Detox Foot Patch
Quick Overview
Anatomy of a Detox Foot Patch
Detox foot patches, also called detox foot pads, are similar to large, white bandages with adhesive strips that allow them to stay on the sole of the foot. According to Mayo Clinic dermatologist Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D., the patches purportedly contain a variety of ingredients, typically wood vinegar, plants, herbs and tourmaline, a mineral. Purportedly, these "all-natural" ingredients draw out toxins, even heavy metals and poisons, such as lead and arsenic.
Do They Work?
In the morning, you'll peel off a detox foot patch only to be greeted with a frighteningly dark sludge on the pad's surface--purportedly proof positive that "toxins" have been leeched from your system. Devicewatch.org, a site maintained by the National Council Against Health Fraud, considers detox foot patches consumer scams, citing the most popular brand, Kinoki, which was whisked off the shelves after the FTC filed suit against the marketer for making false claims. Stephen M. Barrett, M.D., states, "All such products should be regarded as fakes, and the proposed mechanisms should be regarded as nonsensical."