Ichthyotherapy

by Patrick Astill

Ichthyotherapy is a word to conjour with.

It’s the latest buzz-word in the world of pedicure, where you let your feet swim with the fish.

You’ve probably seen the publicity – salons setting up right, left and centre to offer fish therapy.

The scaly creatures don’t sit down and listen to your troubles … rather they nibble away at them, via your feet.

Stick your feet in a bowl of Garra Rufa fish, which originated in Turkey, and they will nibble away at your dry and dead skin, and probably tickle a bit, too.

The service is offered in Lincoln at the Kensington Salon on Rasen Lane and the new Ticklfish unit in Waterside – and fortunately the little fish have no teeth!

Their busy nibbling can also be used to ease the pain of those suffering from conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.

Both businesses also offer other services, such as teeth whitening and eyebrow waxing at the Kensington, and massages and hot stone therapy at the Waterside.

I had a 30-minute “dip” at Ticklfish.

Their watchword is putting priority on foot health. Before I even let the fish see your toes, my therapist Janine Heaton took a close look at my feet to make sure there are no wounds or illnesses. You wouldn’t wasn’t to follow someone who was suffering a verruca, would you?

After a quick footbath on warm water, I was asked to lower your feet gently into the tank, which contains about 150 of the little workers.

The first overwhelming feeling is the realisation that the fish are eyeing up their latest tasty treat. As your feet get closer to the water’s surface, they congregate as though someone has just thrown a cupful of food into the tank.

And then they’re off! And it IS a tickle. One or two will launch themselves at you while the rest go about their business, nibbling away at dry skin while you wriggle.

The tickling soon gives way to a pins and needles type of sensation, as the fishy biotherapists nibble away to give a result similar to acupuncture or reflexology.

They stimulate the points that regulate your nervous system, releasing a therapeutic enzyme and stimulating the growth of new skin cells.

I couldn’t resist looking down and watching them at work for the whole session. It’s oddly hypnotic but it’s great to see where they concentrate on.

As the therapist asks you to stretch out your toes, the fish charge in between them to give that area a good tidy up too.

And yes, after a minty foot massage from Maxine Jones afterwards, I did feel as though I was walking on air back to the Echo offices.

I am assured the feeling lasts several days as the enzymes continue to do their stuff.

And it’s then that you get hooked and become a regular…!

Ticklfish beauty therapist Jodie Clarke said: “It’s a completely different feeling from anything else. It tickles and you don’t quite expect it.

“The closest thing I can compare it to is when you turn a tap on and feel the vibrations of the water on your skin.”

Ticklfish was set up by Gail Oxley and Sharon Ellis, from Sheffield.

First published in the Lincolnshire Echo.