Patch Format Definition

Flexi-Patch : Powder bag and plaster have to be assembled by the user before use.

Patch-It: User can use the patch immediately without assembling.

Toxins are increasingly found in our everyday environment, placing additional burdens on our health.  Tobacco, alcohol, food additives, drugs, anesthetics, pesticides, heavy metals and industrial pollutants all contribute to this toxic load.  The list is a long one and seems to get longer everyday.  Ideally, our body should be perfectly balanced and should function by removing these toxins, absorbing nutrients from the food that we eat along with good quality water and clean air.  When we experience any form of trauma which could be caused by poor diet, emotional stress, injury, working or living in an unhealthy environment, the body does not function as effectively.  It is therefore apparent that there is a need to support our health by assisting our bodily systems in reducing the toxic burdens imposed on it by every day life in a modern world.

Flexi-Patch is an all natural foot patch which we call a 'Detox Foot Patch'. Some refer to these as ‘Spa-in-a-Patch’ although Flexi-Patch works quite differently and has significant differences as compared to similar looking products.  Flexi-Patch is made from the highest quality, all natural ingredients including Mandarin wood extract and mineral crystals.  These ingredients act synergistically to help the body rid itself of impurities or toxins that cause aches, pains, fatigue, bloating, and a weakened immune system.

Flexi-Patch utilizes the fine powderized form of purified Mandarin wood vinegar together with crystal powder, and the essential oil of Mandarin.  These patches may improve circulation and promote internal cleasning.  Nutriworks Flexi-Patch has a high absorptive capacity and long lasting effect during use.  This product is excellent for muscular aches and pains resulting from long hours of work, exercise or due to conditions such as arthritis and gout.  It may also benefit people who are stressed and unable to sleep or those with edema (eg. swollen ankles after a long flight).

Mandarin wood vinegar is made by heating the wood trimmings of Mandarin fruit trees after each year’s harvest of Mandarin oranges. In Korea, these trees grow on mineral rich volcanic soil and in a pristine environment.

When this wood is heated up, the valuable volatile components boil off and are then cooled and condensed. This raw vinegar has to go be further distilled and aged to remove any unwanted substances leaving behind the desired components that eventually go into Flexi-Patch.

The result is a beautiful liquid of a pale yellow colour (very weak tea). This liquid is further purified until it is almost colourless at which time you have food grade vinegar which can be used as a flavoring or even consumed as a health tonic.

Mandarin wood vinegar has other properties such as an anti-bacterial effect and has been lab tested by a Korean government materials laboratory for the emission of far infrared energy. Far infrared is a form of energy which may in turn support healthy circulation.

Far infrared is that part of electromagnetic spectrum from 5.6 to 1000 micron wavelength. The far infrared segment of the electromagnetic spectrum occurs just below, or "infra" to, red light as the next lowest energy band. This band of light is not visible to human eyes but can be seen by special cameras that translate infrared into visible colors. The sun produces most of its energy in the infrared segment of the spectrum. Our atmosphere has a "window" in it that allows infrared rays (in the 7 to 14 micron range) to safely reach the earth's surface. When warmed, the earth radiates infrared rays in the 7 to 14 micron bands, with peak output at 10 microns.

Our tissues normally produce infrared energy for warmth and tissue repair.  Tissue production of infrared energy is associated with a variety of healing responses.  At times, the infrared energy in our tissues may require a boost to a higher level to ensure the fullest healing possible for tissue repair.  Body tissues that need an infrared boost selectively absorb infrared rays.  Our bodies radiate infrared energy through the skin at 3 to 50 microns, with most output at 9.4 microns. Our palms emit infrared energy too, from 8 to 14 microns.

Infrared energy penetrates tissues to a depth of over one inch. Its energy output is tuned to correspond closely to the body's own radiant energy so that body tissues absorb close to 93 percent of the infrared waves that reach the skin.

Flexi-Patch has been lab tested for far infrared emission at 37 deg. C.

Flexi-Patch has a dual action.  These actions are ‘stimulation’ and ‘adsorption’.  In traditional Chinese medicine, vinegar has ‘warming’ and ‘drawing’ properties.  This characterization of the ingredient in traditional use can in turn be used to understand the dual action of the patch.

Flexi-Patch does not ease aches and pains by using heat (such as in a sauna).  This is not like a chili plaster or the usual 'deep heat' idea.  Instead it uses far infrared to stimulate the reflex points on the soles of the feet.  By doing so, the patch supports whole body circulation.  One way used to observe Flexi-Patch's effect is by reference to tests using a thermal imaging camera.   In this instance, a specialized instrument called a thermograph is used which allows for observation of changes due to the presence of the patch on the soles of the feet.

