Kinoki foot pads are stick-on pads that cling to the soles of the feet. They are marketed as having the ability to draw toxins out of the body into the pads, which are then disposed of. Kinoki makes a number of health claims about their product, none of which has any supporting medical evidence.
Kinoki Foot Pads
Kinoki foot pads are available in boxes containing several pairs. The adhesive pads can be stuck to the soles of the feet and left on for several hours. The manufacturers claim that the product has a number of health benefits, including the ability to eliminate toxins from the body, boost the immune system, cleanse the lymphatic system, improve sleep and promote general wellness.
Medical Evidence
The manufacturers of the Kinoki pads place emphasis on the fact that once the pads have been used, the white surface, which has been in contact with the soles of the feet, has turned black. They imply that this is evidence that toxins have been removed from the body. The adhesive gauze naturally turns black due to the dirt, dead skin and debris form the bottom of the feet. As Robert Hoffman, M.D., points out, the amount of toxins that these pads could draw from the feet overnight is insignificant.
Credibility
Toxins cannot be removed from the body through the soles of the feet in this way because the immune system, the lymphatic system and the skin do not function in this way. According to Dr. George Friedman-Jimenez, the director of the Bellevue / New York University Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic, the pads may have a placebo effect on some people.
Deceptive Advertising
In January 2009, the Federal Trade Commission charged the marketers of Kinoki foot pads with "deceptive advertising." This charge included claims that the foot pads could eliminate toxins from the body, reduce hypertension, help with weight loss and alleviate symptoms of depression.The charge was based on the fact that the claims were either false or had no supporting evidence.
Warning
Kinoki foot pads are not the only manufactures of this type of product. Other foot pads with similar claims are also available, such as Acupads, Detox Pads, Takara Detox Foot Patches and BioQure.
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