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Reusing Fish for Foot Pedicure... Interesting Thought

If you haven't noticed, I do like the "GREEN" philosophy... specifically the reduce, reuse, recycle mentality. I just believe that if we can, recycle we should!

Anyway, thought this was interesting in the Grand Rapids Press.

"Carp rid human feet of scaly skin". You can check it out in July 27th edition, front section. Talk about not wasting and putting things to good use...

The article talks about a spa owner that uses carp called garra rufa (or doctor fish) for a pedicure treatment. The carp go and eat off all the dead skin cells on the feet, eliminate callouses, and soften the skin. I thought it was interesting that someone was willing to have little fishes nimble on their feet. But according to the article, an athlete that tried it said that since she was an athlete, she couldn't believe how well this system worked. "This was the first time somebody got rid of my calluses completely." (Barakat, GR Press).

I don't know if this is considered green or not but it made me wonder if these fish can get rid of scaly, dead skin what's next... A NEW FACIAL METHOD???

Posted by Tammy Stone~ "Eco~GREEN" Agent in West Michigan on 07/28/2008 11:06 AM

Comments (15)

grand rapids press, recycle, green

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15 Comments on Reusing Fish for Foot Pedicure... Interesting Thought

JUL

2008

Hey Tammy, How cool is this! I have never heard of this. I would be interested in seeing if others will follow. Thanks for sharing!

Teresa, I thought it was cool and would even be tempted to try it. I think I would be tempted to pull my feet out though!

I think I will stick with the ped egg. How long do you have to let these fish nibble away at your feet and I bet if you are the ticklish type, those little fish teeth make you giggle.

JUL

2008

Hey! I got my first Ped Egg a month ago. It really works good but I have such deep cracks that I can only use it one way; I can't use it back and forth. I think I would like to try the fish route though, just wonder what the cost is and if there is any place like that around me?!?!?!?!

Tammy, I saw this on TV a few days ago and the reporter (who was male) went ahead and had the pedicure. You could see by his reaction it did tickle him, a lot! Lots of tiny fish swimming around but what made me think yuck was this, you could see the waste in the water too, Yikes!

C'mon Sabrina... I think you should try the fish! :)

Teresa, I have to look up where this was. I think it was Maryland, or Missouri (or one of the M States). Maybe Cynthia knows.

Cynthia, Interesting, the waste in the water is definitely a YUCK factor. Gives a new perspective on fish pedicure, doesn't it?

JUL

2008

Sorry, I can't remember Tammy. For some reason I thought it was local here in GA.

Tammy, Just before I left this morning I was watching the BBC and they had some other reporter in DC doing a story on this. The yuck factor must have been on her mind also because she asked in her perfect clipped British accent about the waste and cleanliness of this practice.

The owner said he couldn't put sanitizing chemicals in the foot bath because it would kill the fish, carp I think. He then explained how they do clean the container after each customer.

fish

I think I'll pass on this one!!! Especially if they use a super pedicure program and use the bigger flesh eaters below.

Sharks

Okay! Now after seeing these pictures I may pass on this two.What was I thinking?????

JUL

2008

OK, one of my partners came into the office last week talking about this and claimed that this service also did pedicures. I was laughing about the learning curve for a fish and jsut how they were trained. Now here it is again! Pretty funny!

Thanks!

AUG

2008

Amazing, isn't it... Thanks for all the insight from all of you!

Hi Tammy - no fish at next week's LEED for Homes meeting! Aniversary and birthday cake instead!

AUG

2008

Hi Tammy, I actually seen a documentary on these fish being used in Japan. It was pretty interesting. They also named them the "cleaner fish" because of what they do. They hover in on anything placed in the tank and nip away without the human even knowing any more than a tickle.

Recycling is just living a responsible lifestyle. Nice post Tammy.

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