Fish Massage (Doctor Fish) in Siem Reap

Doctor fish is a small species of cyprinid fish that is native to rivers, streams, ponds and lakes in the Anatolia and Middle East.  

Since the early 21st century, doctor fish have been integrated into a spa treatment where they feed on the skin of patients with psoriasis. While the doctor fish treatment has been found to alleviate the symptoms of psoriasis, the treatment is not curative, and no cure for psoriasis currently exists. The use of the fish as a spa treatment for the wider public is still widely debated on grounds of efficacy and validity. 

Pub Street is an extremely popular area for tourists traveling through Siem Reap province, filled with endless arrays of food options, bars, music, and massages. From stir frys served in pineapples, spring rolls, crickets, spiders, grasshoppers, silkworms, lok lak, catfish, pancakes, and cook-it-yourself-chicken stations, the varying food options are endless. 

You can look for doctor fish (fish massage) on every corner in Pub Street. Well it costs $2 for 20 minute service. You are allowed to stick your feet in a filthy dirty tank full of teeny tiny fish! Upon submersion, the fish hungrily swarmed to our parched, delicious heels and nibbled ferociously, as if their very lives depended on our calloused contributions. It took about 10 minutes to get used to all the weird nibbling but my feet really did feel smoother after. Said fish all rush over and start to feast on all that pesky dry skin and you emerge with baby soft heels!  How fun! Very interesting!