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You’ve probably seen them all over the internet, on some famous TV ads, or heard about them from the blogger next door.
They are yucky! They smell awful after use. But they are trending right now.
They are – Detox foot pads!
In this post, I’ll discuss in detail what all the fuss is about and give you my honest opinion of them.
What are Foot Detox Pads?
They are white adhesive pads similar to a bandage that you stick on the soles of your feet overnight.
The companies that sell them claim that – as you sleep, these pads drain out:
- Toxins
- Heavy Metals
- Harmful chemicals
- Parasites
- Metabolic Wastes
- And even Cellulite from your body
They say when blood circulates from the rest of the body to the soles of your feet, the pads absorb toxins from there.
Most of them are made with ingredients such as plant extracts, minerals, herbs, and vinegar
Some even have ginger, salt, bamboo vinegar, and other ingredients added to them.
What Are the Benefits of Detox Foot Pads?
Unfortunately, there’s no proven scientific evidence that supports the claims of detox foot pads.
To make it worse, there’re lots of mixed reviews online from buyers.
Some people swear by these foot pads – that they actually felt a lot better after using them.
Others say they had relief from a cold, headaches, and anxiety by morning.
And some even mentioned that they felt refreshed and more energized by the time they woke up.
Detox Foot Pads Claims
The idea behind these detox foot patches is simple.
Instructions on the package recommend that you place them under the soles of your feet. And then these footpads suck out toxins from your body through the feet.
Manufacturers claim that when you wear them on your feet and go to sleep – they remove toxins, parasites, cellulite, and heavy metals from your body.
So in the morning when you wake up the pads are expected to have turned a dark/black color.
Apparently, this means the ingredients in the foot pads pulled out the toxins from your body overnight.
And the more you use these pads, the healthier you’ll be because most toxins will be out of your system.
The manufacturers also claim that you start noticing a difference in the colors of the pads as you continue using them.
With time, the once dark/black gunky pads turn a light green color which indicates that you’re getting “cleaner” with minimal toxins left in your body.
Detox Foot Pads Side Effects
Despite the fact that foot pads have no proven scientific proof that they remove toxins from the body, they don’t have any side effects either. At least none have been reported yet.
However, experts have warned these detox patches may only have a placebo effect.
In an interview, Dr. George Friedman-Jimenez, the director of the Bellevue / New York University Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic said:
What we’re seeing with treatments like Kinoki footpads is that people are expecting them to help, and expecting to feel better, and some people feel better just by chance, and some people feel better because of the expectation.
With all that said, I know sometimes curiosity can’t be satisfied any other way than trying something yourself.
So for those of you who want to satisfy that “itch” with a trial run, here are your best options.
Top Detox Foot Pads
1. Kinoki
What are Kinoki Cleansing Detox Foot Pads?
Kinoki detox herbal foot pads are the most popular on the market, thanks to their famous TV ad in the 90s.
In the ad, they were referred to as “the ancient Japanese Secret to perfect health.”
Detox Kinoki pads contain a variety of ingredients such as ginger, salt, bamboo vinegar, tourmaline, lavender herbs, and minerals.
They claim to remove toxins from your body, boost the immune system, promote better sleep, cleanse, and energize you.
No products found.
How to Use Kinoki Foot Pads
Instructions on the package recommend that you wash and dry your feet before using them. Then peel off the paper on the adhesive sheet and place the pad onto the sole of your foot.
Wait 6-12 hours to remove the pads so that they fully absorb enough toxins from your body.
Are Kinoki Detox Foot Pads Effective?
In an interview with LA times, one of the supervisors of kinoki explained that the ions in the pads create magnetic channels through which sweat and toxins are pulled out of your body.
Whether that’s true or not, you’ll have to decide yourself.
2. Kinotox
These are said to be the original pads that were tested and imported to the USA. They come in a pack of 10. And just like Kinoki pads, they are easy to use too.
3. Paiko Foot Pads
These claim to relieve stress, remove impurities, and improve sleep.
4. Avon Detoxifying Patches
These are also another type of foot cleansing pad that claim to remove toxins from your body through the feet. Avon is a reputable brand.
Homemade Detox Foot Pads
In the world we are living in today, almost everything can be made from home. If you can’t afford to buy detox foot pads or prefer to DIY, here’s an easy to follow how-to guide.
Items you’ll need:
- Water
- A piece of onion
- 1-2 cloves of garlic
- Cotton socks
- Gauze
- Patch to fix
Procedure:
- Chop your garlic and onion into fine small pieces.
- Next, put to boil, a pot full of water, and throw in the already chopped garlic and onions.
- Leave it to boil for at least 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let it rest for 15-20 minutes.
- When your mixture cools, pour a little bit of the liquid on a piece of gauze until it soaks.
