Detox foot pads are popular in Asia for relieving pain and swelling and for detoxifying the body through the soles of the feet. According to a study done by Dr. Devra Davis and reported on MSNBC, detoxifying foot pads contain mainly vinegar and green tea extracts. After applying them to the feet overnight, the user can see brown gunk on the pads in the morning. This, however, is not gunk from your body. It is actually a natural reaction between moisture and the ingredients on the pads.
History
The foot pads are a form of traditional Japanese medicine. As in many forms of traditional medicine, Japanese practitioners used poultices to draw out toxins. According to a report by Dr. Mercola, the original pads used bamboo vinegar that had been fermented for 9 years. The aged bamboo vinegar has an effect on the kidney meridian, located on the feet. Users of the original pads, however, made no claims that they detoxified the body of heavy metals.
Misconceptions
Foot pads do not detoxify the body. The brown gunk on the pads is simply the chemical reaction of moisture plus the substances on the pads. There have been several news reports criticizing the foot pads. According to an article in Wellspring, National Public Radio and 20/20 have done informal studies to show that no toxins were found on the pads after use. They have also shown that applying moisture causes the pads change color and begin to smell bad. John Stossel of 20/20 asked for a report on ingredients from Avon and Kinoki, two manufacturers of these pads, but neither company responded.
Benefits
Some detox foot pads may contain ingredients that could act as a poultice on the skin. One brand contains milk thistle, which, according to Dr. James Duke, author of "The Green Pharmacy," is known to regenerate liver cells. Another contains cayenne, which is a known topical pain reliever. Although none of the pads will detoxify your body of heavy metals, the original pads do work with traditional Japanese medicine. If you follow this belief system, the pads will balance your kidney meridian.
Safety
Although there is no known safety hazard associated with detox pads, the FDA included them in an import alert in May 2007 because they are misbranded. The means that they claim to do something that they do not do. The report by 20/20 as reported by Wellspring revealed that some users found that the adhesive on the pads irritated their skin.
Considerations
There is reason to detoxify the body, but to do so through the soles of the feet in this manner seems inefficient. There is much misinformation regarding the pads, and several websites touting them contained mistakes, including one site which cited the "Marunouchi Era" as the time when the pads first became popular. Marunouchi is a section of Tokyo, not an era. Although poultices may help the body, these pads may not be the best way to apply a poultice.
Tags: foot pads, original pads, that they, bamboo vinegar, body heavy, body heavy metals