What Flexi-Patch does is to encourage 'self-healing' by promoting improved circulation. Flexi-Patch does not heal or cure anything by putting an active ingredient into the body. When you cut yourself and the doctor puts stitches in, the stitch does not heal the wound - your body closes up the wound and the stitches simply allow time for your body to get the job done.  Muscular aches and pains that result from poor circulation will ease up.

Improved circulation should mean better overall cleansing through all normal channels of your body including sweat and urine.  The ‘drawing’ property of vinegar and the tendency for the patch powder to adsorb fluid assists in this.  It should be noted that given the small patch size, only a fraction of what comes out of the body would be reflected in the patch after use.

The powder material attracts water.  This effectively acts like a 'sink' against the skin when using the patch.  If there is excess fluid accumulation at the point of the body where the patch is applied or if used at the bottom of the feet where there is a concentration of meridian points, then the patch will most likely be wet.  If the patch is applied to a joint or location where there is no excess fluid retention, then the powder will remain relatively dry even after several hours use.  This does not mean the patch has no effect because the stimulation effect is still present when the powder in the bag remains dry.

The patch turns brown when it is wet due to changes in the powder upon contact with water. The colour change is not important given that Flexi-Patch is effective whether wet or dry after use.

No.  Once a patch has been used, it will be slightly moist and for hygiene purposes, this is not recommended.

Flexi-Patch does not (and cannot) deliver anything through your skin into the body so it is safe for regular use.  It merely supports your body's own function and in that respect it is very safe.  The powder is mildly acidic but not more so than the natural acidity of the skin.

Flexi-Patch has been tested for dermatological safety.  However the usual precautions should be noted such as not using the patch on sensitive skin or open wounds.  If there appears to be any sort of allergic reaction, stop using immediately.  No animal or animal by-products are used in the formulation.

It depends.  If there is no particular discomfort, use for 7 consecutive nights on the soles of the feet and then switch to a maintenance mode - two to three times a week.  If there is an obvious discomfort, apply until the desired effect is obtained and then switch to a maintenance mode.

This is most likely a ‘healing crisis’.  Users who experience this will most likely have chronic or ‘old’ complaints.  The stimulation of reflex points and associated circulation will act to assist the body in its recovery process.  It is most likely that such users will find that the discomfort is tolerable and will disappear after a few days use of the patch. 

Another way to view this is to relate to the experience of those who have tried acupressure on the feet.  It hurts a lot during the massage but recovery afterwards is promoted.  Continue using the patches for few more days and the pain should be lessen and may eventually subside.  If symptoms persist, stop use and seek advice of your health practitioner.

Tourmaline is regarded as a healing crystal in alternative medicine and black tourmaline is known for its far infrared properties. Flexi-Patch is unique in using the nano-form of tourmaline which simply means that the effectiveness of the crystal has been magnified by the large increase in crystal surface area.

Green tea is a good antioxidant and has been included to provide the skin with some measure of added protection when the patch gets wet during use.

Flexi-Patch only includes ingredients that enhance the product effectiveness.  Many ingredients may be good nutritional supplements (such as agaricus mushroom) but do not have any benefit in the context of a patch used externally on the skin. Such ingredients take up room and may even hinder the patch action.

The process for the manufacture of Flexi-Patch is unique. The key points relating to product effectiveness and therefore consumer value are: 

a. Concentration of active ingredient per gram of
    powder. Liquid wood vinegar is pulverized by
    attaching the vinegar to a starch base. The
    ratio of vinegar to starch is a critical difference. In
    Flexi-Patch, we use a 80:20 ratio during
    manufacture effectively saturating the powder to
    ensure the highest concentration possible even
    after natural evaporative loss. The result is
    vinegar powder that has a much higher
    concentration of vinegar than other typical wood
    vinegar powders. 

b. Mandarin wood vinegar is manufactured to a highly
    purified state and can be consumed. Due to the
    fact that other typical wood vinegars are the by-
    product of the industrial production of charcoal, 
    the same is not true in those cases.

c. The total number of grams of powder in the bag. 
    Flexi-Patch uses 5g net weight of powder compared
    to 3.5 – 4.0g in similar products.  The reason for 
    the increased weight of powder is because the
    effect of the product stops once all the powder is
    wet. 

    Generally, this patch is used just before sleep and
    the average person sleeps for between 7-8 hours. 
    With 25% more powder, we are able to extend the
    "capacity" of the product to about 8 hours use to
    match the average sleep pattern.

The "leakage" is mainly due to the issue of total absorption capacity as mentioned above.  Flexi-Patch has higher "storage capacity" and so does not "leak" so easily. Furthermore, Flexi-Patch uses a special softer, diaper-like material for the patch bag.  This is to reduce the incidence of a sticky mess after use. Flexi-Patch does not harden after use simply because there is much less starch in the powder.