FISH SPA... do you like to try it?
One of the attraction in Manila Ocean Park is the FISH SPA and according to Wikipedia:
"It is about a freshwater fish used for treating skin diseases in Turkey. For the species sometimes called "doctor fish" in the UK. Doctor fish is the name given species of fish: Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomum. Other nicknames include nibble fish, kangal fish, physio fish, and doctorfishen; in non-medical contexts, Garra rufa is called the reddish log sucker. They live and breed in the outdoor pools of some Turkish spas, where they feed on the skin of patients with psoriasis. The fish are like combfishes in that they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow, with the outdoor location of the treatment bringing beneficial effects. The spas are not meant as a curative treatment option, only as a temporary alleviation of symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months."
Your feet will feel amazing, refreshed and healthy.These clever fish can also stimulate acupuncture points,helping to regulate the nervous system, relax the body and release fatigue. Your blood circulation and flow is also greatly increased during the treatment."
They also found that infections could be transmitted in a number of ways — from fish to person during the nibbling process, from contact with the contaminated water, or from person to person through sharing the same tank."
I only learned about this health risk upon posting this article and making some research on google. Imagine how many of us could have been infected if this pool is contaminated with any bacteria or dreadful microorganism. We just hope our immune system are strong enough to fight any infection. OMG !!!
After reading this post... do you still like to try this FISH SPA?
"It is about a freshwater fish used for treating skin diseases in Turkey. For the species sometimes called "doctor fish" in the UK. Doctor fish is the name given species of fish: Garra rufa and Cyprinion macrostomum. Other nicknames include nibble fish, kangal fish, physio fish, and doctorfishen; in non-medical contexts, Garra rufa is called the reddish log sucker. They live and breed in the outdoor pools of some Turkish spas, where they feed on the skin of patients with psoriasis. The fish are like combfishes in that they only consume the affected and dead areas of the skin, leaving the healthy skin to grow, with the outdoor location of the treatment bringing beneficial effects. The spas are not meant as a curative treatment option, only as a temporary alleviation of symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months."
This is how "fishspa" define this kind of therapy or treatment:
"A natural pedicure method originating from Turkey and
practised all over the Far East. This unique skin treatment massages your feet
using Garra Rufa fish. It is a great individual or group pampering experience
which is something new that feels fantastic!
During a treatment the fish suck and nibble away the dry
skin from your feet leaving you with healthy, rejuvenated skin.
Your feet will feel amazing, refreshed and healthy.These clever fish can also stimulate acupuncture points,helping to regulate the nervous system, relax the body and release fatigue. Your blood circulation and flow is also greatly increased during the treatment."
But "ninemsn" reported a breaking news regarding this, posted 18 October 2011. The article discussed how this fish spa can cause some harmful effects on health:
A controversial beauty treatment that involves small fish
nibbling away at dead skin cells puts some people at risk of contracting
infections, health experts have warned.
"But people with weak immune systems or open wounds are at
risk of contracting infections through the treatment, experts have warned.
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has advised people with
diabetes or psoriasis against having the treatment, the Press Association
reports.
They also found that infections could be transmitted in a number of ways — from fish to person during the nibbling process, from contact with the contaminated water, or from person to person through sharing the same tank."
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| my feet having the fish spa |
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| me, my hubby and my son feeling the tickle |
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| enjoying the spa together |
I only learned about this health risk upon posting this article and making some research on google. Imagine how many of us could have been infected if this pool is contaminated with any bacteria or dreadful microorganism. We just hope our immune system are strong enough to fight any infection. OMG !!!
After reading this post... do you still like to try this FISH SPA?
I don't think I can, parang icky! Though some friends said nakaka-kiliti lang..:)
ReplyDeleteThis is how I felt when I first dipped my feet on the water but I still carried on to quench my curiosity.
DeleteI tried it before and it was nice to have the fish nibble at your dead skin cells. With your post, I better stay away from fish spa until something more concrete come up.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Frank. It's better to be safe than sorry. I think that experience would probably my first and last. :(
DeleteYup better be safe than sorry.
