Do detox foot pads or ionic foot baths remove heavy metals or other toxins from the body?

Written by Meredith Worthington, Ph.D. — Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated May 02, 2024 ⓘ

Woman lying in bed wearing detox foot pads

Answer:

Detox foot pads and ionic foot baths are promoted for removing toxins from the body.

The adhesive pads are applied to the bottom of the foot before bedtime to draw toxins such as heavy metals and other chemicals out of the body through the skin while the wearer sleeps. In the morning, when the pad is removed, the appearance of dark green or gray coloration purportedly indicates that toxins were removed from the body during sleep.

According to the manufacturer of a popular ionic foot bath (IonCleanse Solo), ionic foot baths purportedly use a current to "split" water molecules into positively and negatively charged ions that act like magnets to draw oppositely charged heavy metals and other toxins from the body. During the process, the water changes color, which is allegedly, in part, due to removal of toxins from the body.

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