Toxin, or detox, foot pads are adhesive pads that reportedly absorb excess bodily toxins through the soles of feet. The pads are offered through a variety of retailers, including Kinoki and Avon.
How They Work
The pads contain a proprietary blend of herbs that emit infrared energy meant to absorb toxins from the body. Users apply the pads to the soles of their feet at bedtime and, by morning, the pads should turn black from all the toxins absorbed overnight.
What They Filter
The pads are supposed to filter heavy metals and metabolic wastes from the body. They also are said to clear the body of parasites, mucous and even cellulite. Manufacturers advertise that prolonged use should reduce the overall level of toxins in the body and that the pads should become lighter in color over time.
Whether or Not They Work
An independent laboratory in Berkeley, California, tested the pads before and after use. Both the used and unused pads showed roughly the same level of "toxins," such as zinc, barium and arsenic. The pads contain several ingredients besides those and the proprietary blend of herbs, including metals and powdered bamboo vinegar. The chemists at the California lab hypothesized that something in the pads responds to moisture by changing color. The hypothesis was confirmed when unused pads turned black when held over a pot of boiling water.
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