Detox foot pads are like normal tea bags with adhesive strips used to stick them on a human foot sole. Detox pads are believed to help in detoxifying one's body through sucking unwanted minerals, heavy metal, or toxins through one's skin.

Manufacturers argue that human bodies are exposed to a lot of toxins from processed foods, drinks, and polluted air. In addition, they claim that due to the nature or amount of toxins in your body, you might be unable to eliminate or excrete them all, which causes health complications. This is where detox foot pads come in. They are made up of ingredients like wood vinegar, eucalyptus, chitosan, loquat leaf, dextrin, and many other natural ingredients. Mostly, these pads are applied at night before sleeping. Below is more clarification on the question: do detox foot pads really work?

Key Facts about Foot Detox Pads

The effectiveness of detox foot pads has raised some scientific questions. With a doctor's help, you can decide on whether to use them or not. For more details, check out these suggestions.

1. Is the Effect of Detox Foot Pad Scientifically Proven?

Are you in doubt whether do detox foot pads really work? Manufacturers of detox foot pads say that after applying it overnight, the pad surface decolors to dark brown or black. They say such discoloration is confirmation that heavy metals and other foreign substances have been sucked from your blood and lymphatic fluid. But to date, there is no scientific proof that the discoloration is caused by the sucked toxin.

A research by ABC 20/20 in April 2008 said:

• If you spill water or some sweat on a detox foot pad, it still decolors.

• When they carried out a laboratory test on pads used by volunteers, they found no evidence of heavy metal.

Also, the idea of eliminating toxins coincides with the human physiology and anatomy. The liver is responsible for the detoxifying blood of any foreign substances, while the kidneys get rid of excess and unwanted chemicals or minerals. Lastly, there is no scientific report published regarding how they work, so all details on detox foot pads are doubtful.

2. Side Effects of Foot Detox Pads

As well as the unproven effect of detox foot pads, there are some negative side effects attached. Below are the examples:

• Fatigue: On one of the detox pad manufacturer's website, a client asked why her fatigue level elevated after using the pads. The astonishing answer from the manufacturer was to say that detox users need more sleep than others. That answer appears to confirm the suspicion that fatigue is as a result of the toxin cleansing process.

• Joint pain: Joint pain is also a side effect of detox foot pad. Another client complained via a manufacturer's website of experiencing joint pain after using the detox pads. The manufacturer explained it and said this happens due to the healing process. The manufacturer claimed the toxin removal process may cause joint pain but it disappears in two to three days.

• Do harm to sensitive body areas: From some manufacturers' FAQs, detox pad users are warned about using them on open wounds, eyes, or areas with mucous membrane. This appears to confirm that manufacturers believe detox foot pads have side effects on sensitive areas.

• It's harmful during pregnancy: Manufacturers also warn pregnant women not to use them before the 3rd trimester. What is concerning is that they offer no explanation as to why should they be avoided during the 1st and 2nd trimester.

Best Scientifically Proven Detox Ways

The present world is filled with myriad toxins found in polluted air, water, unnatural foods, herbicides, and fungicide. With a doctor's help, you can pick among the following detoxifying ways and lead a healthy life.

• Freshly juiced fruits and vegetables: If you are really concerned about detoxifying your body, you can do so by taking fresh juice prepared from fresh fruits. Note: the juice or veggies should not be pasteurized or include any organic additive. You can get such juice fast from spinach, ginger roots, pears, celery, kale, cabbage, apples, beets, and pineapples.

• Herbs: There are a lot of benefits you can get from herbs. They are used as medicine and natural detoxicants that cleanse the human blood of waste and toxins. If you prepare them well, they are very helpful in detoxifying.

• Sauna: A sauna is a relaxing way to enjoy a steam or a hot air bath. The use of saunas to detoxify is backed up by the idea that sweating helps one get rid of arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead and other heavy metal toxins.

• Exercise: Through exercise, you get to burn a lot of fat. When you exercise a condition called lipolysis is activated that aids in fat break down. This means that toxins stored in or under your fatty tissues will be flushed out through sweat.

• Try colonics or colon cleanse: In case you doubt whether do foot detox pads work, think of cleaning your colon to avoid them. Some of the food you eat gets absorbed in the colon and so are toxin contents. Use of a high-quality colon cleanser can help reduce absorption of toxins by keeping them 100% functional.

From the details above, you will have realized how doubtful detox foot pads are. But by following the above guideline, you can make an informed decision. In case you are in doubt about anything, consulting your medical specialist will keep you on the right track.