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Get Fish-nibbled for Good Health
DUBAI - Hundreds of fish nibbling away at your body may conjure up daunting images, but not if you know the health benefits of the doctor fish’s gentle bite.
Used to treat skin ailments in Turkey’s hot springs for the past 400 years, Garra Rufa (doctor fish) may soon make a foray into the hotel spas and health resorts in the UAE.
Best known to help alleviate a medical condition called ‘Psoriasis’, the fish feeds on diseased and dead skin. It gently sucks on and scrubs the affected areas while exuding ‘ditranol’ (a mild antiseptic) which prevents rapid development of cells on the skin.
Worldwide, especially in the US and parts of Asia, the treatment is a popular attraction in spas, manicure and pedicure centres, as well as health and beauty salons.
“Results are a smoother and softer skin after treatment,” says Kevin Tan, Business Development Manager of AquaArt, a Qatar-based distributor of aquarium brands and aquatic fish and plants which are show casing the exotic fish at the Aquariya Expo 2009 that started off in Dubai on Wednesday.
“The fish is naturally attracted to human presence in the water and starts nibbling immediately,” explains Tan. Patients do not need more than 10-20 minutes of these expensive ‘nibble’ sessions. In cases of manicures/pedicures, the fish gently exfoliates.
If used for medicinal purposes, the fish needs to be kept in UV sterlisers and aquariums with automatic water changers.
“Though there is Internet evidence that the fish provides faster healing, this has not been proved scientifically yet though it does provide significant relief,” adds Tan.
Garra Rufa grows up to 4 inches (10 centimetres) and survives in water temperatures up to 36 degrees centigrade.
DID YOU KNOW?
IN Turkey, the Garra Rufa is considered a national treasure which means no legal export of the fish is allowed.
A non-migratory freshwater fish, it is found in rivers through much of Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Turkey and Syria. They are also farm bred in Malaysia.
However, due to the popularity, over 10 look-alikes of the fish especially from China are being used to extort quick bucks.
These ‘fakes’ may, in fact, cause bodily harm if allowed to nibble.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com
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