What can you say about the detoxification process wherein you dip your feet in a basin with water?

Detoxification remedies are one of the more popular forms of alternative medicine. Colonics, anti-oxidants, etc. are touted as being able to remove bad things--toxins--from your body. No one wants a bunch of crap swirling around in his/her body, so the idea of removing harmful things from your body appeals to everyone. The problem is that the claims made often differ from the actual results.

What toxins are they removing? How do I know that this gadget is actually doing what it is claiming? What is the mechanism for removal? These are all valid questions that usually go unanswered in the marketing material.

We have organs (i.e. the liver and kidneys) whose responsibility it is to remove toxins from the body. They do a pretty good job. There is nothing to indicate that our bodies are full of any toxins that aren't accounted for by our organs.

How could placing your feet in water remove toxins from the body? The idea seems to be that the toxins are forced to leech out of the skin. Well, what causes this? How is it that this mechanism only causes leeching of toxins? How does it know the difference between toxic and non-toxic materials?

Companies like this one will always prey upon people's psychological insecurities regarding their health and will always do what they can to separate a fool from his money.

Don't believe it, it's not true.