detox foot spa

**doubting thomas** · 29th November 2006, 10:05 PM

Hi all, i've been quiet for a while due to job changes but thats another story.

I was recently dragged along by my partner to a "Vision Health & Well-being" meeting at our local town hall, where there were various demonstrations of :-

Reflexology
Acupuncture
Crystal Healing
Hopi Ear Candles, etc, etc.

Among these demos was the detox foot spa, which my partner decided she would have a trial of after discussing various health issues it was decided she was full of toxins.

While she removed her shoes i disappeared for a couple of minuets (call of nature) and missed the setting up of the machine.

The machine was turned on and gradually a reddish brown started to appear in the water around the central round pillar between her feet.

"you can see the toxins coming out" she exclaimed, getting really excited.

Being skeptic, but also diplomatic i said "oh yeah" but the colouration in the water was quite clearly coming out of the central part.

After about ten minuets the water was really gunky looking.

My question is

Has anyone else had experience of this, but most of all what causes the stuff in the water.

**vbloke** · 29th November 2006, 10:23 PM

These things have been debunked aplenty in the past.

Basically, these machines are nothing but basic low-voltage electrolytic set-ups (AC-DC transformers attached to ferrous electrodes that corrode to generate rust when used to electrolyse the saline water in the footbath).

This scum is merely dissolved carbonates precipitating out of the water when the voltage is applied, and rust from the corrosion of a metal array that has to be periodically replaced. The "makeup" of the discolouration (what they claim to be "toxins") varies from machine to machine due to variations in the metals used for the electrodes.

The "scum" occurs whether a person sticks parts of their body in it or not.

**doubting thomas** · 29th November 2006, 10:45 PM

Thanks vbloke.

I knew there had to be some kind of electrolytic process going on, but my chemistry is very rusty

Originally Posted by vbloke

The "scum" occurs whether a person sticks parts of their body in it or not.

I did realise this, as i said the, the initial reaction was coming from the central part, and not from her feet. After a while the water was so murky it was impossible to see where it was coming from, but to a believer it was everything.

**Blue Wode** · 30th November 2006, 10:49 AM

There’s an excellent TV news segment exposing the scam here:

http://www.click2houston.com/video/5425517/index.html

More here as well:

http://www.devicewatch.org/reports/aquadetox.shtml

http://theclayexperience.blogspot.co...e_archive.html

**Araneus** · 30th November 2006, 10:56 AM

This ought to be quite an easy tool to use to introduce your partner to the world of critical thought.

If she believes the muck is from "toxins" in her body, she should trivially be able to conclude that nothing will appear if she runs the spa without putting her feet in it. You could then invite her to explain why the discolouration does indeed happen when no body parts are in the spa.

**Mongrel** · 30th November 2006, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by Araneus

This ought to be quite an easy tool to use to introduce your partner to the world of critical thought.

If she believes the muck is from "toxins" in her body, she should trivially be able to conclude that nothing will appear if she runs the spa without putting her feet in it. You could then invite her to explain why the discolouration does indeed happen when no body parts are in the spa.

Be sure to use De-ionised water though (a pinch of salt may make things go quicker) or it'll be "Toxins in the water!" faster than you can blink