It's hard to argue with their tag that Chi patches are the 'World's Easiest Detox...so simple to use' because they are.
Their two-step stick and go detox plan is a lot easier than the strict diets, tortuous exercise and yucky food eating attempts I've made in the past. But does it work?
The first night I braved the test and stuck a patch onto each of my freshly pampered tootsies, I have to say I was more than a little cynical. How am I supposed to know that they worked? Is this one of those quick feel-good fixes? Based on Chinese medicine, could this finally be the easy detox answer we've been searching for? How can two little patches strapped onto my body drain all the toxins that I've pumped in there through over indulgence in caffeine, naughty foods and drinks?
While some of these questions are still unanswered, others have been resolved. The patches promise that the toxins in your body will be 'invited' (much prettier than 'excreted') onto the patch transforming the initial white powdery substance to a dark tea coloured mush.
Almost instantly my stomach started to gurgle, nothing to shout about initially but just as I was settling into a comfortable sleep a mini-orchestra erupts. I like to think it was the patches beginning to do their magic on my digestive system as opposed to my stomach struggling to cope with a gobbled down dinner. After a sound, restful nights sleep (nothing new there though) I awoke eager to check the results. The Dentyl mouth wash or the nose pore patches effect is definitely part of the fun-factor of this product where you can see the results right in front of your eyes. Sure enough the powdery patch substance had been transformed to the promised brown mulch. (It's all contained within the pouch pack so the squeamish need not fear). Whether this was a result of my toxin transfer or due to contact with body heat only the scientists can know.
The patches promise to detoxify the body while you sleep, improve energy and ease joint and muscle pain. The patch were a gank colour, I felt great each day after using them and running aches (left over from a 10k race) did ease faster than normal but whether this was psychosomatic or due to a relatively healthy spell, who knows. When the results are positive though, who cares?
The ingredients include such natural detoxifying produce as bamboo vinegar extract and ginseng which can only be good for you. Another ingredient is the apparent wonder product (minus chemistry degree, who am I to argue?) Tourmaline crystal which works on negative ion emissions to promote a better night's sleep.
A foot reflexology and acupuncture chart accompanies the patches which is why I chose to put the patches on my feet, aiming to detox as many body parts in one go! However you can lash them on any part of the body that you'd like to focus on. Its one thing putting them on but keeping them on during an 8-10 hour sleep (which is what they recommend and I never seem to get) is another matter. I thought it was easier to keep them in place with a light sock covered foot than an exposed elbow. Also I only went with two patches at a time but Naturalife recommend anything from one to six – the latter seemed a tad OTT for me. The usual recommendation of one to two litres of water a day and caffeine free herbal tea applies – which alone would rejuvenate a party pooped body.
The one bit of info I couldn't find was how often you were able to use them. Is it possible though to overdose on detox?
An added bonus of the patches is that they're Irish made, which is an even greater incentive to try them out as part of your January detox.
P.S. Further reading for fellow sceptics: In the name of research I slapped one of the patches on my radiator to see if the colour changes when it comes into contact with any heat form. I'm delighted (if not a little disappointed) to report that it didn't.
€24.99 for 10
€59.99 for 30
