Detox Foot Baths

Hi everyone,

I am new to this site and I wanted to say hello and find out if anyone has used the detox foot baths. My mother has liver cancer as a result of hepatitis she contracted years ago. The Hepatitis eventually led to the liver cancer. She has deteriorated very quickly and has developed a sudden onset of severe confusion among other things. I have a friend that is an herbalist and she swears by the foot baths. I am more than willing to try it but I am curious if anyone else has any experience with them.

My understanding is that you add 1 tablespoon of sea salt to the warm water, turn the machine on and the person soaks their feet for 1/2 hour. The end result is the water turns very dark brown from the toxins that are pulled out of the liver through the feet. This is supposed to help the body feel better, give new energy to the patient, and clear up confusion. Although my friend made it clear to me that it will take several sessions before we see long lasting results.

Pink Grandma,

Thanks for your response. Actually my friend has no vested interest but I understand your skepticism. As a nurse I have always looked to science for answers but in the past several years I have come to accept the relevance and positive response to some holistic concepts. I called my sister-in-law and told her about the foot baths. She says that she has friends that swear by them to detox. I did some minor research on the internet and found quite a few blogs about them. It has certainly caused me to sit back and consider it. I figured I have nothing to lose but a couple hundred dollars. Conventional medicine has not been effective in my mom's case. She already has hospice involved as of today. The suddeness of her deterioration is what has perplexed me so. I guess I have a hard time believing there is nothing we can do. I would like to think that perhaps she will clear up mentally to some degree. There is a saying among medical professionals in relation to chemo, "If it doesn't kill you it will cure you." In her particular case I believe it is killing her. Prior to the chemo she was alert, oriented, cooking, cleaning, etc. Now 4 months later she can't complete a sentence. Please don't misunderstand. I would encourage everyone to take conventional medicine and follow their doctor's orders. In my mom's case however, it appears to have caused more problems. It is inevitable that her cancer would eventually cause her death but I would like to give her back some dignity.

This site is a wonderful venue and I am very touched by all those who have posted. It is amazing to me that in such sorrow so many have been able to encourage others and share so much love. I would like to say also that I am a strong believer in hope. If I can share one thing with everyone it would be to always have hope and look at life as one big adventure. Good-Bad-and inbetween.

Hello Shelly, Did your mom have chemo therapy or a chemoembulization? My husband had a chemoembulization that knocked him on his keester for at least a month. He was in and out of the ER every week for the first month. We couldn't keep his ammonia levels down even with the lactalose. Then they kind of leveled off and we could control them better. He was able to cook again for about 6 months before he got too sick. He loved cooking. Anyways I do apologize for my comments. But when people get desperate others can take advantage of them. But if hospice is already involved, then the foot baths won't make much difference if they don't work. But they will probably feel real good to your mom. So do it. Shelly just try to enjoy that time that your mom does have left. Believe me I really understand how you are feeling. My husband and I fought for 2 years to get him on the transplant list and when he finally made it they had to turn around and take him back off. He died 2 months later. Six months later, I am still trying to make sense of it all. Hang in there Shelly. My thoughts and prayers will be with you and your mom.

Hi Connie and Pink Grandma,

Again thanks for your responses.First I would like to say how happy I am that you are doing so much better Connie. God Bless! And Pink Grandma I am so sorry about your loss. There are no words that anyone can say to make us understand what happened. Bless you for being available to others who are suffering. Your experience will help many people get through these hard times.

 In my moms case the hepatitis caused severe chirosis in my mom which led to the liver cancer. She had no symptoms of cancer at all. During a routine colonoscopy the Dr discovered the cancer. She is being seen at the Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa. She was diagnosed in March of this year. Because of the severity of the chirosis she was not a candidate of any liver surgery. They started her on Nexavar in June. She did well for a few months and then she started to become confused. We took her to the ER and they admitted her with high Amonia levels. She took the lactulose faithfully for a couple weeks but as the diarreha got so severe she refused to take it anymore. The confusion has increased so much that she now acts like an advanced Alzheimers patient. In my case I don't feel desperate yet but I am struggling to find a way to help clear her mind a little. It is one thing to know she is dying from this disease and yet quite another to see her mental status change so drastically. I have been an advocate for dignity in death for many years and for my own mother I seem not to be able to provide her any.

Shellie, her confusion is from the amonia level being high. The only thing that seems to really work is the Lactulose.

Hugs,
Connie

Shelly, I am sorry that you are feeling so frustrated and sad and that your mother is not doing well. I wish there was something I could say to make you feel better. Just know that you are still in my thoughts and prayers.