I like to eat fish and I had always thought I was the at the top of the food chain when it comes to my relationship with fish. I didn’t think the direction of the relationship between us could be reversed until Saturday.
Well, OK, I’m still alive but some part of me has gone to fish – a dead part of me to boot! On Saturday, I made the acquaintance of many fish of the species Garra Rufa. Out of curiosity, I went to a fish spa with two friends.
All these small fish which come from Turkey are also known as Doctor Fish. They supposedly nibble at the dead skin cells on your body and promote blood circulation. They are supposed to be able to lighten scars on your skin too. It’s also supposed to be a cure for psoriasis, a kind of skin disease.
So we are made to wash our feet and our lower leg before lowering our legs into the pool. The fish then swarm around the submerged part of our leg and start nibbling away. It’s a ticklish sensation and it takes some getting used to. The fish don’t have teeth so they kinda suck away at your skin.
I paid $30 (including GST) for 30 minutes of fish therapy, but it’s something I won’t do again. It’s a novel idea, but I remain unconvinced of its effectiveness. Give me some exfoliating scrub, dry bristle brush, or pumice stone any time!