DeleteI'd still like to try going to a fish spa. However, I won't be visiting those with shared tanks. I know some spas are offering the fish spa service with separate tanks per customer. From what I know, it's more expensive though. But at least, quite safer.
ReplyDeleteYeah!!!
DeleteThis can be safer... exclusive tanks not sharing ones.
oh, no thank you :) i am afraid, i am imagining piranhas hehe
ReplyDeleteIt would have been a scary experience if the fish have teeth like the PIRANHA! I would have not try it in the first place, Ms. Joy
DeleteThe first time I came to know this I would like to try it but with the findings, having second thoughts now!
ReplyDeleteFish spa definitely has advantages and disadvantages. It's up to us to decide whether we like to try it or not.
DeleteI would really love to experience this! I haven't heard of a similar service in our area, but they have this in Turkey and Greece which are the nearest I can go to (lol)...though then I also have also thought of the risk of contamination and putting one's feet where others have, I might be more comfortable if they often change the water...now that I read your post, I might be more careful in choosing where to avail this service. :D
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Ms. Marie... We have to take necessary precautions before we try any health treatment especially when there's risk. It's our right to protect ourselves.
Deleteoh. i hoped the MOP management knows the potential health risk.
ReplyDeleteIf ever... how would they know it?
DeleteMaybe, we can post comment on their page.
Just the thought of small fishes nibbling my feet seems to be very ticklish:) would like to try this too
ReplyDeleteMy experience was quite weird though, I have second thought of soaking my feet in the water because some people are screaming.
DeleteI wanna try it! I want to experience that kind of Foot Spa.
ReplyDeleteIf you're not that sensitive to tickles...
Deletethen you will definitely enjoy it.
Hmmm. Fish Spa is something that I would love to try. Then again, my feet are ticklish. I would definitely scream to death once I dip my feet in the water. Yay!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Ms. Jhoysi... you will be tickled until you feel like jumping out of the tank. :))
DeleteI would definitely like to try it. The good thing about the fish spa is that it is relaxing and healthy as it can relieve stress from our body.
ReplyDeleteYou will somehow feel numbed by the constant nibbling and sucking done by the doctor fish.
DeleteI wish to experience this someday. It looks so fun and it must be really ticklish to feel the fishes biting the skin of your feet.
ReplyDeleteThe more fishes nibble your feet... it only means, the more you have dry skin they will enjoy. :))
DeleteBeen there and tried that and I must admit I enjoyed that ticklish pampering experience.Yes, I think it may cause harmful effects and infections not only to persons with open wounds but to fishes as well. Poor little fishes.
ReplyDeleteThe experience indeed is great! I just hope MOP will initiate health safety measures for the public to be protected.
DeleteThese little fish are very ticklish. I remember spending my 15 minutes of our 30-minute time gathering strength to dip my feet into the pool!hihihi...
ReplyDeleteThese tiny fishes are good ticklers indeed! Ay sayang naman Ms Rizza yung 15 minutes.
DeleteI was hesitant to try this when we went to the Ocean Park, as I am so ticklish :). I'm afraid of those fish. But I guess the fish spa is really therapeutic.
ReplyDeleteHi, Ms Pepper!
DeleteYou can try it next time though.
Wow nice reading this coz until now I have not tried it yet. Yah kind of weird to dip your feet into that pool with other people, the water could be contaminated. I don't think I will try it anytime soon.
ReplyDeleteYou can enjoy fish spa but make sure Ms Violy that the tank is clean and exclusively for your feet only
DeleteI've already heard of this kind of treatment but never gotten around to trying it myself. Maybe not, after reading this post. :)
ReplyDeleteOK lng po Ms Maricel if you don't feel like trying it. It's your choice. There are good and not so good reviews but what's important is... always be cautious.
DeleteI wanted to try it since I really love foot spa but with what I found out through your post, uhmm I think I will need to think it all over like a million of times. LOL
ReplyDeleteSORRY if I let you have this negative feelings. I just want to inform you of the pros and cons as per my research.
