The foot is an amazing structure.

“The NHS (National Health System) Choices website says there is ‘reasonably good evidence’ that acupuncture is effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including back pain, dental pain, headache, nausea after operations, and osteoarthritis of the knee. And there are plenty of anecdotes from patients…” – David Derbyshire

2000 years later …

And acupuncture is still proving skeptics wrong. If mindfulness meditation is ‘Exhibit A’ for the figurative defense of traditional therapy, acupuncture is ‘Exhibit B.’

Despite the outspoken skepticism from a minority of individuals within the medical community, certain aspects of traditional medicine have proven beneficial.

Foot pads and acupuncture

You may be wondering “What the heck do foot pads have to do with acupuncture?”

Fair question. The short answer is “a lot.”

Research proves that acupuncture is effective, in part, because it improves the body’s autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. Detoxifying foot pads work very similarly.

How detox foot pads work

While we’ll bypass the anatomy and physiology lesson (Thank Heavens); instead, let’s talk a bit about the mechanisms behind these foot pads.

Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt of the American Academy of Neural Therapy says:

“The major (effect) of the foot pads is in the stimulation of the liver and kidney meridians. This increases the metabolic rate at which the liver and kidney cells detoxify the blood and purify the body.” (Emphasis mine.)

The underlying mechanism of detox foot pads is detoxification through reflexology – a traditional healing technique that utilizes reflex points at the foot’s bottom to activate certain areas of the body. Proponents of detox pads (and acupuncture) state these reflex points play a fundamental role in improving health.

Much of society’s work culture is sedentary in nature. The average worker spends a disproportionate amount of time sitting. As most people aren’t particularly enthusiastic about work, they’ll quickly become lethargic. Of course, this leads to the individual being sedentary at home. It’s a bad cycle.

While sitting may be necessary for certain environments, prolonged sitting (and subsequent inactivity) disrupts blood flow to our lower limbs.