How to Detoxify Your Body

Lately, my muscles have been aching more than usual and my headaches have been more frequent. A friend of mine recommended that I try toxic cleansing, or detoxification. I've heard of detoxifying through colonic cleansing, but the thought of that seems too intrusive. The process of ion cleansing is simple, painless and non-invasive. I tried it for the first time, a few days ago, at my chiropractor's office.

What is it?
IonCleanse claims to be a thorough and efficient way to detoxify the body more effectively and faster than any other methods, like herbal methods or fasting. It claims to cause little or no stress to the body.

How does it work?
The IonCleanse unit sits in a small tub of water. It uses electricity to break apart the water molecules. This process generates both positive and negative ions. As you place your feet in the water, the ions travel through the body, attach themselves to various toxic substances, and neutralize them. Then, the neutralized particles are extracted from the body through osmosis. They move from your body into the tub of water via the pores in your feet. Objects and various colors appear in the water during the toxic cleansing session. The colors produced in the water are a reaction between things such as toxins, salt added to the water, metals, and the acidity/alkalinity of the person.

Why is toxic cleansing helpful?
Period detoxification of the body is essential to restore and maintain good health. Our bodies attract and hold toxins. Heavy metals, oxidized fats, unassimilated proteins, cholesterol deposits, uric acid, lactic acid, and other chemicals attach themselves, in ionized form, to our joints, organs, arteries, nerves, and tissues. This disrupts their function and creates a environment for disease, allergies, and immune system breakdowns.

I was skeptical that the process would do all that it claims to do. My friend convinced me to try it, as she told me she saw a few people do it and their footbaths were each different in color. The practitioner at the chiropractor's office charged $50 for a half-hour session. I figured that it wouldn't break my pocketbook to try it, so I scheduled an appointment.

Prior to beginning the treatment, the practitioner gave me a handout that described the various colors and substances that may be released from my body. It explained "you can generally determine where the toxins have come from based on their color, shape, etc." For example, if the water turned orange, it would indicate that the toxins came from your joints. If there were white foam in the water, it would indicate cleansing of mucus from the lymph nodes.

I placed my feet in a white, plastic tub, lined with a clear trash bag. The IonCleanse machine was a small unit, approximately four inches by four inches. It was also placed in the water, clipped to the side of the tub. As it was turned on, a slight current created movement in the water. After about a minute, the water started to change in color and consistency. Throughout the process, the water continued to change color. By the end of the half-hour, my water was so disgusting, that I completely understood why the tub was lined with a trash bag. My water had orange (joints), brown (liver, tobacco, cellular debris), dark green (gall bladder, stress), and white cheese-like particles (yeast). It amazed me to think that it came out of my body. The practitioner showed me actual photographs of some of her other clients' water. My water was pretty mild compared to some of the pictures she showed me.

Throughout the process, I didn't experience any discomfort or pain. Soon after I was finished, I felt a slight headache. I'm not sure if it was related to the cleansing or it may have been dehydration from the Las Vegas heat. The practitioner told me that it was normal to feel slightly unusual during or after the process, as the toxins move through the body. It is similar to how I sometimes feel after an intense massage. She advised me to drink a lot of water throughout the day. I took her advice and after I drank some water, my headache disappeared.

I find it difficult to pinpoint what the effect of the IonCleanse was for me. I did the process in the morning and for the entire day and night, I felt great. I felt more alert and I didn't have any neck problems or headaches, like I usually do. I definitely felt much better than usual. It's hard to tell if it was due to the actual process or due to me thinking that my body let go of those toxins. I can't say that I feel an incredible difference. Furthermore, if I did, I'm not sure how I would attribute it to IonCleanse, as I try a variety of treatments like massage and chiropractic adjustment. I can say, however, that it is something that I would do again. Like many other things, it's hard to judge from the first try. It is also difficult to expect a one-time treatment to change your life. On the other hand, I don't doubt that repeated treatments could benefit me and complement the other wellness activities that I engage in.