- Make sure the sticky part on the gauze doesn’t get wet if you’re using adhesive gauze. And squeeze out any excess liquid.
- Get your pad/gauze and put it at the center of your foot. In case you’re using plain gauze, use a patch to tighten it.
- And lastly, put on your socks so the pads don’t fall off as you sleep.
- Wait till morning and check for results.
Detox Foot Pads Buying Guide and FAQ
1. How Do Detox Foot Pads Work?
They are believed to work by pulling out harmful toxins from your body through the feet.
You are supposed to place them at the sole of your feet overnight.
The pad then becomes darkened by morning – meaning most toxins were removed.
You have to repeat the same procedure for more days until you notice the color changing from dark to light, which signifies that you’re now healthy.
2. Can You Really Detox Through Your Feet?
There’s no scientific proof that you can really detox through your feet.
Your feet are also likely the last place the body could release toxins through.
Because the bottom of your feet is almost impermeable – the skin on your feet is so hard and thick, you can barely see the pores.
So how does the body detox?
Through your kidney and liver, you can read here about the detox pathways of the human body.
These are the main filtering organs in the human body. They work by eliminating harmful toxins from the body – daily!
Whether you’re asleep or awake, these magical machines are always at work – detoxing your body.
3. How to Use Detox Foot Pads?
You simply put the pad/ bandage-like thing at the bottom of your feet. Let it rest there overnight – at least for 8-12 hours. Then remove it in the morning.
You should find a yellow, dark brown, or black color on the pad by morning.
4. What Are Detox Foot Pads Made Of?
Most foot pads are made of:
- Herbs
- Plants
- Minerals
- Vinegar
- etc
5. How Often Should You Use Detoxifying Foot Pads?
As long as you feel healthier. In this case you have to look out for the discoloration of your pads every day. The lighter they become, the safer you’re.
So really, it’s up to you and your wallet. Because the more pads you use, the more money spent.
6. Can You Use Detox Foot Pads Every Night?
Yes, you’re supposed to use a fresh set of pads every night – until they become lighter.
The theory is that as the pads get lighter – it means you have few toxins in your body.
You can stop using them when you notice no discoloration on your pads.
7. Why Do Detox Foot Pads Turn Black?
The manufacturers of these pads claim that the change of color in the foot pads is a good indication that toxins have been flushed out of your system.
However, most people and experts refute these claims. They strongly believe it is just mere contact of sweat (from your feet) with the footpads that causes them to turn black.
Debra Rose Wilson, an associate professor, and holistic healthcare practitioner explains that there’s similar residue on the pads if a few drops of water were put on it.
So we can assume the same effect would happen when your feet sweat onto the pads.
Dena Westphalen, a clinical pharmacist, also mentioned that the color you see on the pads is likely a reaction of the mixture of sweat.
Also, some people who bought these cleanse pads testified that they put water on the footpads, and guess what?
They too turned black!
I have a more detailed explanation of black detox pads you can read here >>>
8. Are Detox Foot Pads Dangerous?
No. I don’t think so. There’s no reported case of detox foot pads endangering anyone.
Also, there are no known side effects of these pads.
So it’s safe to say, they are harmless.
9. How long do you wear detox foot pads?
The manufacturers recommend that you wear your foot pads at least 8-12 hours overnight.
It’s best you use them at night because you’ll most probably be sleeping, and will have minimal movements.
On another note, you may want to find out how armpit detox works, what it is and why it may be useful.
Final Verdict: Do I recommend it?
If your reason for using these pads is to “remove” toxins from your body. I do not recommend them.
Mainly because there’s no research to back up these claims.
And if you really want to detox your body, there are safer and easy ways you can follow, such as:
- Change your diet – get on a detox diet
- Cut back on alcohol, caffeine, and processed foods.
- Increase your water intake
- Try drinking lemon water
- Take a probiotic
- Try food grade bentonite clay
- Get on a healthy detox diet
- Use Activated Charcoal
I also don’t think you can easily detox through your feet.
Have you seen and felt the bottom of your feet?
It is rough. And some people have a callus on their feet which makes them even more thickened and very dry.
And if feet truly were a possible outlet for releasing toxins from the body, at least there would be some research to prove it.
But if you just want to feel more relaxed, then maybe try them out and see if you feel better.
Also, there’re quite a number of positive reviews about detox foot pads. Why not try them out for yourself and see if they really work?
The good thing is – they are pretty affordable. You’ll not have much to lose.
Let me know in the comments below if you have used them before and what your experience was!
And if you choose to give them a try, please let me know how it goes!
Editor and researcher at Detox & Prosper. With years of experience creating a healthy home for my family, I now help others eliminate toxins from theirs! Read my story here.
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