Kinoki

[kev-o]

Is this for real?

http://www.kinoki.com/

[Big War Bird]

I saw that on TV last night. I was rolling in hysterics about it. Though I am hoping that they might try to market using incentivized freebie sites so I can rob em blind.

[Simetrical]

It's a complete fraud, of course. The claims made are typical gibberish meant to wow you. It "extracts heavy metals and other forms of toxins from your system", apparently, although they're very vague on what constitutes a "toxin". They claim to be "Registered with the US FDA", but from what I see they're just registered as an establishment, and the product has not been evaluated by the FDA. In fact, just look at the bottom of the page:

The claims made on this website are based on manufacturer documentation believed to be reliable. Holistec makes no claim that there is a scientific consensus regarding these products. The statements on this site have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Do not discontinue or delay seeking medical treatment due to use of these product.

Reading through the mechanism, it's patent nonsense:

It contains Tourmaline which is a mineral found in Brazil. Tourmaline possesses a unique property of emitting far infrared rays FIR which generates negative ions.

Tourmaline is basically a type of rock. It does not have the "unique property of emitting far-infrared rays"; every object at room temperature emits black-body radiation that peaks in the far infrared. This is what heat-sensing infrared cameras use. The emission peak of objects that are hotter than room temperature will increase in frequency, which is why objects that are heated begin to glow red, as the peak reaches the infrared-visible boundary of the EM spectrum; then white, as it reaches the middle and emissions are fairly even across the visible spectrum; and then blue, as the peak moves toward ultraviolet and more blue is emitted than other visible colors. The sun's emissions peak in the green part of the spectrum, meaning it emits basically white light, since that's the wavelength corresponding to its surface temperature of 5000 K.

Tourmaline is not special in this regard, and being a rock, it really can't be special. You typically need fluorescence or some other chemical phenomenon to emit non-thermal radiation, and minerals generally don't have such mechanisms.

Negative ions are known for having a soothing therapeutic effect on your body. That’s why people feel so relaxed after a rain storm or being next to a waterfall.

Bull. Negative ions have no remarkable restorative properties. Negative ions are in fact free radicals; examples are superoxide and hydroxide ions. These are suspected by some of having a role in causing cancer, and various other extremely shady "health" outfits market anti-oxidants to prevent the formation of free radicals.

When worn on your foot, the negative ions stimulate acupressure meridian points for various vital organs which promote improved circulation and detoxification activity.

"Acupressure meridian points" are nonsense cribbed from Chinese traditional medicine. They have been frequently demonstrated not to have any of the properties commonly attributed to them.

Scientists have discovered that a highly processed formulation of these ingredients has an amazing ability to absorb toxins right through your skin. Detoxion uses only the finest sap from Bamboo tress, not the cheaper less effective sap from oak, beech with sakura filling. Add chitosan, pearl stone, highly purified silica, polyolic alcohol and starch and you have and you have a powerful synergistic detoxification product.

Rhapsodizing about vague positive-sounding things like "detoxification" is very typical of snake oil such as this. Vendors of actual medically useful products will give only precise statements of effects, such as "reduces blood cholesterol levels" or "assists insomnia sufferers in falling asleep faster". Frauds will commonly claim a variety of such effects, and additionally throw in meaninglessly imprecise gibberish about (depending on inclination) toxins, bodily balance, "health" (as a monolithic thing), spiritual stuff, curing disease (again, as a blanket statement), etc.

According to Chinese medical knowledge, our body has over 60 reflexology meridian points on the soles of the foot. Known as the “second heart”, they are the reflective zones of our major internal organs.

Also like many fraudulent medicines, this cites traditional medical knowledge as though it's superior to or a viable alternative to today's science-based medicine.

And, because gravity and your body’s own natural defense system which moves toxins away from vital organs, your feet become a “storage pit” for heavy metals and toxins.

Toxins are not moved away from vital organs, and definitely don't collect anywhere due to gravity. Certain vital organs in fact have the job of collecting such toxins so that they can be disposed of relatively safely. If toxins collect anywhere, therefore, it will be someplace like your liver.

The true test is just to try them.

Another hallmark of pseudo-medicine: reliance on anecdotal evidence or personal experience. They know they can safely rely on the placebo effect to get purchasers to feel better, even though their product has no physical effect.

I could go on, but I think I've said enough. This product is not approved by the FDA or any other such agency. It has not been tested for either effectiveness or safety. Its ingredients are not regulated and probably don't contain most of what is claimed (pearl stone? uh-huh). The only assurance you have is that the FDA is not yet aware of any specific danger from the product; that's more or less the only authority they have to regulate things like this.

As a general rule, follow the advice of your general practitioner, or another licensed doctor. Doctors have demonstrated knowledge of physiology and medicine by passing government-approved examinations. Products they are licensed to prescribe have been rigorously tested in scientific experiments and found to be both safe and effective. When using modern medicine, you have much more than the vendor's word for its safety and efficacy: you have the guarantee of careful and neutral experimentation.

If you use "alternative" medicines prepared or administered by unlicensed professionals, be aware that all major alternative therapies (such as homeopathy, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc.) have been tested repeatedly and been conclusively found to do nothing beyond a placebo. Ask yourself why, if the therapy you want to use is so effective, it has not been submitted for FDA approval, which would allow access to a much broader market in the form of mainstream medicine. The answer is because it does nothing.

In short, avoid this and all other medicines that present themselves as alternatives to science-based medicine.

[misfitsfiend138]

i saw that the other day, haha.

[hellheaven1987]

I thought our liver has same function.

[Valentin the II]

What a load of bull.

[kev-o]

Yeah, I knew it was to good to be true.