Relax yourself: a delicate nibble

The feet are my favorite: some doctor fish enjoy a meal. Photo: AFP
As far as Beijing spas go, options seem unlimited: milk spas, flower spas, natural spring spas, lava rock spas and the one that always gets a raised eyebrow: fish spas. Not for the squeamish, this exfoliating treatment requires the recipient to wallow in 40 C water while tiny fish nibble away her dead skin. Proponents claim that the process is beneficial for the health and epidermis, but whether or not they enjoy any distinct advantage over other treatments has yet to be authoritatively proven.

Shunjing Spa Hotel in Chaoyang District introduced the fishy treatment at the end of last year. Marketing manager Wang Hongcai extolled their alleged benefits, saying it naturally treats skin disease, scars, and ringworm. On top of all that, having fish suck on your skin stimulates epidermal nerves, exfoliates the skin and removes toxins. The fish saliva is also purported to kill bacteria, helping broken skin to recover.

Paging Doctor Fish...

BrianYuan is manager of Shijiwangpai Company, based in Hainan Province, which specializes in all things fish: cultivation, sales and spas. Their little nibblers measure 3 to 6 centimeters and can live in hot water. In China, only Hainan has the right habitat to cultivate them. Yuan told Lifestyle that there are quite a few tiny tropical variants that could be used as "medical" fish, but did not disclose their academic names, which he said are business secrets.

That said, at least one species is probably the Tench, which often gets the nickname "doctor fish." Another type, the "Turkish beauty," is the one used in Beijing according to Liu Yao, executive secretary of the China Spa Association (CSPA).

Raising and keeping these fish is something of a hassle; the Sixth Spa Club, which used to have fish spa services, recently gave them up due to the difficulty of caring for them. Wang explained that they require twice-daily water changes in the morning and evening, a process further complicated by the necessity to avoid disturbing the water too much and harming the dainty fish. The water temperature must be tested every three hours to ensure it doesn't drop below 30 degrees, and an oxygen pump must run for 24 hours to the pond.

Customer responses

Liu Shichun, 26, once tried the fish spa in Tongzhou District during Spring Festival. While he couldn't recall the name of the place, he clearly recollected the experience: "It was quite fun to try, with so many tiny fish, at most 5 centimeters, all over your body. It does feel a little itchy, but I think it helped remove the bad parts as I found my skin got a little whiter."

Chen Ying, 28, who visited a fish spa with her husband in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, seemed to feel the same way, "I should say I felt quite comfortable, as your pores are being lightly sucked, but when the tiny fish surrounded my legs and 'bit' me, it was a little itchy. After a while, I started to feel a little sting, like small sharp edges pricking into your skin."

However, her husband did not really feel that much. "Maybe he has thicker skin," Chen joked, adding that while the fish spa was a small adventure, she thought the potential benefits were "exaggerated."


Fishy concerns

"Fish spas use sodium bicarbonate springs, the best among all spring waters. They contain radon, in addition to phosphorus, calcium, zinc and iron, which can moisturize skin, increase metabolism and improve immunity." Liu Yao of the CSPA seemed adamant about the good effects of fish spa, but he pointed out that there is no health authority in China that gives a clear evaluation of fish therapy's effects and there are no standards or regulations on the matter either.

With regard to concerns that so many biting fish might result in infection from a particularly solid chomp, Yuan said it should be no problem, as the minerals in the water can also kill bacteria. "I know this is banned in some Western countries [due to sanitation concerns], but communal spas are rather a way of life favored by Asians. So far, no accidental fish biting or infectious disease has been reported."

Yang Shuxia, associate chief physician of the dermatology department of Beijing University Hospital, told Lifestyle that this kind of fish feeds on the dead skin of humans and that they can remove rough patches and leave your skin smoother. However, the treatment can do little in the way of expelling toxins or curing thiamine deficiency, as claimed. In addition, the size of the fish should be kept between 2 to 3 centimeters, or they may bite deep enough to do damage.

What's more, many fish carry parasites, and some spas don't keep water flowing as necessary, allowing bacteria to grow. Therefore, patrons are advised to avoid the spa if they have broken skin or cuts, and to get out if they get scratched, otherwise infection is likely. Doctor Yang reminded spa-goers that spas should be attended recreationally, not as medical treatment, and that as with all good things, moderation is better.

Source: Global Times

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