Slap them on at night and a detoxification foot patch does all the dirty work for you that modern medicine fails to provide-- at least that's what makers and marketers of detox food pads would have you believe. Detox foot patches work insofar that they can make you feel as though you've done something good for your body. However, medical experts and regulatory agencies caution that detoxification foot patches and similar products fall under the category of "health fraud."
Foot Patch Basics
A little history can help you understand the nature and purpose of detoxification foot patches. In the late 2000s, outrageous health claims made by the makers of Kinoki foot pads spurred action by the Federal Trade Commission. Kinoki claimed that wearing the foot pads would remove an assortment of very bad things from your body, including heavy metals, parasites, chemicals, unspecified "toxins" and even cellulite. Kinoki foot pads purportedly treated depression, tiredness and serious health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and many other serious health conditions. After the FTC charged Kinoki with deceptive advertising in 2009, effectively barring it from peddling its product, other foot patch marketers toned down their claims, saying the pads "detox" your body or implying that their products provide the same health benefits as Kinoki's.
Ingredients
The exact formulas in detoxification foot patches may vary slightly, depending on the manufacturer. However, a February 2009 "Time" magazine article indicates that the basic ingredients in most of the pads include tree vinegars and tourmaline, coupled with the principles of foot reflexology, an alternative therapy similar to acupuncture. Other foot patches contain exotic ingredients that purportedly have the ability to "cleanse" your body, such as agaricus mushrooms, Siberian ginseng, eucalyptus, chitosan, mokcho powder, pearl stone and extract of mugwort. Each seller asserts that the proprietary formula in its detox foot pads are more effective than the other guy's. However, moisture is what makes detoxification foot patches work, either from the sweat on your foot or a few drops of tap water. When the patch comes into contact with anything wet, it changes color and releases an unpleasant odor.
Bottom Line
In April 2008, reporter John Stossel of ABC's news program "20/20" investigated detox food pads, which began the media debunking of these fraudulent health devices. Stossel indicated that foot pads used by a group of volunteers were sent to a laboratory that performs toxicology analysis. Results indicated the used foot pads were free of heavy metals and 23 other solvents. Detox foot baths, sometimes called ionic foot baths, are yet another product that purport to draw "toxins" out of your feet. Mayo Clinic dermatologist Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson says of these products, "The bottom line: As with anything that sounds too good to be true, wait for scientific evidence that proves the claim before investing your time and money."
Regulatory Action
In November 2010, the FTC announced that the manufacturers of Kinoki foot pads -- the "ancient Japanese secret to perfect health" -- were barred from making or selling any dietary supplement, food, drug or medical device. Additionally, the maker of Kinoki foot pads was fined $14.5 million -- the amount equal to its profit from selling the sham product.
Avoiding Scam
In his "20/20" report, Stossel said it was "sad" that so many people fall prey to scams -- not only detoxification foot patches, but breast and penis enlargement products, baldness remedies and other "natural" cures. The role of the media is to alert you to these scams, he said, not to twist the arm of regulatory agencies to initiate intervention. "Eventually the public wises up and the scam fades away. I assume that will happen with detox foot pads," Stossel said.
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