Champneys Detox Foot Pads & FDA Warning

Detoxification is an important issue in the field of alternative medicine. Proponents claim that a myriad of illnesses result from toxins, including trace amounts of heavy metals. Techniques such as colon cleansing, chelation therapy and fasting are thought to detoxify the system and improve health. Detox foot pads have been added to the growing list of body- cleansing products.

• Feet: How Dirty Are They?

Brand Names

• Detox foot pads are made by only a few manufacturers but are marketed under many brand names and trade names. Avon sells detox pads under the Avon label; Kinoki brand is found in many U.S. pharmacies; and Champneys is a popular brand in the United Kingdom where it is marketed by Champneys Health Resorts.

The Claim

• Detox foot pad distributors claim the product removes toxins from the body by pulling them out through the pores on the soles of the feet. The pads, which are self-adhesive, are worn overnight for a series of nights. Although white when applied, the pads turn a dark brown by morning, supposedly due to trace amounts of heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury drawn from the body.

Do They Work?

• One online skeptic found by close examination that detox foot pads contain, among other ingredients, bamboo vinegar, a substance that is white when dry but turns a murky brown when wet. The pad is designed to trap moisture, so when feet sweat, the pad turns brown. Furthermore, there is no scientific evidence to support the idea of drawing heavy metals out through the skin. In fact, Mayo Clinic dermatologist, Dr. Lawrence E. Gibson disputes all methods of so-called detoxification.

FDA Warning

• The FDA warns that detox foot pads are fraudulently marketed and that there is no data to support the claims of drawing out toxins.

Expert Insight

• Gibson warns that the whole field of detoxification is rather nebulous, since toxins are difficult to identify or describe and because the area lacks scientific studies. He suggests that one should "wait for scientific evidence...before investing your time and money in such products."