From
The Daily Green:
URTH Guy was sent a sample kit the other day from Global Healing Center, an informational website and online retailer of natural products based on non-GMO, organically certified, wildcrafted ingredients.
The item that most caught my attention is Dr. Group's Organic Foot Pads, since I've been hearing about Kinoki foot pads from friends and in the media. According to Global Healing Center (GHC), Dr. Group's pads are designed to aid the body in removing harmful chemicals and heavy metal toxins. And they are the first such pads made with genuine organic ingredients.
The foot pads are supposed to take advantage of 60 acupressure points found on the soles of your feet. They are said to "stimulate, energize and draw out chemicals, toxins and heavy metals from the body. These points mirror the specific body systems of the biorhythmic network that represents our total state of wellbeing."
What's in them? Organic wood vinegar, which is supposed to produce an osmotic effect that promotes the transport of toxins across cell membranes. There's also organic bamboo vinegar, organic Agaricus Blazei Murril (a fungus extract), powdered gemstones, natural starch and various herbs (such as organic Loquat). You're supposed to apply one pad to the sole of each foot before bed, every night or every other night.
So I tried this, as did my friends. In the morning, we all discovered that the pads had transformed from hospital white to completely disgusting brown. They smelled a bit worse, like burnt bacon. I only had time to sleep for about five hours, and mine were less nasty looking. According to Dr. Group, if you use them for several days in a row they will begin to look less grody, which he says is proof that they really do pull toxins.
Bayard tried a second set of foot pads the next night, putting them further towards the middle of the foot. "They turned brown everywhere but the center this time, which was interesting," he reports. "I think the middle in reflexology is where the internal organs are. Also, in the area where my lungs are supposed to be on my foot, the feet are discolored slightly like bruising. Who knows maybe there is something going on. But I'm still sick [he was trying to fight off a cold]."
According to John Stossel such detox foot pads don’t work, and are akin to a scam -- at least those made by Avon and Kinoki. Stossel's 20/20 asked
NMS Labs of Willow Grove, Pa., to analyze Kinoki and Avon pads used by eight volunteers. Scientists didn't find toxins on the used pads. One test did find some lead, which Friedman-Jimenez believes most likely had been stuck to a tester's foot after they walked on it somewhere.
If you don't like John Stossel, NPR had simlar conclusions, based in part on testing in California.