Garra Rufa Fish Spa

Garra Rufa Fish Spa at Essential Chiropractic

The Garra Rufa Fish Spa at Essential Chiropractic is the FIRST fish spa in Torbay!

Origin

The Garra Rufa Fish were initially discovered in Kangal, Turkey at the turn of the century when a shepherd from the local area discovered a hot water spring containing tiny fish. After dipping one of his wounded sheep in there several times, the shepherd was surprised to notice that the wound had healed after only a few contacts with these fish. From then on, dozens of sick people flocked to the springs to see if they could also be healed. Half a century later a water centre was opened in Kangal to treat sufferers of Psoriasis and Eczema.
This concept has now been used to treat people successfully throughout the UK who are suffering from various skin conditions.

Treatment

Garra Rufa Fish therapy has been shown to help treat various skin conditions with no side effects. Whilst no one would claim that the therapy is a natural cure to any one skin condition it is certainly an enjoyable and beneficial treatment. The benefits of fish therapy have been listed below:

• 
Relief from psoriasis
• Relief from eczema
• Removal of callus 

• Removal of corns 

• Removal of hard skin around bunions
• A completely natural and organic form of exfoliation 

• Smoother, suppler skin that is ready and primed for increased moisturizer absorption. 

• Micro-massage to oxygenate and promote blood circulation 

• Lightening and fading of minor scars 

• Promotes relaxation 

• Non invasive skin detoxifier 

• Smooth, clear, beautiful skin.
• Rejuvenated/ Refreshed skin 

• Fish reflexology (aids with insomnia)


Within the tank, there are 3 different job roles that the fish take on. The first are ‘the finders,’ they nibble the region of dead skin (the fish naturally locate dead skin cells and leave healthy cells untouched). The next fish are ‘the drillers,’ they hollow out the effected area and remove the remaining dead skin cells and lastly ‘the polishers’ clean the area and deposit diathanol which is known to smooth out the skin and improves skin regeneration.

The most effective results are seen on people who suffer from dry, rough or damaged skin. The fish naturally remove the dead or damaged skin leaving healthy skin to continue growing.
The fish have the ability to remove dirt and provide a deep cleansing treatment to the skin. After the treatment, the skin is left feeling refreshed, smooth and healthy!



Natural treatment:
The Dr. Garra Rufa fish has been known to help treat various skin conditions with no side effects. Whilst no one would claim that the therapy is a natural cure to any one skin condition it is certainly an enjoyable and beneficial treatment. The benefits of fish therapy have been listed below:

• A completely natural and organic form of exfoliation 
• Smoother, suppler skin that is ready and primed for increased moisturiser absorption. 
• Micro-massage to oxygenate and promote... (read more)

FAQ

Does it hurt?

No! The fish have no teeth and use a sucking motion to painlessly lift away dead skin without damaging the new healthy cells underneath. It is a very effective way to treat the skin and leave it relaxed. The sensation provided by the ‘fish massage’ stimulates nerve endings, which in turn stimulates the nervous system which helps relieve the body of tiredness.


Can I use it if I suffer from Psoriasis, Eczema, Dermatitis or Rosacea?

As the fish have no teeth and use a sucking motion to painlessly lift away dead skin without damaging the new health cells underneath it is now known to be a very effective form of treatment for many skin disorders.

However, it is advised that if you are suffering from a flare up of any of the conditions above i.e. if you are currently suffering from bleeding or severe itching then it is highly recommended that you do not use the fish spa until the condition settles. Please contact us for more details.

Can I use it if I suffer from Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HIV, Cancer, Diabetes or any immune deficiencies?

Yes! As the fish have no teeth and use a sucking motion to lift away dead skin without breaking the skin surface there is reduced risk of infection. The tanks also house individual UV sterilising filtration systems which also minimize the risk of transmission of any bacteria.  

Can I use it if I suffer from high blood pressure, heart disease, blood clots, phlebitis, epilepsy or asthma?

Yes! The treatment is a very effective form of relaxation. The sensation provided by the fish massage stimulates nerve endings, which in turn stimulates the nervous system in a similar way to acupuncture treatments which in turn help relieve the body of tiredness.
There are no contraindications to patients suffering with the above conditions, however if a user feels apprehensive about the treatment it is recommended that they bring a friend for support

Can I use it if I suffer from open wounds on my feet, fungal Infections on the body part entering the tank, verrucas or athlete’s foot?

In the interest of hygiene, we do not allow any individuals suffering from open wounds, fungal nail/skin infections, verrucas or athlete’s foot to use the Garra Rufa Fish Spa.  


Do I share my tank with another user?

No! Each user is provided with an individual tank!

Is the water clean?

Each tank is fitted with a UV sterilising filtration system which destroys bacteria and therefore reduces the risk of infection. In addition to this, the water in the tank is changed daily and conditioned!

Research

A pilot study has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Garra Rufa Fish Therapy in the treatment of Psoriasis.

http://ecam.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/3/4/483