When the ion detox foot spa begins the process it attempts to raise the pH of the water from an acidic state to a more alkaline state (acidic items- coca cola, coffee, pesticides—alkaline items-celery, most herbs, and spirulina). pH (potential of hydrogen) is a measurement of the concentration of hydrogen Ions in a solution. The heightened alkalinity of the footbath interacts with the newly soluble items which carry an acidic tendency and “neutralizes” them in the bath. This is similar to pet odor removers [urine is quite acidic, and the odor product is quite alkaline- they combine and move the wet spot back toward a balanced pH (7.0 is balance between the two)]. Or like baking soda in a refrigerator, the soda is very alkaline so, the smelly oxidative releases of the food breaking down can be absorbed, or “neutralized” by the soda.

    This is a very basic attempt to explain complex, chemical and atomic level reactions that occur in an ionic foot bath through electrolysis of water and the powerful negative hydrogen ion.