A foot bath can be a relaxing and pampering experience, but according to some holistic health experts, there is much more to it. By adding a few relatively inexpensive ingredients to hot water, you can turn your foot soak into a detoxifying treatment that can enhance your wellbeing and expel toxins from your body. Here’s an expert-approved recipe and its alleged benefits.
Why Dead Sea Salts?
The therapeutic properties of sea salts have been known for centuries. According to tradition, queen Cleopatra convinced Mark Antony to conquer the region of the Dead Sea just so she could access the mineral-rich waters and experience their beauty and health benefits.
While common sea salts usually contain only traces of minerals, Dead Sea salt contains up to 21 minerals. In addition to alleged detoxification benefits, some of these minerals (magnesium, calcium, zinc, selenium and potassium) are known to also benefit to the skin by strengthening it and improving hydration. Dead Sea salt-based skincare products have also been shown to improve skin conditions like atopic dermatitis and photodamage for UVB rays.
What Are the Benefits?
According to the author of the book “Healer: The Pioneer Nutritionist and Prophet Dr. Hazel Parcels in Her Own Words,” hot water draws toxins to the surface of the skin, and as the water cools off, the toxins are released in the water (through Osmosis). Most naturopathic doctors recommend detox baths as a part of their detox protocols.
How to Make Your Own Detox Foot Treatment
If you want to create a homemade foot detox treatment, follow these simple instructions.
Things You’ll Need
- Foot spa bucket or bath tub
- Hot water (enough to fill the bucket/to cover your feet in the tub)
- 6 tablespoons of sea salts (preferably Dead Sea salts)
- 6 tablespoons of baking soda
- Towel
Directions
- Pour hot (non-scalding) water in your foot bath bucket/bath tub.
- Add sea salt and baking soda.
- Immerse your feet in the bath and keep them in there until the water cools down (at least 20 minutes).
- Do not rinse the salts off of your skin.
- Tap your feet dry with the towel.
Naturopathic doctors recommend to repeat the foot bath 2-3 times per week to encourage a gentle detoxification process over time.
You may also try a detox bath for your whole body by adding one pound of sea salt and one pound of baking soda to your warm bath water. Make sure that the water is as hot as your body can tolerate (but never scalding), and remain in the water until it cools off (about 45 minutes).
