Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are They?Do They Work?Risks and Side EffectsWhat About Other Foot Detoxes?Why Detox Isn’t Necessary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are They?
Do They Work?
Risks and Side Effects
What About Other Foot Detoxes?
Why Detox Isn’t Necessary
Detox foot pads are an over-the-counter (OTC) product that claims to remove toxins from the body while you rest at night. The makers of these adhesive pads, which you stick to the bottom of your feet, also assert that they can improve various other medical conditions.
These claims have never been proven, and the product is widely viewed as a scam. Detoxing the body isn’t necessary because the liver naturally gets rid of toxins through normal bodily functions.
Carolin Voelker / Getty Images
What Are Detox Foot Pads?
Detox foot pads are adhesive patches that are placed on the bottom of your feet before you go to bed at night.
The product is left in place while you sleep. It’s claimed that ions in the pads draw toxins—like heavy metals—out of your body.
When you wake up in the morning, the pads are typically discolored and may be stained with a brown or blackish hue. The manufacturers of this product claim (incorrectly) that this is proof that harmful or toxic materials were effectively removed from your body.
Do Detox Foot Pads Work?
Banned for False Claims
Claimed Health Benefits
For instance, Kinoki has asserted that its product is able to:
Each of these claims is both false and misleading.To date, no research supports the use of foot pads to treat any medical condition, nor is there any proof that they detoxify the body.
While they don’t detoxify, certain ingredients found in foot pads may have certain benefits. One study looked how patches with lavender essential oil (sometimes used in foot pads) can improve insomnia. However, these patches differed in that they were used on the chest so that the essential oil could be inhaled.
Why Do They Change Color?
Foot pad manufacturers often point to changes in the color of the patch as proof that toxins are being removed from the body. This claim, however, is also inaccurate.
The dark color that is often seen on these pads after use is actually a result of the wood vinegar that they are infused with. When this substance is mixed with the perspiration from your foot, a color change occurs. In fact, the same blackish or brownish hue can also be seen if the patch is spritzed with tap water.
While they do not provide any actual benefits, detox foot pads are often viewed as being relatively harmless, but this is not necessarily the case. Most of the foot patches are infused with either wood or bamboo vinegar to provide the color changes while you wear them.
These substances containpyroligneousacid, an ingredient that can cause a number of side effects, including localized burning or irritation of the skin. In addition, this acid can causedizzinessor difficulty breathing if it is inhaled.Because of this, the use of these foot patches is not without risk.
Detox foot pads shouldn’t be used on children or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. In addition, some people may be allergic to the ingredients used in detox foot pads.You should stop using them if you experience red, itchy skin or any other symptoms.
Some common natural detox foot soaks can promote relaxation. However, while some may have anecdotal support, research hasn’t proven any detox benefits. These include:
While some people spend significant time and money trying to cleanse their bodies of toxins, in most cases, body cleansing is unnecessary. This is because your body has its own natural methods of removing harmful substances, as described below.
How the Body Detoxifies Naturally
There are two types of toxins found in the body:
Your liver also transforms nutrients and medications into beneficial proteins. Keeping this organ healthy is the key to effectively detoxifying your body.
Signs and Symptoms of Poor Liver Function
There are several telltale signs that can indicate yourliver is functioning inefficientlyand not properly filtering out toxins. These include:
Paying attention to the presence of these symptoms can help alert you to a potential problem with this organ. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, it is important to contact your healthcare provider to discuss any concerns you have about your liver.
How to Improve Liver Function Naturally
Instead of taking supplements or using detox foot pads, there are several steps that you can take to ensure that your liver is functioning effectively. These include the following:
Summary
Keeping your liver functioning effectively is the most effective way to naturally detoxify the body.
13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Beacon Health System.Detoxfoot pads: Do they really work?Federal Trade Commission.At FTC’s request, judge imposes ban on marketers of detox foot pads.Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: A randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327Harvard Medical School.The dubious practice of detox.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Pyroligneous acid, [flammable liquid label].National Library of Medicine.Label: Xinhuazhx Foot Detox Pads.Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatric Dermatology. 2019;36(5):634-639.Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, et al.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med. 2020;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325MD Anderson Cancer Center.4 detox myths: get the facts.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Detoxifying your liver: fact versus fiction.Sivakrishnan S, Pharm M.Liver disease overview.World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2019;8(1):1385-95. doi:10.20959/wjpps20191-13036Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alcohol-associated liver disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral hepatitis: Sexual transmission.
13 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Beacon Health System.Detoxfoot pads: Do they really work?Federal Trade Commission.At FTC’s request, judge imposes ban on marketers of detox foot pads.Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: A randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327Harvard Medical School.The dubious practice of detox.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Pyroligneous acid, [flammable liquid label].National Library of Medicine.Label: Xinhuazhx Foot Detox Pads.Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatric Dermatology. 2019;36(5):634-639.Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, et al.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med. 2020;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325MD Anderson Cancer Center.4 detox myths: get the facts.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Detoxifying your liver: fact versus fiction.Sivakrishnan S, Pharm M.Liver disease overview.World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2019;8(1):1385-95. doi:10.20959/wjpps20191-13036Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alcohol-associated liver disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral hepatitis: Sexual transmission.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Beacon Health System.Detoxfoot pads: Do they really work?Federal Trade Commission.At FTC’s request, judge imposes ban on marketers of detox foot pads.Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: A randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327Harvard Medical School.The dubious practice of detox.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Pyroligneous acid, [flammable liquid label].National Library of Medicine.Label: Xinhuazhx Foot Detox Pads.Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatric Dermatology. 2019;36(5):634-639.Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, et al.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med. 2020;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325MD Anderson Cancer Center.4 detox myths: get the facts.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Detoxifying your liver: fact versus fiction.Sivakrishnan S, Pharm M.Liver disease overview.World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2019;8(1):1385-95. doi:10.20959/wjpps20191-13036Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alcohol-associated liver disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral hepatitis: Sexual transmission.
Beacon Health System.Detoxfoot pads: Do they really work?
Federal Trade Commission.At FTC’s request, judge imposes ban on marketers of detox foot pads.
Lillehei AS, Halcón LL, Savik K, Reis R.Effect of inhaled lavender and sleep hygiene on self-reported sleep issues: A randomized controlled trial.J Altern Complement Med. 2015;21(7):430-438. doi:10.1089/acm.2014.0327
Harvard Medical School.The dubious practice of detox.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.Pyroligneous acid, [flammable liquid label].
National Library of Medicine.Label: Xinhuazhx Foot Detox Pads.
Luu LA, Flowers RH, Kellams AL, et al.Apple cider vinegar soaks [0.5%] as a treatment for atopic dermatitis do not improve skin barrier integrity.Pediatric Dermatology. 2019;36(5):634-639.
Vakilinia SR, Vaghasloo MA, Aliasl F, et al.Evaluation of the efficacy of warm salt water foot-bath on patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: A randomized clinical trial.Complement Ther Med. 2020;49:102325. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2020.102325
MD Anderson Cancer Center.4 detox myths: get the facts.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Detoxifying your liver: fact versus fiction.
Sivakrishnan S, Pharm M.Liver disease overview.World J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2019;8(1):1385-95. doi:10.20959/wjpps20191-13036
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Alcohol-associated liver disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Viral hepatitis: Sexual transmission.
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