Kinoki foot pads are touted as a 100 percent natural and safe way to rid your body of dietaryand environmental toxins.
But do they actually work?
The pads, which claim to cleanse a user's body while they sleep, have been around for years. Atwo-week's supply costs about $20, Consumer 10's Chuck Strickler reported.
According to a Web site, those who use the pads will experience enhanced energy and improvedhealth. Users simply put the pads on their feet before going to bed and the pads go to work.
The Kinoki pad makers say the pads will be black when the user wakes up; A trail of evidence ofthe toxins leaving your body. The darkness should lessen over time, Strickler reported.
As part of Consumer 10's test, Nicol Remeis and Amy Budin decided to try the pads for aweek.
"I think it's a little bit unbelievable that you can be detoxified through your feet," Budinsaid. "That it sucks it out of your body."
Remeis said she was open to giving the pads a chance.
"I'm going to try to be open-minded and see if I get lighter throughout the week," Remeissaid.
Consumer 10's plan called for the testers to put a Kinoki pad on the sole of one foot, andalternate feet each night for seven days.
After seven days, Consumer 10 checked in to see what occurred.
"I didn't even make it the whole week because my feet got itchy," Budin said.
Itchiness aside, Remeis and Budin said they didn't notice any other changes.
"The fact that is reacted is great, but I don't know why," Budin said. "I can't be excited aboutthe fact that made the pads black."
"I didn't feel refreshed or revived and I couldn't stand the things on my feet," Remeissaid.
Consumer 10 took the pads to Dr. Glen Aukerman, the medical director for The Ohio StateUniversity's Center for Integrative Medicine.
Aukerman said he was no stranger to questions about Kinoki pads.
"It's easy, slick, quick and doesn't require us to change our life much," Aukerman said. "Theproblem is it doesn't work, like many other things that are slick, quick and easy."
Aukerman said sweat in the feet react with the ingredients in the pads, causing the brown orblack color.
Further testing, which involved sprinkling water on the pads, caused them to turn black,Strickler reported.
The packaging does contain somewhat of a disclaimer. Although it says the pads will cleanse yourbody of impurities, the product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
The package also says the pads are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent anydisease.
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