Detoxification foot pads
Encyclopedia
Detoxification foot pads are adhesive foot pads or patches that manufacturers claim can dramatically improve health when placed on feet during sleep. Pads contain ingredients such as "distilled bamboo vinegar
" that allegedly pull toxins from the body. These claims are not likely as the skin
is only semi-permeable and is not able to conduct toxins out of the body.
While there are claims of widespread use in Asian countries, there are no known studies on foot pads. On January 3, 2008, the FDA released an urgent warning regarding the potential dangers of many imported pharmaceutical substances including several brands of detox foot patches.
In April, in response to questions from the Associated Press
, an FDA spokeswoman said regarding the agency's investigation of the claims made for Kinoki foot pads that "basically, when we open up a case it means that the violation might be in terms of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, such as when (product makers) make false, misleading claims."
In August 2008, National Public Radio commissioned a laboratory test to look for heavy metals in used pads, which Kinoki claims are extracted from the body. The test found none. NPR also discovered that the pads change from white to grey when they are exposed to moisture, including sweat (not necessarily because they are absorbing other substances).
Vinegar
Vinegar is a liquid substance consisting mainly of acetic acid and water, the acetic acid being produced through the fermentation of ethanol by acetic acid bacteria. Commercial vinegar is produced either by fast or slow fermentation processes. Slow methods generally are used with traditional...
" that allegedly pull toxins from the body. These claims are not likely as the skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
is only semi-permeable and is not able to conduct toxins out of the body.
While there are claims of widespread use in Asian countries, there are no known studies on foot pads. On January 3, 2008, the FDA released an urgent warning regarding the potential dangers of many imported pharmaceutical substances including several brands of detox foot patches.
In April, in response to questions from the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, an FDA spokeswoman said regarding the agency's investigation of the claims made for Kinoki foot pads that "basically, when we open up a case it means that the violation might be in terms of the Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act, such as when (product makers) make false, misleading claims."
In August 2008, National Public Radio commissioned a laboratory test to look for heavy metals in used pads, which Kinoki claims are extracted from the body. The test found none. NPR also discovered that the pads change from white to grey when they are exposed to moisture, including sweat (not necessarily because they are absorbing other substances).