You are probably used to a spa and massage by a human therapist. Have you ever had a spa and massage rendered by a fish…or to be exact, hundreds of fishes??

There is a very new kind of spa, which originated from Turkey, where a kind of fresh water fish, commonly known as a doctor fish, will feed on the affected and dead areas of the human skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow.

The doctor fish is also known as nibble fish, kangal fish or doctorfishen. There are actually two species of the doctor fish and they are known scientifically as Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomus.

This is a popular skin disease treatment method that is said to originate from Turkey and has now become popular in Asia and where many fish spas has sprung up in the last 2-3 years including Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia and Singapore.

You basically sit around a small pond and dip your legs into the pond with several other people. In a matter of seconds, these fishes would visit your legs and start chewing at your dead skin. Most initial reactions ranged from ticklish to some who complain of some pain especially when the fish ‘bites’.

Many people, especially ladies, who do not have skin disease, are visiting these fish spa too as they claim that their skin become smoother and cleaner after each fish spa session.

In Singapore, you’ll pay an average of US$22 for a half-hour ‘chewing session’ by these fishes. Will you pay this kind of money to have your feet chewed by fishes? Have you ever wonder what ‘diseased skin’ these fishes has been chewing on before they visit your legs?

Check out the ‘fishy video’ below!

Pix credit: http://www.nibbles.com.sg

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