Introduction to Doctor Fish Garra rufa

Garra Rufa

The Doctor fish (Garra Rufa) are unique freshwater fish that live to serve you! While eradicating dead skin naturally and gently, this pedicure treatment is here to stay.

Originally found in the pools of a hot spring near Kangal, a small town in Turkey, the Garra Rufa fish or Doctor fish, as they are commonly known have made quite a name for themselves.

Discovered in the early 1800s, these amazing fish have been reported to be beneficial in battling skin diseases, muscle trauma and joint disease, as well as rheumatic and neurologic disorders. People suffering from Psoriasis have seen results after therapeutic sessions with the Doctor fish over a period of time spent in the spa waters.

Garra Rufa 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 treatment option, only as a temporary cure for symptoms, and patients usually revisit the spas every few months. Some patients have experienced complete cure of psoriasis after repeated treatments, but due to the unpredictable nature of the disease, which is strongly influenced by endogenous factors, this may simply be regression towards the mean.

Garra rufa occurs in the river basins of the Northern and Central Middle East, mainly in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran. It is legally protected from commercial exploitation in Turkey due to concerns of overharvesting for export. Garra rufa can be kept in an aquarium at home; while not strictly a “beginner’s fish“, it is quite hardy. For treatment of skin diseases, aquarium specimens are not well suited as the skin-feeding behavior fully manifests only under conditions where the food supply is somewhat scarce and unpredictable.

In 2006, doctor fish spa resorts opened in Hakone, Japan, and in Umag, Croatia, where the fish are used to clean the bathers at the spa. There are also spas in resorts in China, such as Hainan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. In 2008, the first widely known doctor fish pedicure service was opened in the United States by John Ho in Alexandria, Virginia and later in Woodbridge, Virginia, and has trademarked the treatment name of ‘Dr. Fish’

Benefits Of Garra Rufa

• heal skin diseases
• relieve unpleasant itching
• better blood circulation
• improve to reduce rheumatism

What Does A Fish Pedicure Feel Like

Once feet have been placed in the warm water, the Doctor fish begin to investigate. This pedicure is certain to bring a smile to your face. Once you have passed the point of feeling ticklish, the fish begin to act as a stimulating, yet relaxing massage with one hundred twenty five of them running their little suction cup mouths along your feet and toes. Rest assured, these inch-long fish have no teeth! They seek out and remove dead skin, bacteria and calluses while rejuvenating healthy skin. The initial feeling of trepidation dissipates quickly as the tingling sensations mimic a massage. The only way to understand it comes from experience. Bring your camera, you’ll want to share it with your friends and family! You won’t regret it.