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What Are Kinoki Foot Pads?

Kinoki foot pads became very popular amid claims they detoxify your body and make you healthier. They are supposed to "remove toxins from the body; treat high blood pressure, depression, and a host of other medical conditions," according to marketers' claims. Kinoki pads are stuck to the foot before going to bed at night. When they are removed in the morning, the pads have turned black, supposedly proving that toxins have been drawn out of the body and onto the pads.

  1. Theories/Speculation

    • The theory behind kinoki pads is based on reflexology, the principle that the feet are a map to the entire body. So by removing toxins through the foot, the body's overall health is improved. This theory makes a lot of sense, but reflexology is practiced through massaging the feet to stimulate organs. It's a far cry to assume that toxins from organs exit through the feet.

    Characteristics

    • At first glance, Kinoki foot pads look like large white Band-Aids, and they have a horrible smell. This can easily be excused as active ingredients, but the thought of waking up with your feet smelling like that is off-putting to some.

    Effectiveness

    • There is a question as to whether the pads' turning black means they are effective. Some believe that the pads get lighter with each subsequent use, thereby proving that they must be effective because each night there are fewer toxins to remove from the body. However, some people report that you get the same blackening of the pads by wetting them or holding them over a steam kettle.

    Warning

    • Kinoki foot pads have been under scrutiny by the Federal Trade Commission; the marketers were charged with deceptive advertising. According to the Federal Trade Commission website: "In its complaint, the FTC charges that all the advertising claims either are false or did not have evidence to support them when they were made. The FTC seeks to bar the defendants permanently from deceptively marketing the foot pads. The FTC also asks the court to order the defendants to provide monetary redress to consumers or otherwise give up their ill-gotten gains."

    Availability

    • One of the main websites that marketed Kinoki foot pads, buykinoki.com, is no longer active. In fact, the pads are difficult to find outside of some auction and discount websites.

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