By Alesha Damerville

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – To kick off this epic journey into self-betterment, I decided to start with an ion cleanse footbath. 

An ionic footbath is a holistic treatment that pulls impurities from your body through the soles of your feet.  

I, like many, was quite skeptical of the outcome. A girlfriend had shared that she and her mother had recently done an ion cleanse, and that blood clots from a large bruise on her mother’s body were pulled out of the pores on the bottom of her foot, and were identifiable. It sounded gross, to say the least – I was immediately interested.  

While there is conflicting evidence on whether an ion cleanse actually works, I did find a study done by the Center for Research Strategies stating participants in their study experienced a reduction in the levels of arsenic and aluminum in their blood. 

Considering you can find traces of aluminum in dyes, antacids, cake mixes, processed cheeses, deodorants, baking powder/soda, cookware, etc., I find it fairly relieving knowing it’s possible to reduce the amount of this metal in my body. According to the American Cancer Society, aluminum-based compounds in antiperspirants may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. 

Per my friend’s suggestion, I visited Healing Lights Spa to receive an ion cleanse footbath from Tammy Closi Burch. 

“This cleanse makes your body function in a more alkaline state. It gets rid of free radicals, and helps your organs function as a unit,” Closi Burch says. “It can also be used to detox your body after you’ve received chemotherapy.”

The ion cleanse footbath took 30 minutes, and was completely pain-free and relaxing – that is, if you can keep your eyes from looking into the pool of water as it changes color and even consistency. I was fascinated; I watched the water go from clear to orange, then to green and brown until it turned gray with sludge-like matter floating at the top. This sludge, I was told, contained lactic acid, trans fats, yeast and heavy metals. (photos in the gallery above)

Yes, you heard that right: A sludge-like material came out of my body. It’s safe to say I’ve never experienced anything like it. I was repulsed, but I couldn’t look away. When it was finished, I was grossed out by myself, but also intrigued and wanting more. 

I spent the remainder of the day pondering this process and wondering when I can do it again. There may be arguments regarding its effectiveness, but I saw the water change and it made me a believer. My thoughts for the entirety of the day went from being appalled by what came out of my body, fascinated by this magic trick of pulling disgusting matter from my person and pondering what the water would look like after several footbaths. No more than one visit per week is recommended.  

For more information, visit www.healinglights.godaddysites.com