Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group New to KickAS and Ion Cleanse - has anyone tried?

Couldn't help myself - I had been sceptical before especially when my own mother came home describing the disgusting stuff that had come out of her feet but I never bothered to check it out.

This link may be helpful:

http://www.spaindex.com/Articles/IonicScam.htm

I hate to see people spend money on potential "cures" or "treatments" that may be a scam. Basically, the article that I've linked and several others that I found point out that the colour of the water is caused by running electrodes through salt water - the colour will change even if you put a Barbie doll in it or put nothing in at all. The articles suggest that soaking your feet in the hot water is relaxing and revitalising, but not because toxins are being sucked out of your feet turning the water a muddy brown with scum.

I hope you're not offended, Lisa! I think using the foot bath probably does make people feel good temporarily although they could achieve that at home, very cheaply in a hot bubbly foot bath.

Trish - did you change anything else at the same time that could be the cause of your improvements?

Here's an excerpt from the article linked in my previous post:

"We don't doubt that many people who enjoy regular sessions of a Ionic Foot Bath feel better, but we don't think the pleasant feeling has much to do with the "science" being claimed. The BBC's Consumer Watchdog agreed, and set out to find out more about the Aqua Detox brand, specifically. Here's that the BBC had to say:


Aqua Detox is a foot spa with a difference. A tiny electrical current and some salt are added to the water, and after 30 minutes, your body's said to be cleansed. Each session can cost as much as £50, or you can buy your own foot spa for nearly £1,000.

Watchdog rang beauticians across the country to find out about the treatment. The same claims were made time and again, that the foot spa worked by drawing toxins out of the feet, turning the water brown.

But Watchdog took this idea to science expert Dr Ben Goldacre, who wasn't impressed. He said: "It has nothing to do with toxins. It's just basic chemistry - electrolysis. The water goes brown because metal electrodes are rusting in a salt water bath." So even if you don't put your feet in the water, it would still turn brown. Goldacre even demonstrated the process with some salt water, a car battery and a Barbie doll. Even Barbie turned the water brown."

does he have an explanation for the stick on foot pads going black and smelling disgusting after use?

Here's a link (with photo) that might explain the foot pads - I hadn't heard of those before!

http://www.flishfun.com/blog/technology/ion-cleanse-or-ion-scam/

I did find one article that may help to explain the benefits people feel when using these ion cleansers - here's a quote from it, followed by the link if you're interested in the rest of what he has to say:

So, if the foot baths don’t pull toxins out of the body, yet people get symptomatic improvement AND objective laboratory evidence that their toxic load has been decreased following the use of the foot baths, what’s going on?

I believe that in actuality, the electrical charge of the foot baths is producing stimulation of acupuncture points, especially relating to the kidney and liver meridians. By stimulating these acupuncture meridians, I believe that the function of the kidneys and liver may be enhanced sufficiently to improve the body’s own natural detoxification mechanisms.


http://besthealthandwellnessinfo.com/are-detox-foot-baths-a-hoax/

Hello Trish,

While I am late to the party here, I still wanted to take the time to welcome you to KA. I hope you are able to find all the information and support you are looking for now that you're here with us.

Brad

Hi Trish and welcome to KA. Somehow I missed this post. Hate when that happens.

I just wanted to say how impressed I am that a doctor got the potential corelation between starch and some AS patients!! That is one on the ball doctor!

Hugs,

Hi Trish,

It's good to have a fellow Massachusian (how ever that is spelt) Welcome to KA. AS you can see this is a great site and full of folks who know their stuff and are willing to talk about it. Sorry you have AS, but AS you will find out, you play the cards you're dealt, and try to live life AS well AS you can.

I read the stuff about the Ion foot bath. I think I'd like to try one of those foot baths, if only to have my feet warm for the first time in months. Of course I would expect our friends from Canada to use it more often since it's colder there. I think I may plan a trip to Puerto Rico soon just to get my feet warm again. That would cost less than the Ion Foot bath, and probably be more fun. Of course I wouldn't get all that iron on my feet.

Well, Welcome. Hope you enjoy this place as much as I do.

Dean

Thanks Wendy! I was able to do two treatments while at the show and my right hand/wrist went from relatively not mobile and a 7 for pain to a full mobility (I could do push-ups again)to a .5 for pain.

As mentioned this brand was pretty expensive and I'm going to look into alternative method coverage from insurance or possibly save up for it. In addition I'll also be doing more research - so stay tuned!

The good news is I just came from an appt w/ my GP and she was interested in the effects of starch on Klebsiella in relation to AS and excited to do some research for me... in the meantime before my next visit I'll be keeping a food/side effects journal for my next visit.

Looking fwd to sharing the results with the crew as well! Have a great weekend!

Trish

Skeptoid's Brian Dunning has an episode on this topic and he mentions the foot pads as well.
These companies are detoxifying your wallet and not anything else.

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4083

MASS-HOLES on KICKAS - classic! Well Dean I would definitely recommend Puerto Rico in addition to the Ion Foot Bath. I was in Tortola over the holiday and the water/weather was divine. although my AS didn't appreciate all of the Pina Coladas (yikes!).

Of course I'll let you know if I buy the machine and you'll have to try it out!

Trish