TARGET 090722 The Doctor is in (In the pool, that is) The Doctor Fish Spas of Turkey

The doctor you see in the picture above is there to oversee the treatment. The treatment is the pool. Well, actually, the treatment is IN the pool in the form of fish that eat human flesh. The fish are considered to be the doctors in this spa. The so-called Doctor Fish spas first appeared in Turkey, where people suffering from a terrible skin disease called psoriasis, from all around the world started coming for treatment. Psoriasis sufferers develop raised red patches on their body covered by grey, scaly skin, which is sore or very itchy.

Fortunately the Garra rufa love to nibble on dead and diseased skin and as soon as the patients insert their limbs in the water, an army of these little guys start eating away the skin that’s been softened by the warm water. Doctor Fish can survive in waters as hot as 43 degrees Celsius (109 degrees Fahrenheit), but the nutrients they need to live on can’t. The fish are never given any food, so when somebody dips into the pool, the tiny feeding frenzy begins.

Above you can see how the fish will move to the affected part of a patient's hand to clear away the dead skin caused by psoriasis.

People who have whole body problems will often simply lie back in the water and let the fish cure their ills all over. There are even places on the internet now where you can buy your own doctor fish. They are advertised to give you the most beautiful skin, no matter whether you have psoriasis or not. For more information on the Doctor fish and the spas which cater to those who need them (and even how to get your own at home), take a look at the following web sites: Wikipedia Hotel Club Fish spa videos

Many thanks to Ray McClure for suggesting and programming this target.