Do detox foot pads remove heavy metals or other toxins from the body?

Written by Meredith Worthington, Ph.D. — Medically reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Updated March 25, 2024 ⓘ

Woman lying in bed wearing detox foot pads

Answer:

Detox foot pads are promoted for removing toxins from the body. The adhesive pads are applied to the bottom of the foot before bedtime to draw toxins such as heavy metals and other chemicals out of the body through the skin while the wearer sleeps. In the morning, when the pad is removed, the appearance of dark green or gray coloration purportedly indicates that toxins were removed from the body during sleep.

Sign in as a member to find out if there is any research to support these claims.

+ — 3 sources

In addition the results of its expert testing, ConsumerLab uses only high-quality, evidence based, information sources. These sources include peer-reviewed studies and information from agencies such as the FDA and USDA, and the National Academy of Medicine. On evolving topics, studies from pre-print journals may be sourced. All of our content is reviewed by medical doctors and doctoral-level experts in pharmacology, toxicology, and chemistry. We continually update and medically review our information to keep our content trustworthy, accurate, and reliable. The following sources are referenced in this article: