What Are Detox Foot Pads?

by Kristan Nolan

Overview

Detoxification foot pads are a product that claims to remove toxins from the body through the soles of the feet.
Function

The claim is that foot pads, when worn overnight, help draw unwanted toxins from the body, such as heavy metals and metabolic waste, through a chemical and/or herbal mixture on the pad (which may vary depending on the manufacturer). Proponents claim that this is evident in the darkening of the pad--often a brown, black or gray appearance--upon removal.

Misconceptions

The premise is based upon the skin being a semi-permeable membrane through which liquids or gases can freely pass or penetrate. However, the skin is not a semi-permeable membrane. Furthermore, the skin, as a bodily organ, has no role in the detoxification process, unlike the liver or the kidneys.
Expert Insight

Dr. Lawrence Gibson of the Mayo Clinic states, "No scientific studies have been published that demonstrate that these products actually remove toxins from the body. ... Many doctors and scientists believe that these products aren't cleaning out anything but your wallet."
Fun Fact

In August 2008, National Public Radio/KQED reporter Sarah Varney did her own experiment. After wearing the pads, which resulted in a "gray, slimy mess," she took them for analysis to Curtis & Tompkins Ltd., a laboratory in Berkeley. The lab found "no significant difference" between the materials of an unused foot pad--primarily bamboo vinegar and low levels of zinc and arsenic--and the ones Varney wore overnight.
Theories/Speculation

The lab hypothesized that the "gray, slimy" darkening resulted from the bamboo vinegar, one of the pad's ingredients, being exposed to moisture. Varney's later experiment, where she held an unused foot pad above a steaming pot of water, supported this hypothesis.
Potential

As Dr. Gibson says, "As with anything that sounds too good to be true, wait for scientific evidence that proves the claim before investing your time and money in such products."

Overview