IONIC FOOT BATH STUDY: EVALUATION OF HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN RELATION TO IONIC FOOT BATH …
ABSTRACT
Ionic footbaths are currently being used as a way to assist the body in eliminating harmful substances such as heavy metals. The currentstudy examined whether whole blood levels of heavy metals declined in individuals receiving ionic foot bath sessions in conjunction withmeditation and nutritional supplementation. A non-experimental design with no control group was used. Thirty-one participants received ionicfootbaths twice a week for twelve weeks. Whole blood samples were taken prior to starting the sessions and after the twelve week program.During each ionic footbath session, the participants were instructed to meditate. After each ionic footbath, the participants were instructed totake one ounce of intraMAX™. Whole blood samples were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma/mass spectroscopy to test for levels ofaluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. Levels of aluminum and arsenic declined over the study period.
BACKGROUND
Ionic footbaths are one of a growing number of alternative health care products available to consumers through chiropractors and spas.Manufacturers of ionic footbaths believe that footbaths assist the body’s natural ability to purge itself of toxins that accumulate in the bodyover time and potentially diminish the health of the individual. One of the most commercially successful ionic footbaths is the IonCleanse®which is manufactured and distributed by A Major Difference, Inc.This report examines whether long term use of ionic footbaths, IonCleanse®, along with meditation, and nutritional supplementation, isassociated with the release of different toxins from the body. It is hoped that findings from these studies will help practitioners and theircustomers better understand the potential benefits of assisting the body’s natural detoxification process with the Ioncleanse®. This report focused on five metals humans are commonly exposed to: aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury. The current studyexamined levels of each heavy metal in the whole blood of the people participating in the study. Heavy metal levels were measured beforeand after the 12 week program to observe any changes in blood levels of those heavy metals.The five metals studied here are present in the normal environment of all humans, but pose some health risks with acute exposure to highdosages or when too much of the metal accumulates in the body. Information about how humans are exposed to these metals and what isknown about their potential impact on health is provided in the next sections. We then describe the research methodology and findings fromthe current study. AluminumSources of Exposure Aluminum is a common element found in the natural environment. Everyone has some low level of exposure to aluminum as a result of theirexposure to or ingestion of food, water, soil and air (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR], 2006a). The list ofpossible exposure sources is lengthy and includes (ATSDR 2006b; Blaurock-Busch & Griffin, 1996; Sholer, Pfeiffer, & Papaioannou, 1981): Food SourcesMedication SourcesOther Sources• drinking water• buffered aspirin• aluminum pots and pans, cans, and foil packaging• food additives• intravenous fluids• antiperspirants and deodorants• baking powder• vaccines• polluted air• spices• antacids• Brewed tea Established Health Impact Most aluminum is not absorbed by the human body or if absorbed is excreted from the body through urine and feces. Aluminum can also bestored in human tissues and has been found in the brain, liver, colon, and bone (Blaurock-Busch & Griffin, 1996; Hellstrom, Mjoberg, &Mallmin, 2005). At very high levels of exposure, aluminum has been found to be toxic to the nervous system. This discovery was first madein patients on kidney dialysis who were also given aluminum to control their phosphate levels (ATSDR, 2006b). Toxic effects are typicallyobserved after ingesting large amounts of aluminum as incurred by dialysis or after inhaling aluminum dust as is sometimes observed inworkers at aluminum smelting plants.At lower levels of exposure and accumulation, there is currently no consensus regarding the danger of aluminum to human health (ATSDR,2006b). Some research has suggested that aluminum exposure may be associated with the development or progression of Alzheimer’sdisease; however available data are conflicting and no causal link has been established (McLachlan, Bergeron, Smith, Boomer, & Rifat, Continue reading “IONIC FOOT BATH STUDY: EVALUATION OF HEAVY METAL LEVELS IN RELATION TO IONIC FOOT BATH …” →
