foot pads remind me of those Enzyte commercials. You mean herbal remedies really DON'T make it bigger? :specs:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED, PCU, Addiction, Home Health.
but gadgets like this take advantage of people's mistrust of mainstream western medicine.

There is a fine line between complementary and quackery!

When I did health lectures at an in-pt drug and alcohol detox unit, one of the patients asked me about doing colon cleanses...... he saw the ads all the time on tv at 3am, because, of course, he was up at that time dealing and using his drug of choice.:rolleyes:

I used that as a teaching opportunity - that in the presence of ALL the other life changes he needed to make - he got sucked into the "fear of the unknown" colon cleanse ploy!

I have always used the example that "all natural" doesn't mean safe. Poison ivy is natural, but has it's obvious bad effects. Kava Kava is another example that bought some people liver transplants when it was mixed with RX anxiety meds. I just don't trust that the people bottling the unregulated "natural" stuff really have MY best interests at heart :twocents:

Dawn

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion