In response to your post:

I'm extremely new to this forum, however, I will tell you that last week I made a make-shift ionic footbath. The day before yesterday I did a session and used relatively warm water - as hot as I could stand. I sat with my feet in the water, turned on the side. While one of the stainless steel metal parts does produce bubbles and may be responsible for producing the colloidal particulate, I observed something that has me convinced of the validity of the process. I watched as black specks actually came out of the pores on the bottom of my feet. It started off as a darken in an area of the foot, and then seemed to form a speck that appears embedded in the skin first and then it is released from the skin and floats to the surface of the water. I watched over ten of these form from the skin of my feet. Nothing was there, something started to be there, then something was there, and then it was gone and floating in the water. This particular matter that was in the water was not derived from the stainless steel array at all. In fact, I saw it and red flakes come out of my foot. In fact, the red flecks came out en mass, more than once.

Interestingly enough, these black specks either floated to the side to become part of the ring, continued to float in the water, or some sunk to the bottom of the basin. These three "destinies" of this material is quite interesting ot me.

It was incredible to see. So while there is definitely electrolysis taking place - that colors the water, this is part of the process of producing the ions that are required. As I suppose the ions that would be moving through the body would be electrons, and not the net positive ion, which is a iron "stripped atom". It is this that colors the water, not the electrons.

But as far as doubting it, I'd be hard-press to do so, after seeing the stuff "materialize" out of my foot. As far as the mechanics. I'm not sure, but there may be several processes taking place at once, for instance, maybe the electrons travel up into the body, attach to substances, and are drawn out by the net positive charge set up by the iron colloid or chromium colloid, or possibly both. Something is acting as the engine to cause the material to be exuded.

Hi,
I understand your concerns. I had the same, before i tried the machine.
We had a lot of health problems and i was willing to try anything - so, I bought the machine anyway (under $300, Can't remember, of head, the name... something on B...)
Machine use Metal Coil - not plates and I must add their specially formulated Salt into the water.
Anyway, I tested that machine everyway i could, since i still was not sure if it really works...

Yes, everyone's water will be different - but NOT due to the REMNANTS (lotions, soap etc) on their feet! Come on!
People's feet not that dirty with "REMNANTS"!
We are not living in a mud swamps, running around barefooted!

OK, here, are our expiriences:
My husband first water was Black as Asphalt!
He is bathing (regular baths) 2 times a day - so, his feet were clean, no lotions, he wears white socks; so that black water was not from any "Remnants" on his feet.
Except, maybe light soap residue - but it is so insignificant (and it is not black!) - that there is nothing to talk about! It could not possibly give that tick, Dirty Water my husband "produced"! It was SCARY, how bad it was!
It was literally - Black Mud!!!
We all were shocked!

If, all that "Dirt" would came from the Metal Coil only - there would be no Coil left! To make that much gunk, mud, dirt - The coil would be totally dissolved! And it would not be Black - it all would be ORANGE Rusty color!

Only in a single session (at the beginning), The amount of black residue matter in our Waters - definetely prevailed the amount of metal in the Coil!
Each Coil - lasts approx. 30 sessions. (my lasted 35, i think)
If someone, thinks the Black Residue is coming from metal then, that Coil would not last me 30+ sessions
It would be gone in 1 or 2 session!
Especially, in case with my husband. I still have those Coils - could take a Pic, if you want! And i think, i took pic of "water' - have to search my old comp for it...
But, I did not safe the water or anylized it anywhere... Where could i go with it?

I hope, my explanation make sence to you as it did to me.

Anyway, back to Experiments:
My Water was Black too (with some orange residue from corrosion of metal coil + salt) but not as bad as my husband's.

Our Daughter's - was only orange - corrosion.
But, no Black speckles. And she is using Lotions on her feet ;-)

Also, I run Machine by itself - No feet! (full 30 minutes session) - and the water was the cleanest, but of course, slightly orange. It is NORMAL and EXPECTED to have Orange/Yellow Water - due to the Metal/Salt Corrosion. Metal is needed for electrical conductivity! I do not think, my Metal Coil was stainless steel - stainless does not corrode..
I think, it is intential - The reason? my guess, why it is not Stainless - b/c Manufaturers want that Residual income! To keep selling you those Coils/Plates & Salts!
If you buy Expencive Machine - as I remember, there is no need for Salt. I do not know, if the Plates needed to be changed and how often. When i was shoping for my machine, I remember, something like that - or you pay upfront big $$$ (expencive machine) - or continue to pay as you use (cheap machine)... I choose second option... For business - better expencive machine.


MY CONCLUSION:
If, the Black matter in the Water, would be from Metal Coil/plate - it would produce Black Water no mater what - with Human Feet in it or without.
In my experiment - without Feet - water was Clean - just light yellow color. (metal+ salt=light corrosion)
So, All those gunk, mud, black speckles - everything(!) comes from the feet!
So, Now, i am a believer.

Also, the longer we used the Machine - the Cleaner water became. My husband did like 30 sessions, until it "normalized"
I did like 20.
And I did change the "Coil" - i had 2.
I thought, maybe, water is cleaner because, coil was "wearing" off?
No, My TEST show - our water was still "clean" - as with the old Coil, after dozens of sessions.

OTHER Experiments I did:
I did personally 2 sessions on a row.
(Not recommended!)
I felt, very sick, nauseous - so, do not do it.
Even during single sessions - I had light "sucking" feelings inside of my internal organs, (like someone was sucking out something out of me with a tube or straw), so that 2 runs on the row - made me feel really bad!

DIABETES:
My husband had Diabetes badly by that time (now, we basically reversed it without any drugs or insulin)
So, I was measuring his Blood Sugar Before & After sessions.
After the sessions (30 minutes) - his Blood Sugar would drop in average 30 points.

In addition, we did tons of all kind of other cleansing, natural therapies and changed our lifestyle.
Now, we are much much better! Cured & reversed many problems.

Good luck!
I hope, my personal expirience was helpfull.

PS.
I guess, some machines may not be equal...
I bought my from Salon/Spa Distributor - but this brand could be found on ebay much cheaper - like $100 or so.
I paid more - b/c i wanted to make sure it is legit & good.
It is, as i remember, European brand, (could check the name later) - but, made in China...
I got it approx. 2 years ago...

I paid $2,000 for my ionic foot bath, because I was so impressed after one session at a friend's house. I was 4 months in wearing a compression garment on my neck and chin (with a 2-inch band over the top of my head) for lymphedema after they removed lots of lymph nodes going up to my jaw, that were calcified from thyroid cancer. My first feeling after the session was of being lighter - and other friends have said that too. Maybe because heavy metals are being drawn out?

On my hour drive back up the mountain after the session, the compression garment was really loose on my neck for the first time since wearing it. Then it got tighter and tighter as the fluid drained from my face. I got great results from the machine, and have seen lots of interesting gunk come out.

I ran it with just water and it did turn colors, but didn't have all the gunk in it.

About 8 years ago I had about 5 detox foot baths.
Each one produced a lighter shad of "gunk."
The business moved and I recently thought I would like to have a few more treatments. This morning I sat for 30 minutes and the water remained clear!
Actually, I was disappointed. I guess I should be happy, but the expectation of getting rid of toxins was not achieved.

To answer the question if the water changes color even if your feet on not in it....don't think so!
Machine would have to be pretty dirty to leach the muddy colors into the water.

Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD holds the view that the true value of foot bath devices is that they mobilize toxins in the body and then those toxic elements are removed through normal detox channels.

He said he has found that there’s only minimal evidence that toxic elements are moved into the water.