DeleteCome to think of it, there are so many feet which can carry some infections and the fish have nibbled different feet so now I'm convinced its not safe.
ReplyDeleteI hope MOP management will do something about this, Sir Franc. This is really an eye-opener.
DeleteAwwts, I didn't heard of the fish spa before when we went to Ocean Park two or years ago, so I haven't tried.. Wished I did, my bad.. I thought they first asked the customers to wash their feet before dipping into the pool, was it?
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately Ms Josie... NO rules like that. That's why I was hesitant in the first place but I was blinded by the curiosity and I never realized that my family's health was at risk.
DeleteI pass this at the Ocean Park last month when we were their in the Philippines :-) How I wish we have enough time coz I would like to try it :-)
ReplyDeleteDon't worry Ms Jessica, you can always try it when you visit the Philippines again. Maybe by that time, MOP management has already come up with some safety guidelines.
DeleteWould like to try this but probably somewhere more private so it can also be a relaxing adventure.
ReplyDeletePrivate tank for you to indulge with... Yeah! That's safer and more exclusive, Ms t
DeleteTeresa.
i tried it and it was very ticklish.. my son hated it and he was kicking the water he made a splash.
ReplyDeleteMy eldest daughter was just ticklish too and was not able to even plunge her feet for ten seconds.
DeleteI love fish spa, last year my friend mich and I went to ocean park in manila. Then we try the fish spa.. i love the experience!
ReplyDeleteGood to know that you enjoyed it like we did, Ms Lanie. :)
DeleteOMG! I'd love to try that!!!!
ReplyDeleteThe doctor fishes will tickle you to the max!
Deletenag try ako sa star city but the fish looked scary because they were bigger. anyway, it was an experience but i dunno if i will do it again . :d
ReplyDeleteAt least... you tried it already. You knew how it feels.
Deletethanks for bringing this up, sounds scary!
ReplyDeleteFor me, the scary part of this is when i read articles about its possible health risk but the experience was just OK!
Deletemy very first fish spa is in Siquijor when unintentionally i put my feet on the water under the balete tree and the fish feed on my dried skin .. relaxing ..
ReplyDeleteThere's also fish spa in Siquijor? and there's balete tree? Is it a river or lake?
DeleteMy daughter tried that and she was so tickled. Is it really worth it...I mean do they really clean up the feet? haha I can't imagine myself being tickled by the fish but I would love to try it...:D
ReplyDeleteMy 16-year old daughter was very hesitant to dip her feet. Maybe she tried for less than a minute but because she was too scared, she got up and never put her feet again.
Deletei guess, if we believe everything we hear and read, we end up not doing anything... i rather try everything life can offer and rely on my instinct... not to forget to use common sense. nice, love to try it. Yahweh bless.
ReplyDeleteThe health risk is imminent if the water is not cleaned on a regular basis. Other than that... it's enjoyable.
DeleteLooks interesting and exciting! Though I am not sure if I can tolerate those little fish bites or I will end up laughing with all those tickles ha!ha!
ReplyDeleteTry it and you'll see for yourself. Just don't scream out loud. LOL!
DeleteI have actually heard a lot of reviews about the fish spa and when I read a column of the newspaper by one of my fave writer's I thought fish spa must be really beneficial. Though I have not tried it, my friend's experience about the event is convincing enough. However, upon reading the risks, I have second thoughts about it. Might as well try on a licensed medical spa instead.
ReplyDeleteREVIEWS are available for everybody to decide whether or not to try being treated by doctor fish
DeleteI tried something like this in Tagaytay. The only risk I had to face that time was splashing my brother who was taking my pictures while I was at it from the ticklish sensation. Then again, the spa that I tried this at just newly opened. Probably the risk would be higher when there's so many people there. Best bet, if you have an open wound on your legs or feet, even just a scratch, don't.
ReplyDeleteNext time I try this fish spa... I'll see to it that the place is clean and the water pool or tank will be served exclusively as in one is to one.
DeleteCool thing to try , but not with piranhas or sharks,.
ReplyDelete