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What Are the Dangers of Ion Foot Spas?

Ion foot spas are said to offer a comfortable and easy way to detoxify the body. They are said to be beneficial for removing toxins and even to help certain conditions and diseases. Most people pay for individual ion foot spa sessions, while some purchase their own units. However, there are some dangers in using these foot spas. While the spas themselves are not dangerous, the problems occur when users rely on them to treat medical conditions and spend large sums of money for sessions.

  1. Definition

    • Ion foot spas are said to remove toxins from the body through soaking the feet in the spa. A person immerses her feet in the spa, which has iron rods and is filled with distilled water and salt. An electrical charge is run through the water, supposedly drawing out the toxins. The water changes color by the end of the session, and proponents of ion foot spas claim this is caused by the drawn-out toxins. They say that the color of the water shows which specific areas have been detoxified.

    Misdiagnosis

    • According to the Devicewatch medical watchdog website, businesses that offer ion foot spa baths say that the color of the water at the end of the session can indicate problem areas. For example, kidney and bladder problems are said to cause yellow water, while joints lead to an orange color, the liver causes a black or green hue, and lymphatic problems lead to a whitish color. However, a Las Vegas news investigation showed that the water will change color when the spa is run, even if no one is soaking their feet. This is backed up by the Devicewatch site, which says the color changes are caused by oxidation. This means relying on the color changes to indicate potential health problems is not a good idea.

    Treatment Delay

    • There is no objective evidence that ion foot spas have any beneficial effect on the body or that they can help with any particular diseases. However, proponents claim they can have benefits for people with a variety of ailments. The Las Vegas news investigation turned up people who believed they could help with bladder, liver and kidney problems, prostate and urinary issues, and even autism and cancer. The treatment has never shown to be effective for these conditions, and if a person is using in ion foot spa, he might be reluctant to seek other proven treatments. This delay could allow a serious condition to worsen. This could impair the effectiveness of medical treatment if it is finally sought.

    Cost

    • Cost can be considered a danger of ion foot spas. Each session costs around $40 and many people go through multiple sessions. People with chronic conditions may soak in ion foot spas regularly, believing that they are improving their condition. In reality, they are paying a high cost that could be used toward proven medical treatments or for other purposes. Even those who only do one or two sessions are wasting their money, according to Dr. Constantine George in Las Vegas who says that it is physically impossible to be detoxified through a foot soak. Some people purchase their own ion foot spa, which costs up to $300 or more.

    Lifestyle

    • Because ion foot spas are said to remove toxins caused by lifestyle choices like tobacco use, they may discourage people from making positive lifestyle changes. For example, a person might continue to smoke rather than try to quit because she is getting regular ion foot spa sessions and believes they are undoing the damage.

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