Detoxification: An alternative medicine

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               Ever since the beginning of the 21st century, the technological advances also prospered. Every year, different companies introduce a machine that promises health benefits. One example is the foot detox baths. Foot detox baths have grown popularity because not only it does give us relaxation, but also promises health improvements. These detox machines work by dipping one's feet on a mixture of saltwater plus electrolytes. The electrolytes will then be absorbed which, in theory, will attract the toxins and extract them from the body. If you see a change in color, then you will know that the detox process has taken place. In spite of these claims, the use of these machines doesn't have concrete evidence on the removal of toxins from our body, some studies show that it relieves headache and constipation as well as the improvement of the blood and body fluid circulation. ("How Do Detox Foot Baths Work?", n.d). 

             In April 2008, Dr. George Friedman-Jimenez of the New York University Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic, suggested that the reported feelings of wellness and increased energy may be simply due to the Placebo effect. Placebo effect, defined from the Skepdic dictionary means a measurable, observable, or felt improvement in health or behavior not attributable to a medication or invasive treatment that has been administered. In the segment, a national laboratory in Pennsylvania tested two brands of foot detox patches which is also a form of a foot detox, proved that there are no metals and toxins found in the pad.

("About Foot Detox", 2011) Another negative effect of it is the reliance of people in the detoxification process, rather than seeking professional medical doctors who specialize in treating different sicknesses. 

             However, a scientist named Dr. Sanjay Chaudhuri conducted a study about the positive effects of a similar detox process using 6 people which received the real treatment, while another 3 were tested with the placebo effect. He reported that the blood flow increased, as well as the lowering of blood pressure of the respondents who had the real treatment. Other observations are the lowering of clumping of the blood cells after a 30 minute session. ("Ionic foot detox", 2008)

             In conclusion, detoxification might have some health benefits, but we should not always believe these claims of toxin removal, because there is still not enough concrete evidence or proof that supports this argument.   (84%)